SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Spearfish Spartans return to Lyle Hare Stadium Friday night for their 2026 home opener, hosting the Mitchell Kernels in an early-season Class 11AA matchup that could provide a glimpse into where both teams stand in the playoff race.
Originally scheduled for 6 p.m., kickoff was pushed back one hour because of expected extreme heat. The game will begin at 7 p.m. Mountain Time on the campus of Black Hills State University.
While Spearfish enters the contest at 0-1 and Mitchell arrives at 1-0, recent history suggests the Spartans won’t be intimidated. Spearfish has won three of the last four meetings and enters on a two-game winning streak against the Kernels, including a 42-16 victory last season and a 43-0 rout in Mitchell during the 2024 Kernel Bowl.
The Spartans showed plenty of fight in last week’s season opener at Watertown. After falling behind 19-0 in the third quarter, Spearfish mounted a furious comeback before ultimately dropping a 26-20 decision.
Senior quarterback Thomas Hughes once again proved why he’s considered one of the top players in Class 11AA. The All-State signal caller threw for 262 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 51 more yards. Hughes directed three second-half scoring drives as the Spartans nearly erased the large deficit.
His top target was senior receiver Kade Vavruska, who opened the season with eight catches for 132 yards. Fellow senior Graham Hughes powered the running game with 71 yards and two touchdowns.
Despite the loss, Spearfish’s offense showed flashes of the unit that ranked among the top attacks in Class 11AA a year ago. The biggest issue was turnovers, as the Spartans gave the ball away four times against the Arrows.
Mitchell, meanwhile, enters Spearfish with momentum after a convincing 28-13 victory over Brookings.
The win carried added significance for the Kernels. It marked Mitchell’s first victory over a Class 11AA opponent other than Douglas since the 2023 season, an encouraging sign for a program looking to climb back into contention within the class.
The Kernels did their damage on the ground, piling up nearly 300 rushing yards against the Bobcats. Big-play running back Samari Wright led the attack with 134 yards on just four carries, including an 80-yard touchdown sprint in the fourth quarter that put the game away.
Mitchell spread the workload across multiple backs. Lawson LeBrun added 73 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Brady Hoesing and Mason Kempf also found the end zone.
After surrendering a 75-yard touchdown run on Brookings’ first offensive snap, the Kernels settled in and largely controlled the remainder of the contest. Mitchell’s defense recorded six tackles for loss and limited the Bobcats outside of a handful of explosive plays. Rocky Clark led the defensive effort with three tackles for loss, while Kyson Herrmann added an interception.
Special teams also played a major role. Matt Peterson blocked a punt that led directly to a Mitchell touchdown, and kicker Gavin Zilla converted all four extra-point attempts while consistently driving kickoffs deep.
The matchup presents an interesting contrast. Mitchell prefers a physical, run-first approach built around controlling the clock, while Spearfish leans on the playmaking ability of Hughes and a veteran passing attack.
The Kernels may own a 12-4 advantage in the all-time series, but they’ve struggled recently against the Spartans. Mitchell is still seeking its first victory in Spearfish since 2023 and will be looking to avoid a third consecutive loss to Spearfish.
For the Spartans, Friday night offers a chance to turn last week’s encouraging comeback into a complete performance. For Mitchell, it’s an opportunity to prove its season-opening victory was more than just a strong start and that the Kernels are ready to challenge the top teams in Class 11AA.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. MT at Lyle Hare Stadium. Fans can listen on KDSJ 980 AM and 103.5 FM, online at KDSJ980.com, or watch on KDSJ-TV via YouTube and Facebook.
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