Kernel Gameday: Mitchell football battles Brookings in 2026 season opener
· Yahoo Sports
Aug. 27—MITCHELL — At home to kick off a new season, the Mitchell High School football team hosts an Eastern South Dakota Conference clash against Brookings on Friday night.
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Here's what to know ahead of the Kernels' season opener:
When: 7 p.m. Friday.
Where: Joe Quintal Field.
Records (from 2025): Mitchell 1-8 (0-6 ESD); Brookings 5-5 (3-3 ESD).
Last meeting: Mitchell is hosting Brookings for the second straight season. When the Bobcats visited Joe Quintal Field in 2025, they scored 27 second-half points to pull away for a 40-0 rout that spoiled the 10th annual Kernel Bowl. Mitchell's last win in the series came in 2023.
Last week: This is the season opener for both squads. Last week's South Dakota high school football action was limited to Class 11B and the nine-man divisions.
Notes:
* In this week's South Dakota Prep Media poll for Class 11AA, neither Brookings nor Mitchell received votes. The Class 11AA top five to start the season are, in order: Pierre, Huron, Yankton, Tea Area and Sturgis.
* Other Class 11AA matchups this week include: Huron at Tea Area; Yankton at Aberdeen Central; Spearfish at Watertown; Custer (11A) at Douglas; and Sturgis at Pierre (Saturday).
About the Kernels:
* Mitchell's team captains include senior lineman Bryer Stach, senior running back/linebacker Mason Kempf, junior lineman Owen Schelske and junior quarterback/defensive back Brady Hoesing.
* Last season, Hoesing was 29-for-67 (43.3%) passing with 494 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions and added 74 rushing yards with one score. Kempf was the Kernels' third-leading rusher, gaining 153 yards on 33 carries.
* Junior linebacker Bailor Kristensen ranked second on the team in total tackles last season with 37, including 2.5 for loss, and recovered a fumble. Senior defensive back Kyson Herrmann was tied for fourth on the team with 29 total tackles to go with an interception.
* Mitchell has won its season opener each of the past two seasons, with both of those victories coming against Douglas.
About the Bobcats:
* Brookings graduated 27 seniors from the 2025 roster, including Class 11AA All-American and all-state tight end Bergan Tetzlaff.
* The Bobcats bring back two receivers to help lead their offense in seniors Ezra Eidem and Kingston Schneider. Last season, the pair combined for five receptions, 89 yards and two touchdowns in the win over MHS.
* Brookings went 1-4 on the road last season, with that lone win coming at Mitchell for the Kernel Bowl.
* Despite their .500 record, the Bobcats fielded the stingiest defense in Class 11AA last season, allowing just 12.6 points per game. In seven of 10 games, opponents scored 14 points or fewer.
* The past three games in the series have all been shutouts. Brookings won by a combined 74-0 in 2025 and 2024, and Mitchell won 28-0 in 2023.
Next: Mitchell hits the road for the first time, heading west to square off with Spearfish on Sept. 4. Brookings hosts its home opener, and its only home game in the first four weeks of the season, against Watertown on Sept. 4.