Kernel Gameday: Mitchell football visits No. 3 Watertown

Oct. 1—MITCHELL — Looking to stay unbeaten against Eastern South Dakota Conference opponents this season, the Mitchell High School football team heads to Watertown.
Though it’s a showdown with a familiar foe, the days of playing at Watertown Stadium are gone, as Friday marks the first meeting between the Kernels and Arrows at the new football facility that opened in 2025 across from Watertown High School.
Here’s what to know ahead of the Kernels’ contest against the Arrows:
When: 7 p.m. Friday.
Where: Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex, Watertown.
Records: Mitchell 3-2 (2-0 ESD); Watertown 3-2 (2-2 ESD).
Last meeting: Watertown claimed a 46-18 win over Mitchell in a visit to Joe Quintal Field last season.
Series history: Friday will mark the 45th time in the playoff era (since 1981) that the Kernels and Arrows meet on the gridiron. In that time, Watertown leads the series 30-14, including four consecutive wins.
Last week: Mitchell was bested by Class 11A No. 3 West Central 34-20 in the MHS Homecoming game, as a slow start ultimately cost the Kernels. Watertown played spoiler to the Yankton Homecoming, surging to a 35-0 halftime lead en route to a 42-14 victory.
Notes:
* In this week’s Class 11AA South Dakota Prep Media poll, Watertown slotted in at No. 3. Mitchell did not receive votes. The current Class 11AA top five, in order, is: Pierre, Tea Area, Watertown, Yankton and Spearfish.
* Other Class 11AA matchups this week include: Huron at Pierre; Sturgis at Aberdeen Central; Brookings at Tea Area; Yankton at Spearfish; and Belle Fourche (11A) at Douglas.
About the Kernels:
* Mitchell rushed for 205 yards against the Arrows last season, with Mason Kempf responsible for 42 yards on five carries. The Kernels have five players with at least 150 rushing yards this season, Kempf included with 183 yards and four touchdowns, while Samari Wright leads the way with 349 yards and five touchdowns.
* Last week against West Central, Brady Hoesing threw three touchdown passes, all in the third quarter, during the Kernels’ bid for a comeback. The junior signal-caller now has 659 yards and eight touchdowns to his name this season.
* Bailor Kristensen notched a season-high 10 total tackles, including one for loss on a key fourth-down stop, against West Central. The junior linebacker leads Mitchell with 28 total tackles on the season.
* Lawson LeBrun had a 100-yard receiving effort out of the backfield last week, needing just two receptions to reach the century mark. A junior running back, LeBrun now has 376 total yards from scrimmage this season. He leads the team with 195 receiving yards and three touchdowns on six receptions.
About the Arrows:
* Last week at Yankton, junior quarterback Kaeden Himmerich passed for 237 yards and four touchdowns, leading Watertown’s rout of the Bucks. On the receiving end, Kutler Swenson snagged eight receptions for 118 yards and three scores.
* Hunter Peterson, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound senior, was an all-state tight end/fullback/H-back last season for the Arrows. Lincoln Schutt, a 6-foot, 200-pound running back/linebacker, was also an honorable mention all-state pick a year ago.
* Against the Kernels last season, Schutt rushed for 104 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries. Meanwhile, Peterson totaled 29 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown on three touches.
* Watertown is 1-2 at home this season, all against ranked opponents. The Arrows defeated No. 5 Spearfish 26-20 in Week 1, but lost back-to-back weeks against No. 2 Tea Area (28-21) and No. 1 Pierre (55-14). Notably, Mitchell’s last win in the series was in Watertown, a 27-13 final on Oct. 15, 2021.
* Apart from winless Aberdeen Central and Brookings, Watertown has played the most difficult schedule in Class 11AA this season, with an opponent win percentage of .556.
Next: Mitchell is back on the road for another ESD matchup against Tea Area on Oct. 9. Watertown makes the trip to Aberdeen Central on Oct. 9.
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