Thursday’s weather forecast isn’t ideal, but South Dakota high school football players are accustomed to playing in less than perfect conditions, especially in the postseason.

Four area teams in four different classes take the field tonight in playoff quarterfinal action, including Brookings (11AA), Sioux Valley (11B), Arlington/Lake Preston (9AA) and Colman-Egan (9B).

Class 11AA

• No. 8 Brookings (2-6) at No. 1 Pierre (6-3), 7 p.m.

In the teams’ previous meeting in Week 5, the Governors’ pulled away from a 7-7 halftime tie to beat the Bobcats, 28-13, at Hollister Field in Pierre.

Senior All-State quarterback Peyton Zabel had a hand in all four Governor touchdowns – as he threw for three scores and ran 33 yards for another TD.

Zabel completed 17-of-27 passes for 174 yards with one interception and added 55 rushing yards on 14 carries, while Barry Browning contributed 39 rushing yards on nine carries and Hudson Rohrbach chipped in with 17 on seven rushes.

Parker Beers scored both of the Bobcat touchdowns – breaking off a 64-yard run in the second quarter before bulling in from 2 yards out midway through the third.

But after Pierre built its margin to 28-13, any hope of a comeback was thwarted when the ‘Cats turned the ball over twice – once on an interception and once on a fumble.

Beers led the Bobcat offense with 123 yards on 19 carries.

Things could be different tonight as senior quarterback Nick Hardin returns to the Brookings lineup after missing four weeks with a lower leg injury, but the Bobcats will be without the services of senior lineman Dillon Jensen (calf) and senior slotback Isaac von Fischer (knee).

But Zabel is also banged up after dislocating his non-throwing shoulder in Thursday’s regular-season finale against Aberdeen Central at Swisher Field – a 13-10 Governor loss.

The Bobcats have already shown that they can play with Pierre for a half – if they can control field position and limit their turnovers for an entire game, perhaps an 8 vs. 1 upset could happen.

Class 11B

• No. 8 Aberdeen Roncalli (5-4) at No. 1 Sioux Valley (9-0), Volga, 7 p.m.

On paper, this is a no-brainer – however, the game isn’t played on paper but rather a 100-yard field with weather conditions that can turn a lopsided affair into a slugfest.

Looking at the two common opponents that both team faces – McCook Central/Montrose and Canton – the Cavaliers have lost both while the Cossacks cruised to easy wins.

The C-Hawks beat Roncalli, 38-0, in the third week of the season while the Fighting Cougars clawed out a 14-7 win in Week 6.

Sioux Valley clobbered Canton, 42-14, in the opening week before stomping MCM, 34-7, in Week 7.

The Cavaliers, seeded second in Region 1, advanced to the quarters with a 27-9 win over third-seeded Mobridge-Pollock.

The Cossacks routed Elk-Point Jefferson, 51-0 – ending the game in the third quarter via the mercy rule.

Don’t look for this one to end early, but the Cossack subs should see plenty of action.

Class 9AA

• No. 5 Arlington/Lake Preston (7-2) vs. No. 4 Miller/Highmore-Harrold (7-2), Miller, 7 p.m.

The only blemishes on the Badgers’ record came at the hands of Colman-Egan and Castlewood – two teams that are still alive in the 9B playoffs.

The Warriors scored a touchdown inside of a minute to play for a 34-30 win to hand ALP its first loss in Week 7, and then the Hawks dominated in the final week of the regular season in a 52-6 win.

The Rustlers lost 34-28 to Bon Homme in Week 3 before being bounced by Gregory, 44-14, in the final week of the regular season.

The Badgers, seeded second in Region 2, advanced to the quarterfinals with an 18-0 win over No. 3 seed Baltic in the first round of the playoffs.

Miller/Highmore-Harrold, seeded second in Region 1, advanced with a 50-26 win over third-seeded Webster Area. That win over the 6-2 Bearcats was the only win that the Rustlers posted against a team with a winning record.

The quality of opponents throughout the season should give Arlington/Lake Preston the edge in this one.

Class 9B

• No. 7 Faulkton Area (6-3) at No. 2 Colman-Egan (9-0), Colman, 7 p.m.

The Hawks could be in a dogfight with the Trojans – whose first two losses were to Warner (26-18) and North Border (23-20) – before a regular-season finale loss to undefeated and top-seeded Sully Buttes, 24-8.

Meanwhile, the closest any team has come to Colman-Egan is 28 points and that was De Smet in a 28-0 shutout in Week 6.

Faulkton Area advanced to the quarterfinals with a 28-0 win over Langford Area while the Hawks hammered Northwestern, 52-6.

Smart money is on Colman-Egan, especially on their home field, as the Hawks are serious contenders to add a 9B title to last season’s 9A state championship.