BROOKINGS — One year after posting a 1-8 record and missing the playoffs, the Brookings Bobcats are the final undefeated team in Class 11AA with a 4-0 record and are in the No. 2 spot behind Watertown in this week’s media polls.

With the Bobcats’ sudden success, they could be labeled the surprise of South Dakota high school football this season. But according to Brookings head coach Brady Clark, it’s been a product of hard work that has made his team’s fast start a little more expected.

“We always knew this group had potential,” Clark said. “I wouldn’t say I’m extremely surprised by anything because we saw it there as coaches. I would say now where we are at in the season…I’m just happy with how the boys have responded to big games and maybe some of the off-the-field distractions. I’ve just felt like they’ve come locked in every day and they’re putting in seven days a week for football.”

The Bobcats’ dedication to the gridiron has shown in the first four games. After defeating Sturgis and Mitchell to open the season, Brookings had a pair of tall tasks going up against Aberdeen Central and Pierre.

It took a gritty effort and a late touchdown pass from Gavin Anderson to Bergen Tetzlaff to defeat the Golden Eagles but last week, the Bobcats’ defense scored twice and posted a shutout to defeat then-second-ranked Pierre at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.

The stretch has continued to breathe confidence into a team that’s coming of age. But Clark has seen the same work ethic the Bobcats have had throughout the offseason coming into the midway point of the year.

“We still have things to improve on in all three areas of the game and we’re still getting to a point where we feel really comfortable in what we’re doing,” Clark explained. “Not everything we do is going to work against ever team every week. So you have to adjust and do things differently based on what you see in film and as the game progresses.”

This week brings a different challenge for the Bobcats, hitting the road to face Sioux Falls Roosevelt. The Roughriders have had a tough season, posting a 1-3 record. But their status as an 11AAA team gives them a numbers advantage that Brookings will have to deal with on Friday night.

Clark noted that the larger roster allows larger teams to rotate players in throughout the game, creating a test of the Bobcats’ stamina. But Clark also believes that his team is well-conditioned thanks to the close games they’ve played in each of the past two weeks.

“I feel like our guys are in shape because we battled the last two weeks,” Clark said. “We battled for a full four quarters and that gets you in shape better than any conditioning.”

It’s an approach that could serve the Bobcats well considering their final five games of the season. After battling the Roughriders, the Bobcats will host Tea for Homecoming on Oct. 4 and finish up the year with a home game against Yankton (Oct. 11) and back-to-back road games at Douglas (Oct. 18) and Huron (Oct. 24).

But for now, the Bobcats are focused on the weekly grind and have put themselves in a good spot at the midway point of the season.

“We’ve had a really good week of practice,” Clark said. “The boys have been locked in and they haven’t let the start get to their heads by any means. I’m just excited for Friday and to battle a larger opponent.”