There are many intriguing matchups in the football playoffs this evening, but maybe none more so than the contest set for Gettysburg where Potter County (8-2) plays host to Hitchcock-Tulare (7-3) at 7 p.m.

The two Class 9B foes met earlier this season when Potter County went on the road and outscored the Patriots 44-38.

Scoring has not been a problem for either squad this fall. Potter County has scored 40 points or more seven times, while Hitchcock-Tulare has put up at least 38 points in eight of its games.

“Both teams have moved the ball really well throughout the year,” said Potter County coach Vern Smith. “Both teams have similar style of players. Both teams have some size, some speed. Both teams can run the ball and pass the ball. It should be an exciting matchup.”

While Hitchcock-Tulare coach Tom Salmen agrees that it appears another shootout could be in order, he is hoping for a much different contest this time around.

“I don’t want it to be that shootout, because I don’t think we played very well that (first) game,” Salmen said. “I’m hoping it’s much better than it was then.”

While some contests this evening feature opponents that have not played each other yet this year, there should be plenty of familiarity when it comes to this game. Yet, both coaches said things have changed since that first mid-season encounter.

“It’s a whole new game. You always get better,” Salmen said. “Potter has gotten better, we’ve gotten better. We’re much more prepared for this game than we were that game, so I’m excited about it.”

Smith said that while that game is in the past, both teams can take lessons from it and try to improve for the rematch.

“I know there are some things we’re working to try and adjust to because of what they were able to do or what they were able to stop the first time we played,” Smith said. “I’m assuming Coach Salmen is doing the same thing on his end, maybe even a little more so, which makes me nervous in the fact that sometimes if you lose those close ones you do a little extra trying to figure out what you can do to make those changes, because you know you came up short the first time.”

The two teams have been rated among the top five at various stages during the regular season. They are part of what appears to be a wide open division in 9B. Hitchcock-Tulare, which entered the post season as the sixth seed, lost to top-seeded Avon by just two points in the final game of the regular season.

“We definitely gained confidence from it,” Salmen said. “We had our chances to win that game.”

Regardless of what happens tonight in Gettysburg, rest assured that all eyes will be on Battlers quarterback Grant Luikens, who racked up more than 400 yards of total offense and scored six touchdowns in the first meeting between the two.

“The biggest key is Luikens. We have to contain him,” Salmen said. “I think that as long as we do that, we should come out alright.”

This evening’s game marks the first time that Hitchcock-Tulare has advanced to the second-round of the playoffs since 2009.

Other games involving area teams tonight include Beresford vs. Aberdeen Roncalli at 6 p.m. at Swisher Field in Class 11B, Aberdeen Central at Brookings in Class 11AA, Milbank Area at Canton in Class 11A, Canistota-Freeman at Ipswich in Class 9AA, Castlewood vs. Herreid-Selby Area in Herreid and Warner at De Smet in Class 9A, and Harding County at Faulkton in Class 9B.