By seeds, both of the teams should not be in the state championship, but the Potter County Battlers and Dell Rapids St. Mary Cardinals were able to pick up road wins to reach the Class 9B state championship.
Last Friday night, the Battlers went on the road and avenged one of its two losses on the season defeating the Faulkton Area Trojans 22-12, holding down what had been a high powered offense. Grant Luikens threw for two touchdowns and ran another in for the Battlers to pick up its 10th win of the season and clinch a spot in the Dakotadome.
The other semifinal matchup frustrated defensive coordinators. The Cardinals won a shootout 32-30 over the top seed Avon on the road to clinch a spot in the dome. It was the second straight road victory for the Cardinals after rolling Gayville-Volin 42-22 the week prior. The Cardinals, at 7-3, avenged two of its three losses in the last two weeks coming from major losses to upset both Avon and Gayville-Volin. Dell Rapids St. Mary was outscored 90-22 in those two losses. Vern Smith, head coach of the Battlers says it tells him they’re gaining confidence…
The Cardinals defense is giving up around 26 points per game in the last two while the Battlers are giving up just 10. Smith says it gives him confidence…
Smith says Dell Rapids St. Mary likes to grind and the Battlers will have to match the physicality…
Smith says the Battlers will need to take it one play at a time…
The Battlers and Cardinals will begin the weekend on Thursday. Kickoff is scheduled for 10:00 AM at the Dakotadome in Vermillion.
