The final two days will see five state champions crowned including the 11AA game between the Pierre Governors and Tea Area Titans. Here are short previews of the other four games over Friday and Saturday.
Class 9AA State Title
#1 Wall vs. #6 Parkston – 10:30
The top seed in 9AA, the Wall Eagles look for its first state title since 1994 as they take on the six seed Parkston Trojans winning two games on the road to reach the finals.
The Eagles have had its two closest games in the quarterfinals and semifinals winning 20-12 over Bon Homme and 26-13 over Hamlin. Before then, the Eagles closest test was a 49-14 victory over Phillip. The Trojans are 10-1 with its only loss coming to Hansen, an 8-6 defeat back in week four. Parkston has won every game in the playoffs but at least four scores averaging just seven points against.
Class 11B State Title
#1 Winner vs. #3 Elk Point-Jefferson – 2:30
Another two undefeated teams battle at the DakotaDome Friday afternoon as the Winner Warriors look to remain the kings of 11B while Elk Point-Jefferson makes its first ever trip to the Dome.
The Warriors last missed a trip to the dome in 2018 and have missed playing in Vermillion just twice since 2015. The Warriors have won four of its last five trips on the season. Winner has also beaten West Central, Friday night’s Class 11A participant. The Huskies of Elk Point-Jefferson have rolled in every game of the playoffs and have allowed just 51 point all season in 11 games. The Huskies have had six shutouts throughout these and no team has scored more than 14 points in a game.
Class 11A
#1 Dell Rapids vs. #2 West Central – 7:30
The top two teams in Class 11A meet to close out Friday night as Dell Rapids looks for a perfect season against West Central.
The two teams didn’t meet in the regular season as West Central’s only loss was to Class B Winner in week seven. West Central and Dell Rapids met in each of the 2020 and 2021 seasons splitting the two outcomes with Dell Rapids winning 19-15 last year. Its the first time these two teams are meeting in the state title game since 2011 when Dell Rapids won 35-0.
Class 11AAA State Title on Saturday
#1 Jefferson vs. #3 Harrisburg – 7:00
The final game of the state championships will be Saturday night as the Jefferson Cavaliers look for its first ever state title in just its second year as a school taking on the Harrisburg Tigers chasing its second straight title.
The Tigers have been to the dome now five times since 2017 including its third straight trip and are 1-3 in title games. Jefferson lost in the first round of the playoffs last year to Brandon Valley, but have not lost since. The Cavs have dominated its way to an 11-0 record with its closest win at 17 points over Lincoln in week three. The two teams met to open the season with the Cavaliers winning 43-13 over the Tigers. Harrisburg avenged its other loss, a week nine one possession game to O’Gorman to win 42-21 last Friday to reach the title contest.
