Class 11AA

Sioux Falls Washington (12-0) and the Golden Eagles (12-0) each come into the game undefeated representing the Greater Dakota Conference and Eastern South Dakota Conference, respectively. The Warriors were the No. 1-ranked team in the South Dakota Sportswriters Association polls all season long while Aberdeen was the No. 1 seed in terms of power points for the playoffs.

The Golden Eagles rely heavily on the talents of quarterback Jared Hannigan, who will have to play a monster game if Aberdeen is to win.

The Warriors can beat a team in many different ways, but it all starts on the defensive side of the ball for Brian Hermanson’s team. The Warrior defense allowed 10 points per game during the regular season. 

Aberdeen and Washington played four common opponents in the regular season – Huron, Sturgis, Brookings and Sioux Falls O’Gorman. The Warriors outscored those four teams 179-40 while Aberdeen held a margin of 120-36. Both schools are looking for their first state football titles. The Warriors finished as runner-up each of the past two seasons. Aberdeen is making its third trip to the state title game, last losing to Spearfish in 2003.

The Class 11AA championship will be Saturday at 6:30 p.m. MST.

Class 11B

The Winner Warriors (11-0) and Tri-Valley Mustangs (11-0) will square off in a match-up of unbeatens that many predicted at the beginning of the year. Tri-Valley was ranked No. 1 throughout the season in the Class 11B polls while Winner came in right behind the Mustangs at No. 2 in every poll of the season.

Both schools teams return to the DakotaDome after successful seasons last year. The Mustangs are the defending 11B champs after dismantling Groton Area by a score of 41-3 in the 2008 title tilt. Winner made it to the Class 11A championship game before falling to Dell Rapids, 35-6, last season. The Warriors were reclassified as a Class 11B school this season due to declining enrollment numbers.

Both teams come into the game with all-state-caliber running backs as Tri-Valley relies heavily on Nate Kirby and Winner counters with Jayd Knodell. Expect a straightforward running affair in this one with the team that controls the line of scrimmage coming out on top.

Turnovers hurt Winner last season in their Dome loss to the Quarriers. Ball security will be crucial in this game.

The two teams did not play any common opponents this season. The Class 11B championship game will be Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. MST.

Class 9AA

Howard (10-1) and Emery-Ethan (10-1) play a rematch of an Oct. 2nd game in Howard that the Tigers won by a score of 34-22.

The Seahawks have experienced plenty of success in Class 9AA title games, winning all three times – 2001, 2003 and 2007 -- they’ve made it to the Dome since the SDHSAA went to three classes in 9-man football. The Tigers are playing their first season of 9-man football but have also had some success at the Dome, winning the 2004 Class 11B title over St. Thomas More.

The Tigers avenged their only loss of the season in the semifinals when they beat top-seeded Lyman by a score of 32-21 in Presho.

Emery-Ethan drilled Leola-Frederick  by a score of 61-26 to gain a berth in the title game.

The Class 9AA championship will be Friday at 1:30 p.m. MST.

Class 9A

Defending Class 9A state champion Avon (11-0) will face a familiar foe in Hanson (8-3). The two teams met back in September with Avon blanking the Beavers, 30-0.

Hanson’s three losses this season came to Avon, Howard and Emery-Ethan, all teams that are in championship games. Hanson won the Class 9B state championship in 2008 and the Class 9A title in 2005. Avon has won Class 9A state titles in 2008, 2004 and 2002 and a Class 9B championship in 2005.

The Class 9A game will be played at 10 a.m. MST on Saturday.

Class 9B

The 2008 Class 9B runner-up, Hitchcock-Tulare (11-0), takes on once-beaten Dell Rapids St. Mary (10-1) in the Class 9B championship Friday at 6:30 p.m. MST.

Hitchcock-Tulare has been nearly invincible all season, giving up an average of just over 3 points per game in 11 games and not a single point in the playoffs.

Dell Rapids St. Mary beat Sanborn Central 68-22 in the first round of the playoffs. Hitchcock-Tulare beat Sanborn Central 38-8 during the regular season.