VERMILLION — A defensive stop delivered Avon its first state football championship since 2013. 

The Pirates outlasted Faulkton Area, 32-30, in the Class 9B state championship on Thursday at the DakotaDome. 

The Pirates (10-2) stopped Faulkton Area on 4th and 18 from Avon’s 27-yard line in the waning moments to secure the state championship. 

“Defense stepped up big at the end,” Avon coach Justin Lukkes said. “I am proud of our kids. I am proud to bring one back to Avon again.”

Avon’s Aziah Meyer, the Joe Robbie MVP and Outstanding Back, powered the Pirates with 177 rushing yards and one touchdown. Meyer, who scored a 91-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, was overwhelmed as the clock hit zeros on Thursday.

The rising junior running back immediately fell to the turf and teammates embraced him as the Pirates celebrated their championship. 

“It was very heartwarming and happy,” Meyer said about his emotions after the game. “I am very happy we made it after all the grinding and work we did. I am also so happy with the way Faulkton played. They are a great team.”

Landon Mudder had a rushing touchdown and Paxton Bierema added two rushing scores.

The Pirates rushed for 299 yards and intercepted two passes on defense. 

The Trojans (10-2) racked up 354 total yards — 158 rushing and 196 passing. Faulkton Area QB Layne Cotton completed 9 of 19 passes for 196 yards and three touchdown passes. Charlie Deiter hauled in two touchdowns. Garrett Cramer rushed for 85 yards and a touchdown, while he caught two touchdown receptions. 

But Avon’s defense stepped up when it mattered most.

Bierema’s touchdown run gave Avon a 32-22 lead with 9:27 left. The Trojans responded with a Cotton-to-Cramer 66-yard touchdown pass. The ensuing two-point conversion made it 32-30. 

On the next possession, Faulkton Area recovered an Avon fumble with five minutes left. Faulkton Area, which took over at its own 38-yard line, moved the ball past midfield. Cotton connected with Drake Mueller for a 19-yard gain and Cotton added a 10-yard run to get within striking distance. 

The Trojans got down to Avon’s 17-yard line and faced a fourth down. On 4th and 17, Cotton scrambled and found Cramer for the go-ahead score. But an ineligible receiver downfield negated the score. 

“I have always been taught you can’t be too high or too low and I just try to keep a mellow head,” said Avon’s Landon Thury, the game’s Outstanding Lineman. “I had faith in our team. We’ve done it many times throughout our season but I had faith in everybody.” 

After the penalty, Cotton again scrambled for another last-gasp play. But his pass attempt to Mueller was incomplete with 1:14 left. 

“Boy they came right back at us and hats off to a great Faulkton team,” Lukkes said. “Two points is more than you want, but I will take a one-point win, two-point win. I am just proud of the kids, that was a huge defensive stop at the end of the game.” 

The Trojans were out of timeouts and Avon kneeled on the ball for the long-awaited state championship.

“It was just amazing,” said Thury, who had an interception on defense. “It was a huge relief. I just went to hug my teammates. My fellow linemen. It was the greatest feeling ever.”

The teams traded touchdowns in an entertaining affair. Cotton connected with Deiter for a 32-yard touchdown on Faulkton Area’s first possession. 

Bierema’s second-quarter touchdown run made it 8-8. Meyer, a 6-foot-4, 190-pounder, then showed off his speed in the open space. 

Meyer took a pitch from Bierema and darted 91 yards for a score. 

“That play was just about dang near perfect,” Meyer said. “There was a big hole. The safety and linebacker just all followed the fullback. I just saw it and took off.”

Faulkton again struck back. Cramer’s 73-yard TD run made it 16-16 at halftime. In the third quarter, Mudder plowed in for a 24-16 Avon advantage. 

Cotton hooked up with Deiter for a 37-yard touchdown reception, but Faulkton Area failed to score the two-point conversion. Bierema’s touchdown run made it 32-22, setting up Avon’s defensive stop. 

“Chaotic and great all at the same time,” Thury said. “There were many up and down plays. But I am really glad we pulled through at the end.” 

It was Avon’s sixth-ever state championship and first under Lukkes, a former Pirate.

“For my first year as head coach, they were great and they worked their tails off,” Lukkes said. “They deserve everything they got today. I’m proud of them.”