Class 9B Championship Preview: Wall battles Dell Rapids St. Mary in battle of undefeated squads
Wall's Tanner Volmer (8) carries the football against Avon in the semifinals on Nov. 6, 2026, in Wall. (Matt Gade / 605 Sports)
VERMILLION — No matter the outcome, a 23-game winning streak will come to an end Thursday morning at the DakotaDome.
No. 1 Wall (11-0) faces No. 2 Dell Rapids St. Mary (11-0) in the Class 9B state championship on Thursday at 10 a.m. inside the DakotaDome.
Both teams enter as defending champions winning each of the past 23 games, with St. Mary returning as the 2025 Class 9B champion and Wall the Class 9A state champ before dropping down a class.
The Eagles are making their third trip to the state football championship in the last four years, eyeing its third title in that stretch.
Wall won the Class 9AA state championship in 2023 against Parkston (34-14) before winning the Class 9A state title against Howard (60-6) last year.
This season, the Eagles defeated Jones County (50-0) and Herreid/Selby Area (59-8) before taking down Avon, 36-28, in the playoffs. Wall also knocked off Bennett County, 40-32, to open the year.
Wall averages 46.7 points per game on offense while surrendering 11.7 points per game on defense.
Wall's senior quarterback Tanner Volmer is guiding the Eagles this season, passing for 1,448 yards and 22 touchdowns while rushing for 1,367 yards and 27 touchdowns.
Gatlin Cordes has added 538 rushing yards and five touchdowns while Colby Salapek has collected 355 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
Volmer's top target this season is senior wideout Teelan Kjerstad with 43 receptions for 754 yards and eight touchdowns, Carter Sundall has hauled in 17 receptions for 345 yards and seven touchdowns while Shooter Frederick has collected 16 catches for 335 yards and five touchdowns.
Owyn Geigle is the top tackler for the Eagles with 95 total tackles and 5.5 sacks, including 17 tackles for loss. Kjerstad has netted eight interceptions and three fumble recoveries as well.
Dell Rapids St. Mary returns to the DakotaDome with plenty of experience from last season's squad that featured just three seniors.
The Cardinals are eyeing its third state title in the past five seasons, claiming the Class 9B state championship in 2021 over Potter County (44-42) and again last season against Avon (54-6).
St. Mary enters Vermillion with top-scoring offense (48.7 ppg) and defense (9.5 papg).
The Cardinals have taken down notable foes including Oldham-Ramona-Rutland (62-12), Avon (38-32 in OT) and Colman-Egan (50-0).
In the postseason, the Cardinals cruised to wins over Irene-Wakonda (60-8), Kadoka Area (46-6) before knocking undefeated Warner (36-20) in the semifinals.
Against Warner, quarterback Brady Jewett completed 7-of-14 pass attempts for 137 yards and three touchdowns, adding 98 rushing and a rushing score as well. Thomas LaVoy rushed 22 times for 159 yards in the win.