VERMILLION — Big Green makes its return to the DakotaDome. 

The Pierre Governors are playing in their ninth consecutive Class 11AA state championship, winning state championships from 2017-23. The Governors dropped last season’s state championship to Watertown, a 14-13 setback. 

No. 1 Yankton (9-2) will play No. 3 Pierre (8-3) at 7 p.m. CST Friday at the DakotaDome in Vermillion. 

Yankton’s two losses were against Class 11AAA Harrisburg (49-3) and Sturgis (27-21). The Bucks avenged their regular-season loss against the Scoopers in the semifinals, a 41-28 win on Nov. 7. Yankton began the playoffs with a narrow 12-7 win over Spearfish.

Against the Scoopers, Yankton finished with 396 yards of total offense. Tate Beste completed 13-of-22 passes for 185 yards and two scores. Carter Boomsma caught three passes for 71 yards and two touchdowns. Jace Sedlacek carried the ball 31 times for 170 yards and a touchdown.

Yankton is making its first state championship appearance since 2023. The Bucks are gunning for their first state championship since winning back-to-back in 2014 and ‘15.   

The Governors lost to Huron in the regular season on Sept. 5. Pierre also lost to Yankton (35-28) and Class 11AAA O’Gorman (27-23) in back-to-back weeks. 

Since the O’Gorman defeat, Pierre rattled off five straight wins and defeated Tea Area (41-7) and Huron (28-13) in back-to-back weeks. 

Against the Tigers, Pierre’s Jerren Deal and Porter Hunsley scored a pair of rushing touchdowns in the win. Sutton Sonnenschein added an interception on defense. 

The Governors are gunning for their ninth Class 11AA state championship since 2013.