By Jacob Wuertz and Ryan Deal 

605 Sports

Sioux Falls Jefferson is only in its second year of existence, but the team is looking to make history in its short existence. 

The Cavaliers (10-0) are one win away from their first state championship game appearance, but standing in the way are the No. 4 Sioux Falls Lincoln Patriots (7-3). Jefferson will host Lincoln at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls at 6 p.m. on Friday. The two teams met on Sept. 10, a game won by Sioux Falls Jefferson, 30-13.

Sioux Falls Jefferson has run roughshod through the competition this season, outscoring its opponents by 33.4 points per game. The Cavaliers offense has averaged 43.9 points per game, while the defense has been dynamite, giving up just 10.5 points per game. Jefferson defeated Sioux Falls Washington in the quarterfinal round, 42-7, to advance to the semifinal round.

Sioux Falls Lincoln began the season with wins over Sioux Falls Roosevelt (29-13) and Rapid City Central (56-14) before losing three games in a row to Sioux Falls Jefferson, Harrisburg (41-22), and O’Gorman (35-28). The Patriots then reeled off five consecutive wins to get to the semifinal round, including a 42-17 win over Brandon Valley in the quarterfinals. Lincoln is looking for its first trip to the DakotaDome since winning back-to-back Class 11AAA titles in 2013 and ‘14.

In the other Class 11AAA semifinal, defending champion No. 3 Harrisburg (8-2) travels to No. 2 O’Gorman (8-2) in a rematch of a game played just two weeks ago on Oct. 20. The Knights won the first meeting, 24-20, after recovering a Harrisburg fumble and returning it for a touchdown with just over a minute left in the game.

O’Gorman’s two losses have come against Class 11AA No. 2 Tea Area (44-41) and Class 11AAA No. 1 Sioux Falls Jefferson (42-17). The Knights have won four straight games, including a 29-20 win over Rapid City Stevens in the quarterfinal round. O’Gorman averages 39.6 points per game on offense, while giving up 22.9 points per game on defense. The Knights are looking for their first state championship game appearance since winning the Class 11AAA title in 2019 over Brandon Valley (21-16).

Harrisburg is looking to repeat as champions and earn their third consecutive Class 11AAA title game appearance. The Tigers lost to Brandon Valley two years ago in the championship, 35-14, before getting revenge and defeating the Lynx for the title last season, 27-0. Harrisburg lost the season opener to Sioux Falls Jefferson (43-13) before winning seven in a row. The Tigers then lost the heartbreaker to O’Gorman before rebounding in the quarterfinal round with a win against Sioux Falls Roosevelt (42-12).