Wall, Hamlin, and Parkston have one thing in common entering the Class 9AA semifinals, each have experienced the heartbreak of defeat in the past two years. 

When No. 1 Wall (10-0) hosts No. 4 Hamlin (9-1) at 6:30 p.m. and No. 2 Elkton-Lake Benton (10-0) hosts No. 6 Parkston (9-1) at 7 p.m. in Elkton on Friday, these three teams will have a chance to complete the unfinished business they started sometime in the past two years.

For the Wall Eagles, the heartbreak has been lingering the past four seasons. The Eagles have qualified for the semifinals in three of the last four seasons, coming up short every time. In 2018, Wall lost to eventual-champion Colome, 74-28, in the Class 9B semifinals. In 2019, the Eagles lost to another eventual champion, Canistota/Freeman, in the Class 9A quarterfinals, 44-13. In the 2020 9A semifinals, Wall hosted Warner, and yet again, the Eagles came up short, falling 26-0 to the Monarchs. Last season, it looked as if Wall would break the curse, but the Eagles came up short once more, losing to eventual 9A champion Howard in the semifinal round, 21-17.

This season, Wall has been on a mission to break the curse of losing in the semifinal round and win its first state championship since 1994. The Eagles have dominated their competition, winning by an average of 44.4 points per game. Wall has pitched five shutouts, and prior to their 20-12 quarterfinal round win over Bon Homme, had not scored less than 48 points all season. The Eagles defeated Stanley County in the opening round, 58-8, before holding off Bon Homme in the quarterfinal round.

Wall is 2-2 in state championship games, winning Class 9B state titles in 1990 over Northwestern (28-16) and in 1994 over Estelline (26-16), while finishing runner-up in Class 9B in 1989 to Castlewood (27-0) and in 2011 to Canistota (66-6) in the Class 9A championship game.

Hamlin has been looking to complete the unfinished business of losing in a state championship game. The Chargers qualified for the Class 9AA championship game two years ago, but were embarrassed by Platte-Geddes in a 42-12 loss. Hamlin was eliminated in the opening round of the Class 9AA playoffs last season by Garretson, and the Chargers have been looking to reclaim their place among the 9AA elite ever since.

Hamlin began the season 6-0 before losing a close game to 9A semifinalist Warner, 8-6, on Sept. 30. The Chargers have won three straight games since then, including playoff wins over Viborg-Hurley (41-8) and Hanson (26-20 OT). Hamlin averages 42.2 points per game on offense, while giving up 8 points per game on defense.

The Chargers last championship came in 2014, winning the Class 9B state championship over Faulkton Area, 34-8. Hamlin has also won four Class 11B state championships, including a 3-peat in 1989, ‘90, and ‘91, while also winning the 11B title in 1996.

Parkston's Kaleb Weber looks for an open receiver as Brayden Jervik looks on against Howard in the Class 9AA playoffs. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

In the other semifinal matchup, Elkton-Lake Benton hosts Parkston in a game with two teams who have contrasting offenses.

Parkston is seeking to finish what it started a year ago when it lost a heartbreaker to Canistota/Freeman in the Class 9AA semifinals. The Trojans gave up a late Canistota/Freeman score in the final minutes and fell to the Pride, 24-20. That loss has been motivation for Parkston, and it has shown this season. 

The Trojans began the season with three consecutive wins before falling in a close loss to Hanson, 8-6. Parkston has since strung together six straight wins, including playoff wins over Leola/Frederick Area (46-6) and Class 9A defending champion Howard (34-7), to reach the semifinal round. The Trojans average 33.4 points per game on offense, while surrendering just 9.4 points per game on defense.

Parkston has never qualified for a nine-man championship game, but it has played in four Class 11B state championship games. The Trojans lone state title came in the 2014 Class 11B state championship game, a 24-21 win over St. Thomas More.

Elkton-Lake Benton has turned things around since last season. While the Elks’ heartbreak didn’t come in the semifinal or championship rounds, it did come in the first round of the Class 9AA playoffs a year ago, losing to Hanson, 70-22. However, the Elks have not lost since.

Elkton-Lake Benton has won 10 consecutive games this season, including playoff wins over Kimball/White Lake (32-18) and Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy (52-14) to reach the semifinals. The Elks have outscored their opponents by 26.7 points per game, averaging 42.3 points per game on offense, while giving up 15.6 points per game on defense.

Elkton-Lake Benton is not as familiar with the DakotaDome as the other three semifinalists. The Elks have played for one state championship, losing in the 2006 Class 9AA state championship game to Parker, 26-8.