No. 1 Avon (9-2) vs. No. 2 Faulkton Area (10-1)

When: 10 a.m. Thursday at the DakotaDome

Avon Notes: The Pirates average 38.4 points per game and allow 23.5 points per game on defense. … The Pirates are on a four-game winning streak, including playoff wins over Faith (54-14), Hitchcock-Tulare (38-14) and De Smet (46-19). … Against De Smet, Aziah Meyer, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound junior running back, rushed for five touchdowns and 206 yards. … Avon is making its ninth-ever trip to the DakotaDome. The Pirates won state championships in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2013. … Avon coach Justin Lukkes, a former Pirate football player, is in his first season as head coach. … Avon defeated Faulkton Area, 74-48, in last season’s Class 9B first round playoffs. ... Faulkton Area head coach Shayne Geditz's children, Parker and Raegan, are team statisticans. 

Faulkton Area Notes: The Trojans average 40.9 points per game and allow 6.1 points per game on defense. …  Faulkton is on a five-game winning streak, including shutout playoff wins over Jones County (50-0), Kadoka Area (48-0) and Potter County (42-0). … Against Potter County, Layne Cotton, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound senior quarterback, recorded four total touchdowns and 161 total yards. … Faulkton Area is making its fourth trip to the DakotaDome, but have yet to win a state championship. The Trojans have qualified in 1981, 1998 and 2014. … Faulkton Area lost to Avon, 74-48, in last season’s Class 9B playoff opener.