VERMILLION — Two teams with recent championship history will battle it out to kickoff championship weekend.

No. 1 Dell Rapids St. Mary (11-0) takes on Avon (10-1) to start the championship festivities inside the DakotaDome Thursday at 11 a.m.

The Cardinals and Pirates have each won a 9B title in recent memory, with St. Mary taking the title in 2021 and Avon in ‘23.

DRSM enters Vermillion as one of six teams looking for an undefeated season. The Cardinals have knocked off notable teams in Colman-Egan (54-6), Centerville (30-21), Alcester-Hudson (34-20) and Sioux Falls Lutheran (52-0). 

In the playoffs, the Cardinals outscored its three opponents 150-28, knocking off Faulkton Area in the semifinals, 22-16.

The Cardinals are averaging 50.9 points per game while allowing just 9.5 points per contest defensively.

St. Mary is led by a dynamic senior duo in Trimmier Hanson and Lincoln LeBrun. The Cardinals racked up 329 rushing yards in the semifinal win over the Trojans, with Hanson tallying 191 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries, while LeBrun recorded 17 carries for 122 yards as well. Hanson also passed for 64 yards in the win.

It’s the first trip to the DakotaDome for Dell Rapids St. Mary since 2021, when it took down Potter County, 44-42, in overtime.

As for Avon, it’s the second appearance in the 9B championship game in the last three seasons, defeating Faulkton Area in 2023, 32-30, for its fourth football championship.

This season, the Pirates are riding a 10-win season into Vermillion, with its only loss coming against Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy (58-8) on Oct. 17.

Since then, the Pirates rattled off three home playoff wins, defeating Oldham-Ramona/Rutland (50-0), Sioux Falls Lutheran (62-30) and Colman-Egan (38-28).

Avon has beaten Sioux Falls Lutheran, 62-20, and Colman-Egan, 38-0, in the first two weeks of the regular season.

The Pirates are averaging 50.5 points per game, while surrendering just 14.9 points per game defensively.

Avon’s Al’Shamon Gunter and Randall Powers are two returning all-staters leading the Pirates heavy rushing attack. Last week, Avon’s Trenton Soukup rushed for 138 yards on 13 carries and scored two touchdowns in the semifinal.