Avon and Canistota will get reacquainted on the gridiron.

The two nine-man powerhouses have not met since 2014, but they will face off in the Class 9B quarterfinal round on Thursday.

No. 1 Avon (8-1) hosts No. 8 Canistota (6-3) in a matchup between two programs with loads of nine-man football history. Avon is coming off a Class 9B state championship, while Canistota has been a regular at the DakotaDome over the past decade. 

Avon is undefeated against Class 9B competition this season, with its only setback a 36-26 decision against Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy. The Pirates coasted past Jones County, 67-6, in last week’s first-round game. Avon averages 53.9 points per game and allows 18.6 points per game on defense. 

Canistota’s three losses were against teams still in the playoffs — Viborg-Hurley (40-20), Howard (32-0) and Hanson (11-6). Canistota defeated Oldham-Ramona/Rutland, 44-8, in last week’s playoff opener. The Hawks score 23.1 points per game and surrender 15.2 points per game on defense.

No. 4 Corsica-Stickney (7-2) hosts No. 5 Sully Buttes (8-1) as the teams will play for the fourth straight season. Sully Buttes defeated Corsica-Stickney, 14-0, last season and the Jaguars won meetings in 2022 and ‘21. 

Corsica-Stickney lost to Tripp-Delmont/Armour/Andes Central/Dakota Christian (46-12) and Avon (54-20) in back-to-back weeks. But are riding a five-game winning streak, including a 38-6 win over Herreid/Selby Area in last week’s playoffs. The Jaguars score 31 points per game and allow 18.8 points per game on defense. 

Sully Buttes’ lone defeat was a 28-8 decision against Faulkton Area on Sept. 27. The Chargers have rattled off four straight victories, including last week’s 54-0 win over Arlington. The Chargers are scoring 47.6 points per game and allow 8.4 points per game on defense. 

No. 2 Faulkton Area (7-2) hosts No. 10 Colman-Egan (5-4) in their first meeting since 2017, a 30-14 Trojan victory in the playoffs. Faulkton Area dropped games against Warner (28-20) and Leola/Frederick Area (42-20) on back-to-back weeks, but have won five straight and blanked Sunshine Bible Academy 44-0 in last week’s playoff opener. The Trojans, last year’s Class 9B runner-ups, are scoring 37 points per game and give up 13.3 points per game on defense. 

The Hawks defeated No. 7 Hitchcock-Tulare, 52-12, in last week’s first-round contest. Colman-Egan started the season 0-3, with losses against playoff quarterfinalists Avon (60-38), Canistota (12-6) and Dell Rapids St. Mary (16-6). The Hawks are riding a four-game winning streak. Colman-Egan scores 39.1 points per game and allows 16.7 points per game on defense.

No. 3 Dell Rapids St. Mary (8-1) hosts No. 6 Kadoka Area (6-3) in their first meeting since 2020. The Cardinals outlasted the Kougars, 30-28, in the Class 9B semifinals in 2020. 

Dell Rapids St. Mary’s lone defeat was a 28-22 setback against Alcester-Hudson. The Cardinals defeated Irene-Wakonda, 62-12, in last week’s playoff opener. The Cardinals score 42.9 points per game and allow 10.9 points per game on defense.

Kadoka Area’s three losses are against playoff quarterfinalists Wall (50-8), Philip (58-20) and Hill City (50-16). Kadoka Area defeated Burke (54-12) in last week’s playoff action. The Kougars are averaging 37.6 points per game and allow 26 points per game on defense. 

Kadoka Area will make a 264-mile trip to Dell Rapids for the playoff contest. 

Class 9B Quarterfinal Pairings

No. 1 Avon vs. No. 8 Canistota, 7 p.m., CT 

No. 4 Corsica-Stickney vs. No. 5 Sully Buttes, 6 p.m., CT   

No. 2 Faulkton Area vs. No. 10 Colman-Egan, 7 p.m., CT  

No. 3 Dell Rapids St. Mary vs. No. 6 Kadoka Area, 3 p.m., CT