Avon outlasted Hitchcock-Tulare, 32-28, in a thriller on Sept. 15. 

The rematch is Thursday in Avon. 

Avon scored a late touchdown to pick up the four-point win over the Patriots, who won last season’s Class 9B state championship. 

The Pirates (7-2) are this season’s No. 1 seed in Class 9B and picked up a 54-14 win over Faith in the playoff opener. Avon dropped games against quarterfinalists Freeman-Marion-Freeman Academy (9AA) and Alcester-Hudson (9A) during the regular season. The Pirates picked up a win over Class 9B quarterfinalist Corsica-Stickney.

Avon's Paxton Bierema looks for an open receiver against Freeman-Marion-Freeman Academy earlier this season. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

Hitchcock-Tulare eliminated Lemmon-McIntosh in the Class 9B opener last week. In addition to the Avon setback, the Patriots also dropped games against Class 9B quarterfinalists Faulkton Area and De Smet. They also lost to Class 9AA Great Plains Lutheran 

No. 4 De Smet (7-2) will host No. 12 Gayville-Volin (3-6) in other quarterfinal action. The Bulldogs dropped two games against Class 9AA teams Stanley County and quarterfinalist Elkton-Lake Benton. De Smet defeated Class 9A quarterfinalist Castlewood earlier in the season.