By Ryan Deal

605 Sports

Football coaches and preseason prognosticators couldn’t pinpoint a Class 9B favorite. 

It’s the doorstep of the playoffs, and still no clear cut favorite has emerged from the field. There are no remaining undefeated teams, two-loss Avon is the No. 1 and unpredictability is on tap for the state’s smallest class. 

Avon’s bulked up schedule helped it grab the No. 1 seed. The Pirates (6-2) dropped games against Class 9AA Freeman-Marion-Freeman Academy and Class 9A Alcester-Hudson. They picked up quality wins over Hitchcock-Tulare, Corsica-Stickney and Wolsey-Wessington to catapult to the No. 1 seed. Avon will host No. 16 Faith (1-7) in the opener. 

Faulkton Area (7-1) is the No. 2 seed and will host No. 15 Jones County (2-6) to start its postseason campaign. Corsica-Stickney and De Smet are No. 3 and No. 4, respectively. 

The Jaguars will host No. 14 New Underwood (1-7), while De Smet will host No. 13 Colome (2-6). 

Most intriguing first-round matchup

Potter County and Dell Rapids St. Mary duked it out in the 2021 Class 9B state championship, with the Cardinals earning a 44-42 overtime win. They will meet again in the Class 9B opener on Thursday in Dell Rapids. 

No. 11 Potter County (3-5) will make the 235-mile trip to play at No. 6 Dell Rapids St. Mary (5-3) at 6 p.m. CT. 

The Cardinals outlasted Deubrook Area, 20-18, in 2OT last week to help secure the No. 6 seed. Dell Rapids St. Mary is powered by all-stater Nic Gaspar, who racked up 123 yards rushing and three touchdowns last week against Deubrook Area.  

Potter County rallies around coach Vern Smith, who was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer #sdpreps
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— 605 Sports (@605_sports) September 27, 2023

Potter County snapped a five-game losing streak last week, picking up a 50-23 victory over Sunshine Bible Academy. 

The Battlers have also dealt with outside distractions this season, as head coach Vern Smith stepped away from the program due to pancreatic cancer. 

Top bracket filled with heavyweights

There’s no shortage of heavyweights at the top of the Class 9B bracket.

Avon might have secured the No. 1 seed, but that doesn’t guarantee an easy road to the DakotaDome. Hitchcock-Tulare, last season’s Class 9B state champions, is the No. 8 seed and would face Avon, if it beats Lemmon-McIntosh in the opener. 

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

De Smet (6-2) has earned the No. 4 seed and is no stranger to deep postseason runs. The Bulldogs, who will host No. 13 Colome on Thursday, have advanced to the semifinals the past two seasons. 

De Smet's Britt Carlson carries the ball against Hitchcock-Tulare earlier this season in Hitchcock. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

Herreid/Selby Area (7-2) is the No. 5 seed and will host No. 12 Gayville-Volin (2-6). The Wolverines have enjoyed deep playoff runs, finishing as state runner-ups in three of the past four seasons. 

If both win their first-round games, the Wolverines and Bulldogs would play in the quarterfinals. Herreid/Selby Area outlasted De Smet, 16-14, in the 2021 Class 9A semifinals. 

Class 9B First-Round Pairings 

No. 1 Avon (6-2) vs. No. 16 Faith (1-7), 5:30 p.m., CT, in Avon 

No. 8 Hitchcock-Tulare (4-4) vs. No. 9 Lemmon/McIntosh (3-5), 6 p.m., CT, in Tulare

No. 4 De Smet (6-2) vs. No. 13 Colome (2-6), 7 p.m., CT, in De Smet

No. 5 Herreid/Selby Area (7-2) vs. No. 12 Gayville-Volin (2-6), 6 p.m., CT, in Selby 

No. 2 Faulkton Area (7-1) vs. No. 15 Jones County (2-6), 7 p.m., CT, in Faulkton 

No. 7 Sully Buttes (3-5) vs. No. 10 Kadoka Area (3-5), 7 p.m., CT, in Onida 

No. 3 Corsica-Stickney (6-2) vs. No. 14 New Underwood (1-7), 6 p.m., CT, in Corsica 

No. 6 Dell Rapids St. Mary (5-3) vs. No. 11 Potter County (3-5), 6 p.m., CT, in Dell Rapids