No. 1 Avon is out, and four title hungry teams are still alive.

No. 8 Canistota stunned Avon, last season’s Class 9B state champs, in last week’s quarterfinal round. The upset win opens the door in an already parity-filled class, which has not produced back-to-back state champs since Kimball in 2003 and ‘04. 

No. 5 Sully Buttes (9-1) hosts No. 8 Canistota (7-3) and No. 2 Faulkton Area (8-2) hosts No. 3 Dell Rapids St. Mary (9-1) in the semifinal round. 

Sully Buttes dropped a 28-8 decision against Faulkton Area on Sept. 27, and have since rattled off five straight wins. The Chargers defeated Arlington (54-0) and Corsica-Stickney (36-6) in their first two playoff games. Sully Buttes averages 46.4 points per game and allows 8.2 points per game on defense. 

Sully Buttes lost three state championships in 2015, ‘17 and ‘18 and is seeking its first state title since 1989. 

Canistota has made a habit out of deep playoff runs, and winning on the road in the postseason. The Hawks will have to do it again on Friday, making the 212-mile trip to Onida. Canistota is looking for its first state championship since 2015, but the Canistota/Freeman co-op produced three state titles (2018-20) and one runner-up finish (2021). 

The Hawks score 22.4 points per game and allow 14.5 points per game on defense. Canistota defeated Oldham-Ramona/Rutland (44-8) in its playoff opener, before upsetting Avon in the quarterfinals. 

Faulkton Area, last season’s Class 9B runner-ups, dropped two straight games against Warner and Leola-Frederick Area. But have since picked up six straight wins, including victories over Sunshine Bible Academy (44-0) and Colman-Egan (28-20). The Trojans score 36.1 points per game and allow 14 points per game on defense. 

Faulkton Area is still seeking its first-ever state championship, having gone 0-4 in their previous trips to the DakotaDome. 

Dell Rapids St. Mary dropped a 28-22 decision against Alcester-Hudson on Oct. 11, and is now on a three-game winning streak. The Cardinals defeated Irene-Wakonda (62-12) and Kadoka Area (36-0) in their playoff games. 

Dell Rapids St. Mary’s last trip to the DakotaDome was in 2021, a 44-42 win over Potter County. 

No. 5 Sully Buttes (9-1) vs. No. 8 Canistota (7-3), 6 p.m., CT, Onida

No. 2 Faulkton Area (8-2) vs. No. 3 Dell Rapids St. Mary (9-1), 6:30 p.m., Faulkton