Herreid/Selby Area and Hitchcock-Tulare separated themselves from the Class 9B pack this season and are the last two undefeated teams standing in the class. Standing in their way for a DakotaDome clash are two upset-minded teams, Irene-Wakonda and De Smet. 

No. 1 Herreid/Selby Area (10-0) will host No. 12 Irene-Wakonda (5-5) at 6 p.m. in Herreid. No. 2 Hitchcock-Tulare (10-0) will host No. 6 De Smet (7-3) at 7 p.m. in Tulare. 

The Wolverines are gunning for their third state championship appearance since 2019. HSA lost to Colman-Egan (58-6) in the 2019 Class 9B state championship and to Howard (55-18) in the 2021 Class 9A title game. 

Herreid/Selby Area has dominated its opposition this season, outscoring their 10 opponents by 41 points per game. HSA averages 52 points, while it gives up 10.6 points per game. The Wolverines have scored 50 or more points six times this season, including a 72-0 decision against Newell on Sept. 9 in Herreid. 

The Eagles are their last hurdle before a return to the DakotaDome. Irene-Wakonda faced some heavy hitters early in the season, dropping games against Canistota, Hanson, Gregory and Howard in its first five weeks. Despite the 1-4 start, Irene-Wakonda found its groove in the second half and finished 2-1 to close the regular season. 

In the playoffs, the Eagles played spoiler through the first two weeks. They picked up road victories at Corsica-Stickney (61-52) and Sully Buttes (36-30) to secure the semifinal berth. The Eagles are looking for their first trip to Vermillion since 2017, a 56-30 loss against Gregory in the Class 9AA title game. 

Hitchcock-Tulare's Carter Binger (22) carries the ball as Erik Salmen (45) blocks against Avon earlier this season. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

The other semifinal matchup features a rematch of a regular season contest. The Patriots knocked off the Bulldogs, 34-12, on Oct. 7 in De Smet. 

This season, Hitchcock-Tulare pitched five shutouts and its offense complemented it several times. The Patriots are scoring 52 points per game, while giving up just 5.4 points a contest. 

Hitchcock-Tulare began turning heads when it blanked Avon, 52-0, in a top-five matchup on Sept. 16 in Tulare. 

The Patriots haven’t allowed a point since giving up 12 points against De Smet in the regular season contest. Hitchcock-Tulare has outscored its last three opponents by a 154-0 margin. 

The Patriots are after their first DakotaDome berth since 2010, a 66-0 setback against Canistota in the Class 9B state championship. 

De Smet hasn’t lost since its defeat against Hitchcock-Tulare on Oct. 7. The Bulldogs, a Class 9A semifinalist last season, picked up wins over Deubrook Area, Colome and Kadoka Area to earn the semifinal berth this season. 

De Smet also dropped contests against Class 9A quarterfinalists Castlewood (20-14) and Wolsey-Wessington (28-6) during the regular season. De Smet posts 28.1 points per game, while allowing 11.9 points per game on defense. 

The Bulldogs are searching for their first trip to Vermillion since 2003 when they claimed the Class 9A state championship.