In Class 9B, a heavyweight matchup and a rematch highlight the semifinal round. 

No. 2 Faulkton Area (9-1) will host No. 11 Potter County (5-5) at 7 p.m. CT., with the winner advancing to the state championship on Nov. 9 in Vermillion. 

It will be the second meeting this season between the Trojans and Battlers.Faulkton Area defeated Potter County, 52-8, on Sept. 1 in Faulkton. 

The Trojans’ lone defeat was against Class 9A No. 1 Warner, a 27-20 setback. 

After the loss, Faulkton Area has rattled off four straight wins, outscoring its opponents by a 166-6 margin. The Trojans have pitched two straight shutouts, including a 48-0 win over Kadoka Area.

Faulkton Area is scoring 40.8 points per game, while it allows 6.7 points per game on defense.

Potter County has been the ultimate Cinderella story this postseason. The Battlers entered the playoffs losing five of their six previous games. 

They’ve gone on the road to defeat No. 6 Dell Rapids St. Mary and No 3 Corsica-Stickney in back-to-back weeks. 

Potter County is scoring 28.3 points per game, while it allows 37.4 points per game on defense.

Avon's Paxton Bierema (7) carries the ball against Freeman-Marion-Freeman Academy on Sept. 1 in Freeman. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)
  

In the other Class 9B semifinal, No. 1 seed Avon (8-2) will host No. 4 De Smet (8-2) at 7 p.m. CT in Avon.

The teams have had success in recent years, but both are looking for their elusive return trips to the DakotaDome. Avon has qualified for a state championship since 2013, while De Smet hasn’t advanced since 2003. 

Avon dropped games against Alcester-Hudson and Freeman-Marion-Freeman Academy this season, but is riding a three-game winning streak. The Pirates knocked off last year’s Class 9B state champ Hitchcock-Tulare, 38-14, in last week’s quarterfinals. 

The Pirates are scoring 37.6 points per game, while they are allowing 23.9 points per game on defense. 

The Bulldogs dropped games against Class 9AA teams Stanley County and Elkton-Lake Benton. They picked up convincing wins in the playoffs over Colome and Gayville-Volin. 

De Smet is averaging 38 points per game, while it allows 10.2 points per game on defense.