VERMILLION — For the second time in a half decade, Dell Rapids St. Mary is the Class 9B state football champions.

The Cardinals (12-0) jumped out to a 30-point first-quarter lead to defeat Avon, 54-6, in the Class 9B state championship Thursday at the DakotaDome.

“It was a great team win,” said senior running back Lincoln LeBrun. “The coaches did a great job of getting us prepared this week and we came out and played physical and got the job done.”

St. Mary was in control from the opening kickoff, recovering an onside kick attempt before punching it in from five yards out by quarterback Trimmier Hanson. 

The Cardinal defense forced two fumbles on the first three plays from scrimmage, setting up two more scores. Junior wideout Thomas LaVoy scampered for a 41-yard touchdown before LeBrun hit paydirt on a 22-yard carry.

Before the Pirates could blink, it was 24-0 less than five minutes into the game.

“Everything went right for us and everything went wrong for them and that really put them behind the 8-ball right away,” said DRSM head coach Ross Flemmer.

LeBrun broke open his second touchdown of the game on a 62-yard house call, taking the winds out of the Pirates’ sails.

Dell Rapids St. Mary's Cardinals' Lincoln LeBrun (8) celebrates scoring a touchdown with Dell Rapids St. Mary's Cardinals' Kade Lutt (5) and Jake Heinitz (6) during the first half of the 9B state football championship Thursday, Nov. 13 2025 at the DakotaDome in Vermillion. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

“It definitely helps to start fast but we’ve also been on the other end of that too,” said LeBrun. “It sucks out all the energy out of you and it makes it hard to play so it definitely helps when you get up quickly.”

The Pirates finally found the endzone on the next drive, scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run from Easton Sees but would be held scoreless the rest of the game.

To start the second half, two more Avon turnovers resulted in Cardinal touchdowns, with Kade Lutt and LaVoy returning a fumble and interception back for scores respectively.

After an Avon turnover on downs, one last touchdown was poured on by the Cardinals with Hanson hitting Logan Bauer for a 63-yard touchdown pass.

“We knew we had to come out hard,” Hanson said of the win. “It’s just what happens when you work hard in the off-season. We knew working hard every morning, getting up at 5:30 to go lift at six, doing the extra-curricular stuff off and on the field. It really just contributes to the game.”

The Cardinals outgained Avon by nearly 200 total yards, racking up 246 yards on the ground. LeBrun, the game’s outstanding back and Joe Robbie MVP, ended the day with nine carries for 154 yards and two touchdowns, adding a 22-yard reception in the win. LeBrun also led the defense with 10 tackles and one fumble recovery.

“The individual rewards are cool but really all that matters is the team trophy at the end and we got to hoist the gold trophy so that’s really all that matters to me,” LeBrun said.

Hanson added 31 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, completing four passes for 114 yards and a touchdown as well. Hanson also converted five two-point conversions in the win.

“They’re explosive,” Flemmer said of LeBrun and Hanson. “They’re kind of two different contrasting styles but they can both get the job done and both of them played a great game again today.”

Lavoy totaled five carries for 58 yards and a touchdown with one pick-six. Alex Lindeman, the game’s Outstanding Lineman, led the ground attack while adding eight tackles and one sack, limiting Avon to just 2.6 yards per carry.

Sees had 17 carries for just 43 yards and a score, completing one pass for 25 yards with two interceptions. Trenton Soukup had 13 carries for 33 yards while Treyvan Talsma recorded three carries for 24 yards in the loss.

“We didn’t know if we’d be able to match their size and physicality and I think it made our kids mad and they decided they were going to,” Flemmer said. They wanted to get it done.”