VERMILLION — Two title-hungry teams will collide on Nov. 14 at the DakotaDome. 

No. 2 seed Faulkton Area (9-2) plays No. 5 Sully Buttes (10-1) for the Class 9B state championship. The teams regularly play on the football field and are separated by 70 miles. 

It’s not only a rematch from the regular season, a 28-8 Faulkton Area victory, but also pits two programs searching for elusive state championships. 

Faulkton Area is 0-4 all-time at the DakotaDome, including last season’s 32-30 loss against Avon in the Class 9B state championship. 

Sully Buttes, meanwhile, is making its first appearance since 2018. The Chargers are 1-5 all-time in state football championships, with their lone title in 1989. Sully Buttes recently finished as runner-ups in 2015, ‘17 and ‘18. 

Faulkton Area dropped two straight games against Warner (28-20) and Leola-Frederick Area (42-20). But the Trojans are on a seven-game winning streak, including last week’s 48-22 win over Dell Rapids St. Mary in the semifinals. 

Running back Gian DiMaria has completed 75-of-114 passes for 1,251 yards and has 11 passing touchdowns. Charlie Deiter has caught 29 catches for 537 receiving yards and has caught six passing touchdowns. 

Drake Mueller (275 yards receiving/4 touchdowns), Korbin Stark (221 yards receiving) and Carter Hall (204 yards receiving/TD) also complement DiMaria in the passing game.

Tristen Baloun has 884 yards rushing on 117 carries and has 19 rushing touchdowns. Landon Coyle has 867 rushing yards on 134 carries and 16 rushing scores. 

Defensively, Baloun has 53 tackles and four sacks. DiMaria has intercepted five passes on defense and Deiter has 45 tackles. 

The Trojans average 37.2 points per game on offense and surrender 14.7 points per game on defense.  

Sully Buttes junior quarterback Wesley Wittler has passed for 1,968 yards and 25 passing touchdowns, while rushing for 732 yards and 17 more scores. Junior wide receiver Gavin Colson has hauled in 37 receptions for 588 yards and seven touchdown receptions. 

Lucas Arcoren has caught 18 passes for 419 yards and six touchdown receptions. Tight end Atticus Miles has 20 receptions for 403 yards and six touchdown grabs. 

Kadyn Westergren has racked up 1,282 yards rushing and 12 rushing touchdowns. Senior running back Gavin Barber, who missed six games due to injury this season, has 350 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. 

Defensively, Miles has racked up 84 tackles and a sack. Westergren has logged 58 tackles and four sacks. Trever Marshall has posted 60 tackles, an interception and a sack. Wittler has picked off seven passes and Arcoren has four interceptions. 

The Chargers score 45.3 points per game and allow 10 points per game on defense.