VERMILLION — The Chargers are 9AA state champions.

Hamlin played nearly a perfect game Thursday night in the DakotaDome en route to a 32-8 victory over top-seeded Parkston.

“It’s about time,” said Hamlin head coach Jeff Sheehan. “Being close the last couple years kind of did that to us. These kids had the desire to win. The heart of a champion, and they pulled through. It was all the kids, but these seniors are special, and my goodness, they did everything they needed to do.”

The matchup featured polar opposites when it comes to their offensive styles, with Hamlin utilizing more of a passing attack, while the Trojans are a true running football team.

Despite the ground-and-pound style Parkston plays, Hamlin beat the Trojans at their own game, outrushing Parkston 114-90.

The Chargers scoring began on its opening possession, a 10-play drive ending in the end zone, with senior Evan Stormo bulldozing his way in from a yard out.

The Chargers made the early statement, but didn’t hold the lead for long after.

On the ensuing kick one of the most experienced players in 9AA football made his presence felt, returning it 93 yards for a touchdown.

At 8-7 early in the game, Hamlin wasn’t rattled by the big play.

“Some people were down, but I just tried to pick people up and use the momentum,” said Wadsworth. “We went back out, I think we got stopped, but we got the ball back. Our defense made a great game.”

One thing to note heading into this anticipated matchup was the status of Wadsworth, who suffered a shoulder injury in the semifinal win over Elkton-Lake Benton.

It was a mental battle, but Wadsworth says he hardly noticed once the game got going.

“I just used the adrenaline I got and didn’t really think about it that much,” said Wadsworth on his injury. “Even on the speed options. The one I just went down to the ground cause it’s more important to stay in the game then take a hit and I go out.”

With a wrapped arm and early deficit, the junior quarterback got to work.

“We kept picking away at the short stuff and going down the field and put a drive together to score,” said Wadsworth.

The Chargers were methodical with their offensive scheme, wearing down the Parkston defense through the air, and gashing it with timely runs. That style continued throughout the game, but was especially successful in the second quarter.

A Wadsworth three-yard pitch to Turner Stevenson reclaimed the lead for the Chargers with 9:37 to play in the half.

And while the offense found its rhythm early, the Hamlin defense played lights out under the DakotaDome lights, holding Parkston to just 153 total yards of offense, and a couple key second quarter turnovers to pull away early.

“I don’t know how many yards they had on offense, but it wasn’t a lot,” said Sheehan.

After a failed fake punt by the Trojans, Stevenson reached the end zone again to push the lead to two scores with 1:49 to go.

There was still plenty of time for Parkston to get back into it, especially receiving the kickoff out of the halftime break, but the air was quickly sucked away with another Trojan turnover.

Evan Stormo jumped in front of a pass from Parkston quarterback Brycen Bruening with 30 seconds to play.

“For our defense to do what they did was incredible,” said Sheehan.

Even with no timeouts and possession at midfield, the Chargers threw one last punch, or rather, kick to push the lead to three scores.

Hamlin’s Easton Neuendorf drilled a 45-yard field goal, the longest in nine-man football history, as time expired.

“That pushed it to a three-score lead,” said Wadsworth. “It takes their spirit down a little bit more, and lets us know that we got a bigger lead, and come out of half and punch them in the mouth again.”

The bulk of the Chargers’ damage came through the air, with Wadsworth completing 17-of-22 pass attempts for 216 yards and a touchdown.

When you factor in all the pass-catchers at Wadsworth’s disposal, it made it pretty easy for the senior quarterback to take home outstanding back and Joe Robbie MVP.

While the passing stats have lit up the stat sheets this season for the Chargers, it was the ability to control the line of scrimmage that was the biggest factor, with guys like Zac VanMeeteren, Aiden Abraham, and the Outstanding Lineman of the game, senior Dawson Noem.

“All of our lineman played a helluva game tonight, " Wadsworth said. “Each and everyone of them could’ve got that MVP.”

It's the Chargers’ first trip to the Dome since 2020, but this time they’ll be going home with a title.

“Whoever got the leverage was going to win that line of scrimmage, and we ended up getting the leverage,” said Sheehan. “Super proud of our guys, it was a wonderful, wonderful, effort.”