For 3 1/2 quarters, Parkston had all the momentum in its 34-7 Class 9AA playoff win over Howard. 

But even in the midst of scoring 34 unanswered points, the Trojans weren’t content and didn’t settle against the Tigers.

“In Parkston, we’ve gone through some terrible losses in the last few years,” Parkston junior Luke Bormann said. “I’ve seen some awful upsets. So we never said that’s good enough. You never say that’s good enough. We had the momentum. It didn’t feel like that though. Because you have to keep the pedal down.”

The Tigers, last season’s Class 9A state champs, marched down the field and scored on the opening possession. It was all Parkston after that. 

Parkston’s Jaron Nesheim scored on a pooch kick on the ensuing kickoff, Bormann scored three total touchdowns, Kaleb Weber threw a passing touchdown and Brayden Jervik added a rushing touchdown. The Trojans committed one turnover, while the Tigers turned the ball over four times.

Parkston also controlled the clock in the third quarter and methodically drove down the field. On the opening drive of the third quarter, the Trojans milked precious seconds off the clock and Bormann hauled in a touchdown reception from Weber on 4th and 14 to punctuate a 10-minute drive. 

“The ball rolled our way this year and I am very happy for our players after last year being so close to the Dome,” Parkston coach Matt Grave said. “I couldn't be happier for these kids.”

Parkston's Luke Bormann carries the ball against Howard on Oct. 27 in Howard. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

In last season’s Class 9AA semifinals, Parkston fell to eventual state runner-up Canistota/Freeman, 24-20. The Trojans have lost just once since that defeat, an 8-6 setback against Hanson on Sept. 9 in Alexandria. 

“I couldn’t be happier for our boys and all the hard work they’ve put in,” Grave said. “To see them enjoy this on the road versus getting beat on our home field last year was pretty demoralizing.” 

The No. 6 seed Trojans (9-1) will be on the road this semifinal berth. Parkston plays at No. 2 Elkton-Lake Benton (10-0) at 7 p.m. Friday in Elkton. The Parkston vs. ELB winner will play Wall or Hamlin in the Class 9AA state championship on Friday, Nov. 11 in Vermillion. 

The Elks are powered by quarterback Ryan Krog, who scored six total touchdowns and racked up 305 total yards in ELB’s quarterfinal win over Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy. 

“(Class) 9AA is too talented to go undefeated in the regular season, make it to the state semis and be a bad team,” Bormann said. “These guys are good. We have to be locked in for next week.”