VERMILLION — St. Thomas More is winless no more in the DakotaDome. 

The St. Thomas More Cavaliers exorcised their Vermillion demons on Friday, outlasting Elk Point-Jefferson 48-38 in an entertaining Class 11B state championship. 

For the Cavaliers, it was the program’s first-ever state football championship in seven tries in the DakotaDome. 

“It feels incredible,” said STM senior Brody Lee, who was named the Class 11B most outstanding lineman. “I am really happy for our coaches because they’ve been here working hard and never got it, and then we helped them get it.”

The Cavaliers were 0-6 in their previous state championship appearances, losing title games in 2004, ‘05, ‘06, ‘07, ‘09 and ‘14. STM coach Austin Hagen said the coaching staff didn’t dwell on the 0-6 record, but instead focused on capturing the 2025 state championship. 

“We were just reiterating to the guys ‘You are not 0-6 in the Dome. You haven’t been there yet. You are 0-0 and this is just another game, another opportunity to grow together as a team and get better,’ ” Hagen said. “That’s what we wanted to do was progress every week and I think we did that again today.”

STM super sophomore quarterback Noah Wald was named the Joe Robbie MVP, completing 15-of-17 passes for 203 yards and three touchdown passes. Wald echoed his coach’s sentiments about the prior DakotaDome defeats, and instead focused on the task at hand. 

“Even though people say we are 0-6 here, our motto was we are 0-0 — this team is 0-0 and we knew that coming in,” Wald said. “So we knew that if we played our game no one could stop us.” 

Wald is a second-generation Cavalier quarterback, as his father Nick was a record-setting STM quarterback in the 1990s. Nick Wald, who later played at South Dakota School of Mines, finished his Cavalier career with 7,104 passing yards and 70 touchdown passes. 

Nick Wald, a current STM assistant coach, never led the Cavaliers to the DakotaDome and that was something not lost on his son. 

“I was focusing on the game, but I kind of wanted to do it for him,” Noah Wald said. “I knew how important it was for him to watch me succeed. He’s been there for me and it’s nice having someone to go off to the sidelines to and be able to talk about everything. Because he’s experienced all of it.”

In the post-game ceremonies, Hagen had assistant coaches Craig Nowotny and Joe Gutierrez accept the championship trophy. The long-time assistant coaches were then swarmed by the Cavaliers, and their fans roared in applause. 

“I love it for the boys,” Hagen added about winning the state championship. “I love it for this staff. We have guys on staff that have been here six times before, just to be able to get this done for those guys, for this team that works so relentlessly, and the community of Rapid City and the alumni before us. I am just super excited for that. I feel so blessed. It honestly hasn't set in it.”

The 10-point victory was a few short hours after the Wall Eagles won the Class 9A state championship, giving West River a 2-0 record on the day. 

“It shows that West River football can play,” Lee said. “They can do it with the East River teams.”

Hagen also pointed out the past three Class 11B state championships are from West River, with Hot Springs (2023) and Winner (‘24) also winning recent titles.

“We are always told West River football isn't as good as East River,” Hagen said. “I am just happy for all of West River. I am excited for Wall to be able to bring home another one for West River. It’s just an awesome thing for the community out there.”