VERMILLION — The Wall Eagles hoisted their elusive Class 9AA state championship trophy. 

The Eagles, who have painfully fallen short of reaching the DakotaDome in recent years, broke through in a big way on Friday and claimed a 34-14 win over Parkston for the state championship. It was Wall’s first trip to the DakotaDome since 2011 and it has lost in the semifinals in three of the past four seasons. 

“The feeling is incredible,” Wall senior Blair Blasius said. “We put in so much time and effort in the offseason and during the season to get to where we are and to be a championship team. I can’t even describe the feeling. It’s incredible right now.”

The agony of those semifinal defeats were put in the rearview mirror and Wall (12-0) claimed its third state championship in program history. 

“It feels tremendous,” said Wall junior Burk Blasius, the Joe Robbie MVP and most outstanding back. “It’s been a long time coming, a lot of our guys have played since they were freshmen and sophomores. To finally break through that door and make it to the Dome is a big accomplishment and to win it was even better.”

Wall hoists the Class 9AA state championship on Friday at the DakotaDome in Vermillion. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Blasius completed 24 of 38 passes for 298 yards and four passing touchdowns. Cedar Amiotte added 222 rushing yards on 32 carries and hauled in 104 receiving yards. Rylan McDonnell and Thane Simons caught two touchdown receptions apiece. 

Defensively, the Eagles forced six turnovers and intercepted Parkston quarterback Kaleb Weber twice. 

“We have multiple weapons on our team and we knew it all along and had faith in our guys,” Wall coach Lex Heathershaw said. “It was an absolute team win.” 

The Eagles were on the right side of seemingly every big play on Friday. It started with Quinn Moon’s blocked punt and score on Parkston’s opening possession of the game. 

“Quinn’s first touchdown was crazy,” Blair Blasius said. “That put us at such an advantage to be a defensive score. That just set the tone right there.” 

The Trojans (10-2) were backed up at their own 16-yard line and Wall forced a three and out. That’s when Moon broke through the line, blocked the punt and rumbled into the end zone. 

“I just got through and blocked it and I saw (Parkston’s Jesse Newton), started running for it and I picked it up and ran it in,” said Moon about his first-ever career blocked punt. “... That was amazing. It was the best feeling of my life.” 

After Wall’s Norman Livermont sacked Weber on fourth down, Blair Blasius booted a 34-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead. 

Weber capped off a 12-play drive with a four-yard rushing touchdown and Brayden Jervik’s two-point conversion cut the deficit to 10-8. 

The Eagles responded with two passing touchdowns to take a 24-8 lead into halftime. Burk Blasius threw a 22-yard passing touchdown to Thane Simons on 4th and 3. 

Wall quarterback Burk Blasius looks to pass during the first half of the Eagles 34-14 win over Parkston in the 9AA championship on Friday at the DakotaDome in Vermillion. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

“Thane Simons, he is a quick wide receiver and we had him release on a corner route and he came open and I threw it to him and it worked out,” Burk Blasius said. 

Wall kept the momentum rolling on Parkston’s next series. James Livermont sacked Weber and forced a fumble, which was recovered by Moon. 

On the final play of the second quarter, Burk Blasius connected with McDonnell for a nine-yard touchdown pass as time expired. 

Parkston’s Kolter Kramer TD run cut Wall’s lead to 24-14 with 5:26 left in the third quarter. The Eagles’ defense then again came up big. 

On fourth down at Wall’s six-yard line, Weber was sacked by Kaylen Spotted Bear to turn the ball over on downs early in the final quarter. It was one of Wall’s 10 sacks. 

“Our backers did great and they filled perfectly,” Norman Livermont said. “There were a couple mistakes, but we cleaned that up and our D-Line. We’d get through there and our backers would clear everything up and everything worked out as best as possible.” 

Wall’s Brodi Sundall thwarted another Parkston drive when he intercepted Weber to preserve the 24-14 lead with 6:13 left. 

It set up a Blair Blasius career-long 40-yard field goal and a 27-14 advantage. Blasius’ leg was also an X-factor as he either kicked touchbacks or pinned Parkston deep on his booming kickoffs. 

“I am proud of our special teams and Blair for his field goals,” Heathershaw said. “It was absolutely awesome.”

Sundall cemented the state championship with a three-yard touchdown run and gave the West River community a championship it's been starving for in recent years. 

“It’s great to bring some pride back to West River and some small towns,” Burk Blasius said. “It feels good.” 

Parkston’s Luke Bormann runs for a short gain during the first half of the Trojans’ 34-14 loss to Wall in the 9AA championship game on Friday at the DakotaDome in Vermillion. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Kramer recorded 162 rushing yards on 24 carries. Weber completed 20 of 26 passes for 292 passing yards. Parkston was playing in its first state championship game since 2014. The Trojans were making their first nine-man football championship game appearance.

But the day belonged to Wall, which climbed atop the ultra-competitive Class 9AA mountain this season. The class featured two undefeated teams and two one-loss teams in the semifinal round. 

“Every team we played this year, props to them,” Heathershaw said. “Because all these kids are working hard and that’s what South Dakota sports is all about. It’s for the kids. So I am proud of our guys, but I am also proud of Parkston for how hard they worked and for the teams before us who played and just hats off to South Dakota and I am glad to be a part of it.”