HERREID – The top-ranked team all season in Class 9B has the opportunity to be on top when it matters most: in the championship game.
Herreid/Selby Area will again play for its first state championship Thursday against Hitchcock-Tulare at the DakotaDome in Vermillion.
The Wolverines are 11-0 after a 62-30 semifinal win last Friday in Herreid over Irene-Wakonda. Senior running back Brenden Begeman rushed for 322 yards and five touchdowns. H/SA has scored fewer than 44 points in a game only once this season, in their season-opening 30-14 victory at Timber Lake on August 26.
Hitchcock-Tulare is the only other 11-0 team in 9B. The Patriots’ 48-0 semifinal win last Friday over De Smet in Tulare was their fourth consecutive shutout and seventh this season. Seven of Hitchcock-Tulare’s 11 wins have been at at least 50 points.
Herreid/Selby Area Head Coach Clayton Randall said that a fast start will be especially needed in this title game.
Randall knows that there is the chance that Hitchcock-Tulare’s aggressive defense may focus on stopping Begeman. Randall says that if that happens, quarterback Tray Hettick can provide an answer.
Randall said that the Wolverines are excited for this chance, but are determined not to fall short in a championship game for the third time.
Randall expressed respect for Hitchcock-Tulare.
Herreid/Selby Area lost in championship games in 2019, 58-6 to Colman-Egan in 9B and in 2021, 55-18 to Howard in 9A. Hitchcock-Tulare won 9B championships in 1992 & 2009 and has lost in four other title games.
Coverage of Thursday’s game can be heard at 10:30 AM on 100.7 KMLO, the KMLO page at the DRG News app and at drgnews.com/kmlo. KC Meiners will call the action.
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