St. Thomas More Seeks Consecutive South Dakota Title in High-Scoring Rematch

St. Thomas More plays Elk Point-Jefferson for the Class 11B state championship at 9 a.m. Mountain Time on Friday, November 13. The matchup marks the eighth time the Cavaliers have competed in the state final since 2004 and serves as a direct rematch of last season's title game.

Defending champion St. Thomas More enters the contest with a strong scoring offense. The team averages 43 points per game while allowing 13.6. Over the course of the season, the Cavaliers have accumulated more than 2,500 passing yards and over 1,700 rushing yards. Their previous appearance in the state final resulted in a 48-38 victory over Elk Point-Jefferson, a score that established a new record for combined points in a Class 11B championship game.

Elk Point-Jefferson presents a different defensive profile. The Huskies average 35 points per contest but surrender only eight points per game. Their defensive strength centers on limiting explosive plays, a task that will be critical against the Cavaliers' dual-threat attack. The Huskies rely on their balanced offensive approach to sustain drives against a high-powered scoring rival.

The key matchup involves St. Thomas More's defense containing running back Brody Van Roekel. Van Roekel has rushed for more than 1,200 yards and scored 19 touchdowns this season. Head coach Nick Wald acknowledged the physical nature of the Huskies, stating that his team must create stops on defense and play sound football on offense. Wald emphasized that the game will likely come down to which team can force the other into difficult downs.

The final two teams in each South Dakota classification emerged from a playoff field of 88. The upcoming game at the DakotaDome will determine the new Class 11B champions. Both programs have maintained high scoring averages throughout their respective paths to the final, setting the stage for another high-scoring encounter.