Travis Kriens, KORN News Radio Sports Director
The 2025 Class 9B football playoffs begin Thursday with the spotlight on No. 1 Dell Rapids St. Mary and No. 2 Avon, both coming off dominant regular seasons and looking to make deep playoff runs.
Dell Rapids St. Mary (8-0) enters the playoffs as the top seed, having averaged 51 points per game and allowing just nine points per contest. The Cardinals will host No. 16 Irene-Wakonda (1-7), a team they defeated 52-0 in the regular season. St. Mary’s defense has been nearly impenetrable, and they will look to carry that dominance into the postseason.
Avon (7-1), the second seed, has also been a powerhouse this season, scoring 50 points per game while allowing just 13. The Eagles will face No. 15 Oldham-Ramona-Rutland (2-6) in the first round. Despite their strong season, Avon will be motivated by last year’s stunning playoff exit, where they were upset by Canistota in the quarterfinals. Avon will be determined to avoid a similar fate this year.
No. 5 Sully Buttes (7-1), the defending Class 9B champions, will take on No. 12 Hitchcock-Tulare (3-5) in the opening round. Sully Buttes, known for its stifling defense (nine points allowed per game), will be a tough opponent for Hitchcock-Tulare.
No. 6 Herreid/Selby Area (6-2) will meet No. 11 Canistota (3-5), a team that pulled off a major upset last season with a win over Avon. Canistota enters the playoffs as a potential Cinderella story but will have to overcome a tough Herreid/Selby Area squad to repeat last year’s success.
In other matchups, No. 3 Colman-Egan (5-3) will face No. 14 Arlington (3-5). Colman-Egan dominated Arlington earlier in the season with a 50-0 victory, and they will be looking to advance to the next round with a similar performance.
2025 Class 9B First-Round Matchups:
-
No. 1 Dell Rapids St. Mary (8-0) vs. No. 16 Irene-Wakonda (1-7)
-
No. 8 Kadoka Area (4-4) vs. No. 9 Corsica-Stickney (5-3)
-
No. 4 Faulkton Area (5-3) vs. No. 13 Burke (3-5)
-
No. 5 Sully Buttes (7-1) vs. No. 12 Hitchcock-Tulare (3-5)
-
No. 2 Avon (7-1) vs. No. 15 Oldham-Ramona-Rutland (2-6)
-
No. 7 Sioux Falls Lutheran (5-2) vs. No. 10 Iroquois/Lake Preston (5-3)
-
No. 3 Colman-Egan (5-3) vs. No. 14 Arlington (3-5)
-
No. 6 Herreid/Selby Area (6-2) vs. No. 11 Canistota (3-5)
What’s at Stake
Winners from Thursday’s games advance to the quarterfinals next Thursday, October 30. The 2025 Class 9B state championship will be held at the DakotaDome in Vermillion on Thursday, November 13 at 11 am.