VERMILLION, S.D. — St. Thomas More made history Friday afternoon inside the DakotaDome, outlasting Elk Point-Jefferson 48–38 in a high-scoring Class 11B State Championship to secure the Cavaliers’ first-ever state football title.
Senior quarterback Noah Wald was brilliant and earned Joe Robbie MVP honors, throwing for 203 yards and three touchdowns while leading an offense that averaged 8.5 yards per play. The Cavaliers finished a perfect 12-0 season.
Fellow senior Broeden Sales capped his standout career with a championship performance of his own, earning Most Outstanding Back after catching five passes for 167 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-sealing 90-yard score late in the fourth quarter. Lineman Brody Lee was named Most Outstanding Lineman.
A Shootout From the Start
St. Thomas More struck quickly, with Wald hitting Kain McLeod for a 21-yard score less than two minutes into the game. Wald and Sales connected on a 42-yard touchdown minutes later as STM built a 14-0 lead.
Elk Point-Jefferson, entering 11-1 and the defending state champion, leaned on its powerful ground game to stay in it. Brody Van Roekel scored twice in the first half, including a 66-yard burst, while Aiden Hammitt added a touchdown in the final seconds before halftime to cut STM’s lead to 27-24.
Trading Haymakers
EPJ briefly grabbed its only lead of the day early in the third quarter when quarterback Levi Hanson found Hammitt for a 67-yard strike, making it 30-27 Huskies.
The Cavaliers answered with consecutive touchdown drives—a 1-yard plunge by Josh Elder and a 17-yard Wald-to-Sales connection—to reclaim a 41-30 lead entering the fourth.
Hanson powered in from a yard out with 9:51 remaining, and the two-point conversion brought EPJ within 41-38.
The Championship Play
Facing pressure in the final minutes, STM reached into its playbook for a bit of razzle-dazzle. McLeod, lined up at quarterback, hit Sales in stride for a stunning 90-yard touchdown with 3:16 left. The score pushed the lead back to 10 and effectively ended EPJ’s comeback hopes.
Ground Game Kept EPJ Close
The Huskies rolled up 407 rushing yards, led by:
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Beau Schmitz: 163 yards
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Brody Van Roekel: 111 yards, 2 TD
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Luke Schmitz: 102 yards
But STM’s efficiency through the air—293 passing yards on 16-of-18 combined completions—proved too much to overcome.
Defensive Efforts
STM linebacker Josh Elder led all defenders with 13 tackles and a sack. Lee added a forced fumble and an interception return.
Hanson led EPJ with six tackles on defense while contributing a rushing and passing touchdown.
A Historic Finish
With the win, St. Thomas More closes its first championship season at 12-0, while Elk Point-Jefferson finishes 11-1.