Cavaliers Prepare for Fifth Trip to Dome
Local Sports Local
by
Justin Wickersham
last edited on
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
St. Thomas More and Milbank have both qualified for the state football championships over the past several years. However, neither team has ever won a state title. But this year, all that will change at least for one team.
St. Thomas More will play Milbank on Thursday for the Class 11A football title.
The Cavaliers enter the game with a record of 10-1, while the Bulldogs are and 8-3. Neither team is a stranger to state championships.
St. Thomas More will be making its fifth appearance in the past six years, and Milbank has been the Class 11A runner up three different times, the last in 2005.
Although St. Thomas More is the favorite to win, the Cavaliers realize it will be a tough challenge.
Cavaliers Quarterback Jared Jacobson says, "They're big up front. They've got a pretty good quarterback, a pretty good wide receiver. They're a pretty good skilled team. And we're going to have to come out and play the way we can."
Despite four appearances in the championship game, St. Thomas More is still searching for the school's first state football title.
Head Coach Wayne Sullivan says he doesn't believe the team feels any added pressure to win.
Sullivan says, "You know the only pressure is playing for a state title. Again, the past is the past and we've been there. Again, I would challenge any of the 98 teams or 96 that start the playoffs that would not want to be where we are, whether you win or you lose. Playing for the state title is an incredible feat in itself. Not that we're satisfied. That's not it. We want to win a state title."
Over the next three days, six champions will be crowned at the Dakota Dome in Vermillion.
Once again, St. Thomas More and Milbank will battle for the 11A title on Thursday at 1:30 p.m.
The evening game features Winner and Tri-Valley in class 11B at 6:30 p.m.
There will be three games on Friday. Avon is set to defend its title as the Pirates take on Hanson in Class 9A at 10:00 a.m. By the way, Hanson won the Class 9B title in 2008 but moved up to Class 9A in 2009.
The Class 9AA title game features Howard and Emery-Ethan at 1:30 p.m.
Hitchcock-Tulare returns to the Class 9B title game this year. The Patriots will battle Dell Rapids St. Mary on Friday night at 6:30 p.m.
The state football championships wrap up on Saturday with the top two teams in Class 11AA: Aberdeen Central and Sioux Falls Washington at 6:30 p.m.