South Dakota 11A Football Championship matchup

South Dakota 11A Football Championship matchup

How they got here

  • Sioux Falls Christian blanked West Central 35–0 in the semifinal.

  • Lennox edged Dell Rapids 15–14 to punch its return ticket to Vermillion. 

Season snapshot

The Chargers enter 11–0 with a class-best profile on both sides of the ball—~41 ppg scored, ~7 ppg allowed entering the playoffs. Lennox is 9–2, riding a long win streak after a rocky September, and has sat No. 2 in 11A scoring offense (~34 ppg) and No. 2 in scoring defense (~13 ppg) down the stretch. MaxPreps+1

Head-to-head & recent history

These Dak-XII rivals met Sept. 12: SFC 17, Lennox 0—the Chargers’ closest game of the season. One year ago, though, Lennox beat SFC 14–6 for the 2024 11A crown, while SFC’s previous state titles came in 11B (2017, 2018). MaxPreps+2argusleader.com+2

Matchups that matter

  • Chargers’ front seven vs. Orioles’ ground game: SFC’s defense has been stingy all fall; Lennox’s surge has been fueled by balance and line play. SFC’s playmakers include DE Dawson Unruh (TFLs, sacks) and FS Tate Connell (takeaways). Lennox counters with a productive run game and a defense led by LB Jevyn Lefers, DL Leif Karlson, and two-way standout Tate Gerdes. Sioux Falls Live

  • QB efficiency: Sophomore Cooper Strande (SFC) has operated cleanly (efficient completion rate, multi-TD production), while Lennox has leaned on situational throws and QB toughness; explosive plays will be at a premium in a Dome title game. Sioux Falls Live

  • Field position & special teams: In a series that’s produced 17–0 and 14–6 finals the past two meetings, hidden yards and mistake-free drives loom large. (Supported by both teams’ defensive metrics and recent scorelines.) Sioux Falls Live+1

Players to watch

  • Sioux Falls Christian: QB Cooper Strande; RBs Jensen Pixler & Tate Connell; WR Brant Wassenaar; LB Lincoln Olseth; DE Dawson Unruh—a core that powered the Chargers’ top-ranked offense/defense. Sioux Falls Live

  • Lennox: RB Shayden Olean (featured rusher), QB/DB Tate Gerdes (two-way impact), LB Jevyn Lefers, DL Leif Karlson—pillars of an Orioles defense that tightened through October. MaxPreps+1

Numbers that tell the story

  • 41.5 / 5–7 — SFC’s approximate scoring average and points allowed entering the postseason. 

  • ~34 / ~13 — Lennox’s late-season scoring offense/defense marks.

  • 17–0 — SFC over Lennox on Sept. 12 (this year’s data point). 

  • 15–14 — Lennox’s semifinal win at Dell Rapids (clutch, one-score proof). 

Reporter’s read

Christian owns the season’s best résumé and the head-to-head, plus a defense built for championship tempo. Lennox arrives battle-hardened, with a defense that’s matched top offenses and the confidence of last November, however SFC's offense is rolling. Expect a possession game: the first touchdown may be decisive, and a single takeaway could swing it. Edge to the Chargers on aggregate form—unless Lennox’s run game and red-zone defense recreate last year’s script, to keep it close.



When/where: Class 11A championship—Saturday, Nov. 15, 12:00 p.m. CT, DakotaDome (Vermillion).

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