How they got here

• Yankton handled Sturgis 41–28 in the semifinal at Crane-Youngworth; RB Jace Sedlacek piled up 170-ish rushing yards and QB Tate Beste tossed two TDs. Earlier, the Bucks survived Spearfish 12–7 in the quarters. Sioux Falls Live+2KYNT-AM+2

• Pierre T.F. Riggs avenged a Week-2 loss by beating Huron 28–13 on the road; in the quarters, sophomore QB Jerren Deal fired 4 TDs as the Govs thumped Tea 41–7. Sioux Falls Live+2MaxPreps+2

Season snapshot & form guide (Aug. 15–Nov. 8)

• Yankton (9–2): No. 1 seed, steady all fall with a hiccup at Sturgis on Oct. 3… then five straight wins into the Dome, capped by Friday’s 41–28 semifinal. Sioux Falls Live+2Rapid City NewsCenter1+2

• Pierre (8–3): No. 3 seed, offense ignited in October — 41.4 ppg over a 5-game win streak into the final (44–0 Sturgis, 45–28 Spearfish, 49–0 Douglas, 41–7 Tea, 28–13 Huron). MaxPreps

Head-to-head

They already traded blows Sept. 26 in Yankton: Bucks 35, Govs 28. That’s the freshest data point — and it came with both offenses landing explosives. MaxPreps

Matchups that swing it

• Pierre’s vertical game vs. Yankton’s back end: Deal has leaned on big hitters to Carter Schiefelbein (1,100+ yds on the season), Cooper Terwilliger, and Ayden Behm — that trio torched Tea in the quarterfinal. Limiting chunk plays is priority No. 1 for the Bucks. KCCR-AM+1

• Sedlacek/Beste balance: Yankton’s best look blends Sedlacek’s downhill carries with Beste’s high-efficiency throws; the semifinal and late-October wins reflected that rhythm. KYNT-AM+1

• Turnovers & field position: The Bucks’ lone stumble came with giveaways in the Sturgis upset; in tight Dome games, a single takeaway flips the script. KBHB Radio

• Red-zone defense: Pierre’s five-game heater still leaned on timely stops (Tea held to 7; Huron to 13). If the Govs force threes, they can control the tempo. Sioux Falls Live+1

Players to watch

• Pierre: QB Jerren Deal (4 TD vs Tea), WR Carter Schiefelbein (record-chasing season), TE Cooper Terwilliger (deep-shot threat), DB Sutton Sonnenschein (drive-killing pick vs Tea). Sioux Falls Live+2KCCR-AM+2

• Yankton: RB Jace Sedlacek (workhorse; 160–176 yds in recent playoff wins), QB Tate Beste (efficient in semis; 259 yds in Oct. 3 shootout), WR Owen Eidsness (12-for-196, 2 TD in that Sturgis game), WR/DB Cale Haselhorst (pick-six + TD vs Mitchell). KYNT-AM+2KBHB Radio+2

Context & pedigree

Pierre’s modern standard is unmatched — seven straight 11AA titles (2017–2023) — before Watertown ended the run in the 2024 final. Yankton’s been on that stage too, including the 2023 loss to Pierre, and now comes in as top seed. SDPB+1

Reporter’s read

Yankton has the higher seed and the Sept. 26 win in its pocket, but this Pierre offense isn’t the September version — it’s been bombing away for a month. The opener (first TD) and turnover margin will decide a one-score game. Slight lean to Yankton if they keep Pierre’s explosives to two or fewer; otherwise, the Govs’ vertical shots and recent defensive stinginess make an upset very live. MaxPreps+1

When/where/how to watch: Friday, Nov. 14, 7:00 p.m. CT, DakotaDome (Vermillion); SDHSAA championship slate & tickets available.