Wall senior Cedar Amiotte (13) continued to impress on both sides of the ball. (Photo by Michele Davies)
WALL—After the tough quarterfinal game the Wall Eagles fought against Bon Homme last week, hosting once beaten Hamlin in the semis looked like an even tougher task. Even though it was no cake walk, the Eagles were playing great football and came away with the win, 26-13, earning a trip to the 9AA title game next Friday morning at the Dakota Dome in Vermillion.
Quarterback Burk Blasius opened scoring for Wall with a six-yard TD run, the PAT from his brother Blair was good, and Wall led, 7-0. Blair showed off his leg in the next quarter by booting a 25-yard field goal with 18 seconds left in the half.
Hamlin got their first score in the second half, when Tyson Stevenson hooked up with Evan Stormo for a 70-yard score but Wall still led, 10-7.
Later in the third, Cedar Amiotte scored from six yards out, Blair’s PAT no good, and Wall led, 16-6.
The quarter still wasn’t over, and Amiotte still wasn’t done, as one minute later he ran 39 yards for another TD, and this time the Blasius kick was good, and it was Wall on top, 23-7.
Blasius then got another try at a field goal, this time a 30-yarder, and he nailed it, putting Wall up, 26-7.
With no time on the clock, Hamlin showed they still had a fighting heart as Stevenson tossed a 33-yard TD pass to Luke Fraser, giving the final score, 26-13.
Stevenson was 13 for 29 for Hamlin for 275 yards. He had two TDs and two interceptions. Burk Blasius was 13 for 23 for Wall, for 167 yards. Fraser led Hamlin rushers with 60 yards on 17 carries, for 3.5 yards per carry. Amiotte led all rushers with 118 yards on 18 attempts for two TDs and 7.1 yards per carry. Stormo had five receptions for 175 yards. Amiotte had four receptions for 83 yards.
Hamlin’s Zac VanMeeteren led all tacklers with 10, while Brodi Sundall led Wall tacklers with 6.5.
Wall will meet Parkston for the 9AA title this Friday under the Dakota Dome at 9:30 am. Parkston defeated previously unbeaten Elkton-Lake Benton, 36-8, in their semi. Their only loss on the season was to Hanson, 8-6. Wall and Parkston share two common opponents.
Wall beat Kimball/White Lake, 54-0. Parkston beat Kimball/White Lake, 36-8. Wall beat Bon Homme, 20-12. Parkston beat Bon Homme, 16-9. Going strictly by those combined results as predictor, Wall should beat Parkston by 27 points, but given it is a championship game, it will probably be half of that. Prediction here is Wall wins by two touchdowns.
OTHER PLAYOFF RESULTS
The championship football games are set for this week at the Dakota Dome in Vermillion. On Thursday, two undefeated teams will square off for the 9B title, (1) Herreid/Selby v (2) Hitchcock Tulare. Against common opponents they scored nearly the same points, Herreid-Selby 110, Hitchcock-Tulare, 106. But Hitchcock-Tulare gave up zero points and mercy ruled both teams, whereas Herreid-Selby gave up 40 points and mercy ruled neither. Hitchcock-Tulare should win this game by 18 points.
Thursday night, Undefeated Warner takes on once beaten Gregory in the 9A championship. They have no common opponents, however Warner did beat 9AA Hamlin, 8-6. Gregory lost to 9AA Parkston, 32-25. However Parkston is better than Hamlin. Warner is a slight favorite, but there is usually at least one upset and this one is order made for that. Gregory by a touchdown.
Every year the pick to win 11B is very easy and this year no exception. The unbeaten Winner Warriors will win it again, over Elk Point-Jefferson on Friday. They usually win by at least three touchdowns and so they will here.
In the other Friday game, Dell Rapids is unbeaten at 11A and West Central has one loss at 10-1. But that loss came to Winner, and had Dell Rapids played Winner, they’d have one loss, too. But a host of common opponents indicate that Dell Rapids can score more and defend better. Dell Rapids in this one, by 12 points.
On Saturday, it’s a showdown at 11AA between unbeaten Pierre and once beaten Tea Area, that one loss coming to Pierre. Nothing will change in this game, Pierre by 18.
Undefeated Sioux Falls Jefferson is the dominant 11AAA school, and they should have little trouble with Harrisburg in the other Friday game. Harrisburg has two losses, one a 43-13 opening day loss to SF Jefferson. Not a tough call, SF Jefferson by 24.
(Contact James Giago Davies at skindiesel@msn.com)
Leave a Reply