Trojans, Phoenix clash again with Class 9AA title game bid at stake

Nov. 7—PARKSTON, S.D. — As the No. 1 seed and carrying a 22-game win streak into Friday’s state football semifinals, the Parkston Trojans are on the doorstep of a third consecutive Class 9AA title game appearance.

And standing in the way on Friday night is a familiar foe in the fifth-seeded Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy Phoenix.

It’s a matchup of two of the most explosive offenses in Class 9AA, as both sides average upward of 43 points per game. On the strength of 276 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns from star running back Kolter Kramer, the Parkston offense held up its end while the defense derailed FMFA in a 42-14 Week 1 victory.

On the season, the Trojans (10-0) have allowed just 10.9 points per game, the third-best mark in the class, as they’ll look to keep FMFA in check once again. That unit is also coming off of a five-takeaway effort in a 40-6 rout of Leola/Frederick Area in the quarterfinals.

As the Phoenix (8-2), who ventured west to knock off No. 4 Hill City 36-26 in the quarterfinals for a seventh-straight win, attempt to overcome Parkston’s staunch defense, they’ll look to lean on a prolific, balanced attack that has produced 258 passing yards and 154 rushing yards per contest.

Junior quarterback Riley Tschetter leads the way with 2,328 yards and 26 touchdowns through the air, along with 447 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground. With Chris Aasen’s 773 yards and nine scoring receptions as tops on the team, FMFA has five players with at least three receiving touchdowns, including leading rusher Dominic Sperling. As the lead back, Sperling has 917 yards from scrimmage with 15 total touchdowns.

In Year 3 as a program, FMFA is playing in its first-ever state semifinal, and the team has amassed a record of 22-8 in that span.

HOWARD, S.D. — It’ll be a battle of two 10-0 squads when No. 2 Howard…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/trojans-phoenix-clash-again-class-004600397.html

Author : The Daily Republic, Mitchell, S.D.

Publish date : 2024-11-08 00:46:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

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