With a roster featuring many recent Parkston and Mitchell High School products, the Rays are making their debut as a club this season, giving Parkston two amateur teams once again.
In the past year alone, Mitchell's regional economic development leader and rural development corporations have helped bring $3.75 million in new housing to small surrounding Mitchell communities.
After both falling short in the semifinal round during the 2021 postseason, the Trojans and the Eagles made title game breakthroughs this season and will meet for the Class 9AA crown at 10:30 a.m. Friday, in Vermillion.
For sixth-seeded Parkston (9-1), its football tradition is rich, but all four state title game appearances came when the program was still in Class 11B, the most recent being a title-winning season in 2014.
The Tigers and Trojans each advanced through the nine-man quarterfinal round (albeit in different classes) last season, but for one program, the chase for a state title in a loaded Class 9AA bracket ends on Thursday night.
