By Rich Winter
605 Sports

PINE RIDE --- Saturday’s All-Nations Football Conference Class A semifinal showdown between Winnebago and Pine Ridge has all the ingredients for a classic. 

Both teams have talent, both are well coached and both navigated the regular season with 6-2 records. The lightning rod that adds some extra juice to Saturday’s game is that the teams met on opening day, Aug. 31. That game had multiple lead changes, six fumbles from Winnebago and a late, go-ahead touchdown from Pine Ridge that probably stung for the Indians. 

“We didn’t know they had new kids in (Marvin Richard III and Domonic Ghost Bear) and our kids thought they would be like Pine Ridge last year,” Winnebago coach Adam James said. “And you don’t win very many football games when you fumble it six times.”

Winnebago runs the football, it has the athletes to produce and the linemen to get the job done, said James.  

“The truth was we really only had Antrell Harlan and Kaden Kennedy with any experience,” James said. “Our front five was all new. I think that loss was an early wake-up call that kept our kids focused during our early season.

The Pine Ridge players and coaches had a completely different reaction to a win over a team like Winnebago with championship pedigree. 

“Winnebago has been such a powerhouse,” Pine Ridge coach Teddy Pedregon said. “For us getting that win was like getting a win over Mike Tyson. That was probably the biggest football win we’ve had in the last 10 years and that game energy carried over to our early practices and even the kids attending school.” 

The following week Pine Ridge lost to Todd County, 40-18.

That high-powered connection of Richard III and Ghost Bear had the offense averaging 45 points in wins over Standing Rock, North Dakota, and Little Wound. The only other blemish for the Thorpes was a 30-22 road loss to Cheyenne-Eagle Butte/Tiospaye Topa in a game that Pedregon said the boys were just flat that night. 

And then Richard III injured his shoulder diving for a short gain. 

“Xavier Little stepped in and has done a really good job for us,” Pedregon said. “In his first game he threw for over 400 yards. He reminds me of the way Marcus Mariota played when he was at Oregon.”

The Thorpe offense has generated most of the buzz this season but every now and then Pedregon looks at his defense and shakes his head. 

“Our defense is physical and sometimes I look at them and am just amazed at how hard they play,” Pedregon said. 

“Christian Pulliam has like six interceptions and Daelyn LeBeaux has played really well at corner and Jesse Hagen and Anthony Little kind of bring it all together for us from their linebacker slots,” Pedregon said. 

“The line is amazing and Antrell Harlan is an absolute gamer,” Pedregon said. 

In Tuesday’s 47-0 playoff win over Little Wound, the Indians had seven backs that contributed at least 15 yards. Six of those players found the end zone. 

That offensive growth has coach Pedregon worried about who is going to be touching the ball and where they are going to get their looks on Saturday.

Even with light snow expected Saturday, the Winnebago coaching staff says six fumbles isn’t happening again.

“We’ve put a lot of emphasis on ball security since that first game and I think the guys are ready,” James said.

Todd County hosts Cheyenne-Eagle Butte/Tiospaye Topa on Friday in a game that starts at 7:00 p.m. CST

Todd County hosts Cheyenne-Eagle Butte/Tiospaye Topa in other Class A semifinal

MISSION — The 2023 season has been a bit of a coming out party for the Cheyenne-Eagle Butte/Tiospaye Topa football team. 

After losing a bit of a head scratcher (42-8) in their season opener to St. Francis, all the Braves have done was improve every game since that opener. Heading into Friday’s 7 p.m. CT semifinal against No. 1 seed Todd County, the Braves have won 4-of-5 and that includes a 30-22 win over No. 2 seed Pine Ridge. 

Cheyenne-Eagle Butte/Tiospaye Topa had the steadying influence of senior quarterback Tell Murray, a transfer from Timber Lake. Junior running back Danah Diver is a big, fast and talented running back. Joining Diver and Murray on the All-Nations all-conference team was junior back Austin Johnson. 

A defense led by Brock Ducheneaux and Destinn Straighthead has seen dramatic improvements in just the last few weeks.

If anything is a certainty with Todd County football, is the Falcons like to run the football. Junior Ty Valandra is the headliner but the Falcons also placed Stryder Yellow Eagle, Michael Rogers and Drake Espinoza on the all-conference running back list. Offensive lineman Aden Good Voice on the all conference list. 

Senior wide receiver Wakiyan Sa Salwyn made the all-conference team and this is the first year he’s ever played tackle football. 

Todd County defeated Little Wound 42-12 on Sept. 16.