By Rich Winter 

605 Sports

Even a cursory glance at the Todd County and Winnebago football teams shows tremendous similarities. 

Both teams are well coached, both feature power running games with big-time running backs in Todd County’s Ty Valandra and Winnebago’s Antrell Harlan and both teams have championship pedigrees in the All-Nations Football Conference. 

Todd County (8-0) takes on Winnebago, Nebraska (7-2) on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. CT at the Dakota Dome in Vermillion. 

Winnebago advanced to the championship game with a 45-20 win over a Pine Ridge team that had beaten it earlier in the season. 

“I felt like we did a great job of holding onto the football and making sure we were doing the things we needed to do to be successful,” Winnebago coach Adam James said. 

Todd County imposed its will in the second half of its semifinal with Cheyenne-Eagle Butte/Tiospaye Topa, winning 44-12. 

“For the most part I felt like we played pretty good,” Todd County coach Bob Kornley said. “They came after us using their size and we made the plays when we needed to in our bend but don't break defense.” 

In that semifinal game, Valandra broke Greg Baker’s single-season rushing record. In eight games this season, Valandra has 1,592 yards and 22 touchdowns. 

In Winnebago’s semifinal win over Pine Ridge, the Indians had three running backs run for more than 100 yards. Harlan 168 yards and four touchdowns, Raiden DeCora had 139 yards and one touchdown and Kaden Kennedy logged 136 yards and two touchdowns. 

Todd County defeated Winnebago, 30-26 on Sept. 21 on the Falcons home field in Mission.

In 2021 Winnebago beat Todd County, 62-12 to win the Class A All-Nations football title. 

In 2022 Todd County beat Red Cloud, 72,26 to win the Class A All-Nations football title. The Falcons are currently on an 18-game winning streak.