By 605 Sports Staff

For a second consecutive season Todd County running back Ty Valandra has been named the Most Valuable Player of the All-Nations Football Conference. 

Valandra finished this season rushing for 1,171 yards and 11 touchdowns. Valandra also caught nine passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns. Valandra had 47 tackles on defense, five of them for losses as the Falcons finished the season 5-4.

Valandra finished his career with 4,267 rushing yards and 47 rushing touchdowns. 

The All-Natons Football Conference all-state team is filled with explosive offensive players and dynamic defensive players. 

All-Nations Football Conference - Offensive All-State team

Quarterback - Marvin Richard III, Pine Ridge, junior

Despite missing a good chunk of the season with an ankle injury, the junior finished with 1,514 passing yards and 20 passing touchdowns. Richard III also rushed for 743 yards and had 13 rushing touchdowns. In Pine Ridge’s 42-40 double-overtime Class 9A title game win against Winnebago, Nebraska, Richard III tossed three touchdown passes and threw for 165 yards. He also ran for 65 yards and had two rushing touchdowns as the Thorpes finished their season 9-1. 

Running Backs:

Anthony Steele, Pine Ridge, senior

A swiss-army knife player who was the heart and soul of the Class 9A All-Nations champion Thorpes. While Richard III was nursing an ankle injury Steele stepped in and played quarterback. Steele finished his senior season with 1,036 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns. Steele also finished the year 325 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Steele was named the Jim Thorpe MVP of the Class 9A All-Nations championship game. 

Adarius Flemister, Winnebago, Nebraska, junior

Only a junior Flemister was a home run threat every time he touched the ball on offense and special teams. In the All-Nations Class 9A championship game Flemister had touchdown runs of 17, 7 and 78 yards. An outstanding track athlete, Flemister finished the year rushing for 1,325 yards and 17 touchdowns as the Indians finished the season 9-1.

Ty Valandra, Todd County, senior

Valandra finished his career as the all-time leading rusher in the All-Nations Football Conference. Valandra had three consecutive 1,000 yard seasons topped by 1,748 yards and 22 touchdowns during his junior campaign. Valandra helped the Falcons win back-to-back Class A titles in 2022 and ‘23. 

Nate Middletent, Lower Brule, junior

A bruising 225-pound junior, Middletent had a brilliant junior campaign finishing with 1,111 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns. His Lower Brule team capped a perfect 10-0 season with a 60-8 win over White River in the All-Nations Class 9B Championship game. Middletent scored five touchdowns in that championship game, four rushing and one on a fumble recovery. 

Wide Receivers:

Domonic Ghost Bear, Pine Ridge, senior

One of the most explosive players the All-Nations Football Conference has ever seen. Ghost Bear wrapped up his senior season with 1,556 yards receiving and 25 touchdowns. Prior to the Class 9A semifinal game against Mahpiya Luta, Ghost Bear was honored for going over 3,000 receiving yards for his career. In the 42-40 double OT win over Winnebago, Ghost Bear had touchdown receptions of 31 and eight yards despite being triple teamed most of the game. 

Daelen LeBeaux, Little Wound, senior

A 5-feet-7 130 pound speedster, LeBeaux had a breakout senior season with 777 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. LeBeaux and fellow receiver Kinyan Luta Catches Enemy both eclipsed 1,000 career receiving yards this season. The Mustangs finished the year 6-4 and reached the All-Nations Class 9A semifinals where they fell 34-20 to Winnebago, Nebraska. 

Tight End - Teshaun Marshall, Todd County, senior

A 6-feet-4, 180 pound specimen Marshall had 294 yards receiving and eight touchdowns for the 5-4 Falcons. 

Offensive Line

Jared Doxey, Winnebago, Junior

A 6-feet-2, 240 pound lineman who was dominant on both sides of the ball for the 9-1 Winnebago Indians. A run first team, when the Indians needed yards they often ran behind the quick and agile Doxey. 

Ashton LaPointe, Winnebago, Junior

A 6-feet-4, 250 pound roadgrader, LaPointe teamed with Doxey to form one of the most imposing offensive lines in the All-Nations Football Conference. 

Randy Brave, Todd County, senior

A 6-feet, 315 pound senior helped pave the way for a Falcons team that finished the season with 2,103 yards and 23 touchdowns.

Sid Walters, Lower Brule, Senior

A punishing inside blocker, Walters helped pave the way for an undefeated Sioux team that rushed for 2,062 yards this season. Walters has been part of three consecutive championship teams for the Sioux who haven’t lost since the 2021 season when they finished 4-4 

Defensive Line

Destinn Straighthead, Cheyenne Eagle Butte/Tiospa Topa, junior

A 6-feet-1, 280 pound junior, Straighthead finished with 44 tackles, three sacks and an interception. 

Delrae St. Cloud, Lower Brule senior

The senior led a stout Lower Brule defense that gave up just 26 points on the season. Part of three Lower Brule championships, St. Cloud capped his senior season with 28.5 tackles, 14 sacks and 18 tackles for loss. 

Delbert Peters, Pine Ridge, senior

An absolute disrupter on defense Peters had a monstrous senior season. The 6-feet-2, 235 pound senior finished with 76 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, 17 sacks and five fumble recoveries. 

Carver Rahn, Todd County junior

Rahn had a breakout junior season with 31 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four sacks and a fumble recovery. 

Linebackers

Daniel Davis, Pine Ridge, Senior

Was a stalwart on both sides of the ball for the Thorpes this season. From his linebacker position, Davis finished with 87 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, seven sacks, two interceptions and six forced fumbles. 

Kendrick Easter, Todd County, Junior

A rangy junior, Easter finished with 69 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three pass deflections, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. 

Nicolas Flute, Lower Brule, Junior

A repeat all-stater for that stout Lower Brule defense. Flute finished the season with 43 tackles, one sack and 3.5 tackles for loss. 

Santiago Perra-Munoz, Little Wound, Senior

Part of a Mustang defense that improved as the season progressed. Perra-Munoz finished with 63.5 tackles, 1.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and 4.5 tackles for loss. 

Defensive Backs

Jamison O’Rourke, Little Wound, Senior

Finished with 32.5 tackles, one tackle for a loss, one interception and eight pass deflections.

Elijah White Bear, Winnebago, Nebraska, Junior

Whitebear was part of a Winnebago defense that had three shutouts this season. The junior finished with 26 tackles and five interceptions.

Elliot LaRoche, Lower Brule, Senior

The backbone of the Lower Brule secondary, LaRoche finished his senior season with 28 tackles, six interceptions and two touchdowns. LaRoche was named the defensive player of the game as the Sioux beat White River 60-8 to win the All-Nations Class 9B championship. 

Special Teams

Harold Heinert, Todd County, Senior, Long Snapper

Kristin Cayou, Omaha Nation, Junior

Played a variety of positions that included running back, defensive back, kick returner and long snapper. 

Athlete

Cashus Hunter, Little Wound, Senior

Had a tremendous senior season leading Little Wound to a 6-4 record and reaching the All-Nations Class 9A semi-finals. Hunter passed for 1,889 yards and had 31 passing touchdowns. He also rushed for 320 yards with six touchdowns and had six interceptions on defense. 

Isaiah Felicia, Lower Brule, Junior

Felicia was an explosive part of a Lower Brule that averaged well over 50 points per game. The junior finished with 710 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns this season. 

Honorable mention

Keenan Kaaihue, Omaha Nation, Junior

Played both quarterback and cornerback and finished his season with 548 passing yards and nine touchdowns. He also rushed for 677 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Tayven Wolfe, Omana Nation, Senior

Played both running back and linebacker for the Chiefs. Finished the season with 602 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. 

Danah Diver, Cheyenne-Eagle Butte/Tiospa Topa, Senior

The senior running back finished his season with 586 rushing yards and six touchdowns. 

Kinyan Luta Catches Enemy, Little Wound, Senior

The 6-feet-7 senior had 486 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns this season and eclipsed 1,000 career receiving yards. 

Dayson Kennedy, Cheyenne-Eagle Butte/Tiospaye Topa, Junior

Led the Braves with 325 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

Easton Lawrence, Cheyenne-Eagle Butte/Tiospaye Topa, Senior

Dominated on both sides of the ball on the offensive and defensive line. Also played tight end for the Braves. 

Jesse Hagen, Pine Ridge, Senior, Offensive Line

Raiden DeCora, Winnebago, Nebraska, Sophomore

DeCora was a physical presence on both sides of the ball for the 9-1 Indians. Decora finished with 47 tackles, six sacks, 12 tackles for loss, one interception and three fumble recoveries. 

Jacoby Carry Moccasin, McLaughlin, Freshman

This ninth grader had a breakout season finishing with 25 tackles and six pass breakups while playing multiple positions for the Mustangs. 

Angelo Jones, Winnebago, Nebraska, Sophomore

Part of a superb sophomore class for Winnebago, Jones finished with 47 tackles, two sacks, six interceptions and a fumble recovery. 

Ladanian Crazy Thunder, Pine Ridge, Junior

Finished the season with 46 tackles, five interceptions, 10 tackles for loss, three sacks and 22 pass break ups. 

Michael Callie, Pine Ridge, Senior, Return Specialist

Kenny Pulliam, Pine Ridge, Senior

This defensive lineman finished with 49 tackles, six tackles for loss and eight sacks. 

Draymond Bertucci, Omaha Nation, Nebraska, Sophomore

Played both tight end and defensive end for the Chiefs. Finished the season with 48 tackles, 21 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. 

Landon Yellow Hawk, Little Wound, Senior

This Mustang linebacker finished with 61.5 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, two interceptions, one touchdown, one forced fumble and four sacks.