PINE RIDGE — Initially, Pine Ridge’s Marvin Richard III opted to focus on his senior high school basketball season, and not play football for the Thorpes.

But the multi-sport standout returned to the football field on Sept. 25, powering Pine Ridge to a 53-12 win over St. Francis Indian in All-Nations Football Conference action. Richard III, an all-state quarterback in 2024, tossed a 75-yard touchdown pass to ignite Pine Ridge’s offensive explosion and the Thorpes cruised from there. 

Last season, Richard III led the Thorpes to the Class 9A All-Nations Football Conference championship. He finished with 1,514 passing yards and 20 passing touchdowns, while rushing for 743 yards and 13 more scores. 

Richard III has verbally committed to play college basketball at Division I South Dakota. 

Pine Ridge (2-3) will play at Lower Brule (2-3) on Oct. 2. 

Sept. 25-26 Scores

Crazy Horse 62, Flandreau Indian 26

Little Wound 32, Mahpiya Luta 22

Lower Brule 56, Cheyenne-Eagle Butte/Tiospaye Topa 6 

McLaughlin 54, Omaha Nation (Neb.) 0 

Pine Ridge 53, St. Francis Indian 12

Tiospa Zina 54, Marty 26

White River 66, Crow Creek 0

Winnebago (Neb.) 38, Todd County 8 

Oct. 2-3 Games

Crow Creek at Omaha Nation 

St. Francis Indian at Mahpiya Luta

White River at Crazy Horse 

Marty at Flandreau Indian 

McLaughlin at Tiospa Zina

Pine Ridge at Lower Brule

Todd County at Cheyenne-Eagle Butte/Tiospaye Topa

Little Wound at Winnebago 

Class 9A Standings

Winnebago 5-0

Todd County 4-1

Little Wound 4-1

Mahpiya Luta 2-3

Lower Brule 2-3

Pine Ridge 2-3

St. Francis 1-4

Cheyenne-Eagle Butte/Tiospaye Topa 0-5

Class 9B Standings

McLaughlin 5-0

Omaha Nation 4-1

White River 4-1

Crazy Horse 3-2

Tiospa Zina 2-3

Marty 1-4

Crow Creek 1-4

Flandreau Indian 0-5