By Rich Winter

605 Sports

There is no shortage of drama in the A Division of the All-Nations Football Conference semifinals.

The class features the top four teams from the division as Todd County, Winnebago, Neb., Red Cloud and Standing Rock, ND., have combined for 31 wins against just five losses.

No. 1 Todd County (9-0) faces off against No. 5 Winnebago (7-2) in a rematch of the 2021 A Division championship. The Falcons defeated the Indians 36-20 during their regular season matchup on Sept. 16.  

The Falcons boast a stable of running backs led by sophomore Ty Valandra, who has rushed for 1,029 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. Bruising senior Rocky Wiedman has rushed for 319 yards this season while scoring seven rushing touchdowns. 

Winnebago boasts two backs that have gone over 1,000 yards this season. Junior running back Antrell Harlan, the 5-foot-11, 205 pounder has rushed for 1,039 yards this season with 21 touchdowns. Senior Destin Vargas has 18 rushing touchdowns and has 1,000 rushing yards this season.  Senior running back Duran Blackfish Jr., is equally adept at rushing the ball and leads Winnebago with 369 yards receiving and six touchdowns. 

The other semifinal features No. 2 Red Cloud (8-1) against No. 3 Standing Rock (7-2). These two teams met on Aug. 27 at Red Cloud, a game in which Standing Rock won 40-37. 

The Crusaders bring a high-scoring offense to Saturday’s game and are averaging 46 points per game. Quarterback Nate LeBeaux leads a balanced offense with running backs Josiah Cottier and Adriano Rama carrying the load on the ground. The Crusaders have several talented wide receivers led by Jules Ecoffey and Monty Montileaux. 

No team in the All-Nations Football Conference has seen more improvement than Standing Rock. Senior running back John Luger has rushed for 1,246 yards and 23 touchdowns. Leondre Twinn, George Bradley and Gunner Maui provide additional ground weapons for the Warriors. Junior Thane Beheeler along with Luger can both play quarterback and are the leaders of the Standing Rock defense. 

B Division semis

No. 1 Lower Brule (9-0) takes on No. 4 Cheyenne-Eagle Butte/Tiospa Topa (2-7)

All season long an explosive Lower Brule offense that averages 51 points per game has simply outscored their competition. 

Quarterback Gavin Thigh has thrown for 1,023 yards and 25 touchdowns this season. His favorite target, Brian LaRoche Jr. has 489 receiving yards to go along with 11 touchdown receptions. Freshman Nunpa Kirke is having a breakout season at running back with 616 yards and 12 touchdowns. 

The Lower Brule defense has seven shutouts and has given up just 14 points all season.  

Lower Brule defeated Cheyenne-Eagle Butte/Tiospa Topa 68-0 on Sept. 9, but the Braves have won two consecutive games and have several players returning from injuries. 

In Tuesday’s 62-20 quarterfinal win over Crazy Horse sophomore Danah Diver erupted for 212 yards and seven touchdowns. Senior Lance Hawk Eagle returned from a broken arm and completed 8-of-10 passes in Tuesday’s win over Crazy Horse. Junior Brock Ducheneaux leads the Braves in tackles this season.

No. 2 Tiospa Zina (6-3) vs. No. 6 Omaha Nation (2-7)

Since the inception of the All-Nations Football Conference Tiospa Zina has known nothing but success. The Wambdi host Omaha Nation Saturday with another opportunity to reach the championship game. 

Quarterback DJ Renville is a dual threat for Tiospa Zina throwing for 348 yards and eight touchdowns while rushing for 422 yards and seven touchdowns. Running backs Michael Smith and Maclovio Campbell have combined for 483 yards rushing and seven touchdowns. 

After losing back-to-back games to Todd County and Winnebago the Wambdi have won three straight, outscoring the opposition 166-18 in those games. 

After losing to Crow Creek 28-0 on Sept. 1 the Omaha Nation Chiefs knocked off the Chieftains 36-20 in their quarterfinal playoff game in Stephan. Omaha Nation trailed big in that game before diminutive running back Todd Stabler took over. Stabler rushed for five touchdowns in that contest while quarterback LaVelle Smith added another rushing touchdown for the Chiefs.