By Rich Winter

605 Sports

KYLE — Little Wound seniors Cashus Hunter and Daelan LeBeaux have been playing sports together dating all the way back to preschool.

On Friday, Oct. 25 their dream of winning a high school football playoff game came true as the Mustangs defeated Cheyenne-Eagle Butte/Tiospaye Topa 56-32. The Mustangs improved to 6-3 on the season and advanced to the Class 9A semifinals where they play Winnebago, Nebraska (8-0) on Friday, No. 1. 

“It feels good to be one of the first teams from our school to win a playoff game in a while,” Hunter said. “Daelan and I started playing in preschool and just continued to play in our backyards. That’s my boy right there so to get this playoff win with him meant a lot.” 

Oct. 25’s game against Cheyenne-Eagle Butte/Tiospaye Topa could not have started worse for  the Mustangs. The Braves scored on their first offensive possession and then recovered their own kick that was bobbled by a Mustang player. Moments later the Braves upped that lead to 12-0 when Dexter Hawk Eagle found Matthis Mandan with a 20-yard touchdown pass. 

Undaunted, the Mustangs got right to work with senior Dario Vasquez scoring on a 64-yard run. On the Braves next possession, Mustang defender Landon Yellow Hawk forced a fumble, recovered it himself and rumbled 29-yards for a score that tied the game at 12-12.

And then Hunter simply took over. 

Hunter scored on a 38-yard run, found LeBeaux with a 20-yard touchdown pass, scored on a 57-yard run and then hit Kinyan Luta Catches Enemy with a touchdown pass. At halftime the Mustangs led 38-18. 

“This game had a little bit of everything,” Jacey Hunter, Little Wound coach said. “We got down early and they responded the way I wanted to and kept on fighting. They handled the adversity and the next thing you know we were up by multiple touchdowns by halftime.” 

Hunter added a 42-yard rushing touchdown and found LeBeaux with a 30-yard touchdown pass. LeBeaux finished the game with two interceptions and the last Mustang score came on a 65-yard interception return from Kellen O’Rourke. 

“We’ve been dreaming about this since our freshman year,” LeBeaux said. “We started down this path four years ago so to do this with my dog is a dream come true.” 

Hunter was quick to point out his success as a product of the offensive line calling them “the best offensive line in the All-Nations Conference.”

Both LeBeaux and Catches Enemy went over 1,000 career receiving yards this season but LeBeaux pointed out other weapons that he thinks will make the Mustangs a tough playoff out.

“Our running back Dario Vasquez is tearing it up right now,” LeBeaux said. “I feel like we have so many weapons on offense that we’re tough to stop.” 

Little Wound senior Daelyn LeBeaux had two touchdown receptions and two interceptions in Little Wound's playoff win over Cheyenne-Eagle Butte/Tiospaye Topa - Photo courtesy of Tacie LeBeaux.

Emotional week ends with ceremonial honoring for Cashus Hunter

Every year during the fall an event called Buffalo Hunt and Culture Week is held at Little Wound high school. Every year senior students at Little Wound write an essay to determine who the shooter will be. The student is selected not only from the essay but also who the student is to his relatives and the way he carries himself. 

This year that honor fell on Hunter whose father is a taxidermist and himself has plenty of hunting experience. On Wednesday, Hunter and a number of his classmates were taken to a local buffalo pasture. 

“We went to the buffalo pasture and the guides helped spot a bull,” Hunter said. “They told me to take a shot when I was ready.”

Hunter steadied himself, and pulled the trigger on the 7MM Magnum rifle.

“I hit it pretty good but they wanted me to put another bullet in it to make sure it was dead,” he said.

Cashus Hunter pictured with Steve DuBray and Lance Christensen Sr. at last week's buffalo hunt at a pasture outside of Kyle - Photo courtesy of Little Wound high school.

Once it was confirmed the bull buffalo was dead, Hunter, the guides and his classmates gathered around the animal. 

“We honor it and pray with it for giving his life for us,” Hunter said. “Then we take it back to the school and skin it and gut it and chop it into quarters and butcher it up and then throw it in a pit to cook.”

On Oct. 25, after the football game and on Senior Night, the Little Wound School held a powwow after its playoff win where the buffalo was served to the community and Hunter was honored.

“That day meant everything to me,” he said. “I’ve been to quite a few buffalo kills but to be chosen for this honor and then everything else is telling me I”m doing something good as a person. It is good to honor our people and honor the Buffalo Nation so that day was very special.”

Earlier that week Hunter attended the funeral of one of his very best friends. 

“It was a little emotional but I had to stay locked in for my team,” he said.