VERMILLION — A couple of teams seeking a degree of redemption from less than desired 2024 seasons met up in Friday’s 2025 All-Nations Football Conference Class 9B state title game. The McLaughlin Mustangs (9-0 and top seeded) went winless in 2024 while the White River Tigers (8-1 and No. 2 seeded) was throttled 60-8 by Lower Brule in last year’s 9B state title game.

McLaughlin earned the vindication distinction overcoming a strong White River run defense (45 total yards rushing) by utilizing a quick strike passing game and a stout defense to top the Tigers, 28-8.

Mustang quarterback John Eagle Jr. completed 6-of-12 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns. And all-purpose back Tyler Bull Head, in addition to catching two scoring passes, added a 67-yard completion as well.

McLaughlin struck first following a White River miscue, a bad snap on an attempted punt. Taking over at the White River 30-yard line the Mustangs needed but four plays to light up the scoreboard as senior quarterback John Eagle Jr. circled left end on a 1-yard scoring jaunt.

Sophomore running back Jacoby Carry Moccasin punched in the two-point conversion and the Tigers went up 8-0 at the 4:27 mark of the first period.

White River threatened to draw even late in the second quarter, driving into Mustang territory before Eagle Jr. picked off a Cooper Baxter aerial at the McLaughlin 24-yard line. The Mustangs wasted little time turning the timely turnover into points as two plays later Eagle connected with Tyler Bull Head on a 76-yard touchdown pass and a 14-0 McLaughlin lead at the half.

White River threatened to narrow the margin on the first possession of the second half, mounting a 50-yard drive all the way to the McLaughlin 4-yard line. Unfortunately, for the Tigers, the Mustang defense stiffened and ended the drive with a fourth down sack.

Perhaps the decider came late in the third period as McLaughlin, a yard away from another tally, fumbled and White River recovered. White River jubilation was short-lived however as the Tigers were forced to punt from the 21-yard line and a low snap led to a 9-yard punt setting McLaughlin up at the White River 30 and Carry Moccasin dashed in from 19 yards out to close out to extend the McLaughlin advantage to 20-0 at the end of three periods.

A McLaughlin safety and a second touchdown pass from Eagle Jr. to Bull Head closed out Mustang scoring for the night. Down 28-0, White River got on the board with 1:13 remaining on a 1-yard TD run by Treston Hill and a Hill two-point conversion to close out game scoring.

McLaughlin coach Kenny Comeau attributed his team’s 28-8 All-Nations 9B state title win after a winless 2024 campaign to spirit, work ethic, and a healthy group of returnees.

“Players from last year really,” Comeau said of his 10-0 undefeated state championship team. “We got a couple kids back from last year that were out and learned as a team from last year and that was the difference. We knew it was going to take four quarters. In the regular we got up 18 points on them and they came back so we knew it was going to be a battle. They pursue from side to side with the ball and they kind of held up our run game better than I thought they would. But luckily, we had some guys step up and made some big passes and took care of business that way.”