By Rich Winter

605 Sports

WHITE RIVER — Prior to White River’s move to the All-Nations Football Conference, Tiger senior Teagan Bouman wasn’t sure if he would have a senior season. 

With football numbers dwindling White River was expecting between 10-and-12 players to come out for football. Well, White River joined the All-Nations football conference and suddenly the Tigers had 22 student-athletes willing to give the fall sport a shot. 

“I’m just glad we are having a season,” Teagen Bouman said. “I love playing football and if we didn’t join this All-Nations league I don’t know if we would be having a season.” 

Entering the 2024 football campaign Bouman and his cousin, Riley Bouman were the two most experienced players returning to the roster. The season started slowly with a forfeit win over Marty, a 28-0 win over Tiospa Zina and a 34-0 loss to Lower Brule on Sept. 12. 

White River senior Riley Bouman dances down the sidelines on his way to a touchdown during White River's playoff win over Marty Indian - (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

The game with Lower Brule was scoreless at the half before the Sioux handed the Tigers their worst loss of the season. 

“I think we’ve gotten a little better,” Bouman said. “The first couple of games we were struggling a little bit because we had a lot of new guys that hadn’t played football before. I think we all had to figure out what roles we needed to play and what each of us needed to do within those roles.” 

In their inaugural trip around the All-Nations Football Conference Class 9B division, the Tigers looked like they might have home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Instead, Omaha Nation scored on the final play of the Oct. 10 game to seal home field for the Chiefs after a 28-22 win. 

“We didn’t do a very good job of containing their quarterback,” Spencer Blom, White River coach said. “We worked on spying the quarterback this week in practice and trying to shut down their passing game.” 

The defensive scheme worked to perfection Friday night as White River blanked Omaha Nation 36-0 to advance to Friday’s Class 9B All-Nations championship game where the Tigers will meet two-time defending champion Lower Brule. 

After experiencing losing seasons in each of his first three years of high school the Tigers are thriving and enjoying their eight win season. 

“We haven’t had a winning season in a long time,” Bouman said. “The kids we have on our team have worked very hard to get where we’re at and I’m grateful for that.” 

For Bouman, the opportunity to step foot on the turf at the DakotaDome is a dream come true. 

“I’ve always dreamed of playing on that field,” Bouman said. “I’ve always been working towards it since I was a little kid so going there will be great.” 

Something special brewing in White River

The success of White River football could just be starting as a youth flag football league for third, fourth and fifth graders was started this falll - Photo courtesy of Spencer Blom

With numbers expected to be low for the 2024 season the White River community started a youth flag football league for third-through-fifth graders this season. 

“On most nights we had 32 kids playing football and on our worst night we had 24 kids,” Blom said. “We didn’t include Norris this year and that’s an oversight on my part. So we’re looking to build and expand that program for next year.” 

The teams were coached by Logan Tucker and Nic Waln and went so far as to have a concession stand open during games 

"The whole community stepped up to make this league possible and that's pretty special," Blom said. 

For Bouman, the opportunity to breathe football life into the youth program for a sport he loves is priceless. 

“I have two little cousins that are both in fourth grade and they love it,” he said. “They like to play under the lights and it gets them used to the competitiveness of football. We have a good community and they come out, park their cars and tailgate and watch these little kids play. It feels good to hear the community buzzing about football instead of just basketball.”