By Rich Winter

605 Sports

PINE RIDGE — In the first game of the 2023 All-Nations Football Conference season, a 36-32 win over Winnebago, Nebraska, Pine Ridge running back Daniel Davis’ world came crashing down. 

A blossoming junior running back Davis went out for a pass play, caught the ball and was tackled just short of the goal line. 

“When I went down I thought it was just a strain,” Davis said. 

Davis went out for a few plays, came back in then hobbled to the sidelines for what would be his last play of the season. 

“I tore ligaments below the achilles tendon and on the side of my ankle,” Davis said. “I went to Black Hills Orthopedic and although I didn’t need to have surgery, I was not able to play for the rest of the season.”

Not being able to play isn’t something Davis is accustomed to, and he had to watch as the Thorpes wrapped up a 6-3 season with a 45-20 loss to Winnebago in the semifinals of the Class 9A All-Nations football playoffs.

“It was really hard watching knowing I couldn’t help my boys,” Davis said. “I tried to support them and do the best thing I could, which was coming to every practice.”

Last season wasn’t the first time Davis’ world had come undone. 

When he was seven years old his older brother, Trace, lost his life in an ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle) accident. Trace, the son of Rhonda Akers and Phil Davis, was 13-years old at the time of his passing. The loss of a young man with a promising football and wrestling career rocked the Pine Ridge community, Davis and all of the surrounding family members. 

Pine Ridge football coach Teddy Pedregon, who is Daniel and Trace’s cousin, talked about Trace and the impact on younger-brother Daniel and the surrounding family. 

“We were all so close and we were always at each other’s houses,” Pedregon said. “When I was in high school Trace would always be at the gym with us. He loved wrestling and I have no doubt that he would have been a state wrestling champion. I think the loss of his older brother has pushed Daniel a little more the last few years. Trace was a gentle giant that had a big heart and Daniel is just like that, he’s one of those kids.” 

Daniel Davis remembers how tough the loss was but said what he remembers the most about his brother was his work ethic. 

“He was always working hard and he and my father really instilled that in me when I was little,” he said. “He was really dedicated and tried his best at everything whether it was sports or in the classroom. Our family feels like he is still with us and we remember him in a good way.” 

That work ethic has poured over into Daniel Davis’ athletic life. 

“He’s always the first one into practice or the gym and the last one to leave,” Pedregon said. 

Pine Ridge senior running back Daniel Davis gives the Thorpes another dangerous weapon. (Tacie LeBeaux / Courtesy Photo)

With a full year to prepare for his senior season, Davis is now a rock-solid 5-foot-9, 170-pound running back/safety that has gone over 100 yards in back-to-back games against Winnebago and Little Wound. The Thorpes are 2-1 heading into Thursday’s game against Cheyenne-Eagle Butte/Tiospaye Topa. 

“I just like to run downhill and bash some heads,” Davis said. “I can give people a move and catch out of the backfield. My favorite thing is to get the ball in open space and see what my options are.” 

A year ago, without Davis the Thorpes relied heavily on the strong right arm of quarterback Marvin Richard III and wide receiver Dominic Ghost Bear. The Thorpes still like to air it out (Ghost Bear has over 150 receiving yards in each of the last two games) but Pedregon said Davis gives the Thorpes another explosive option on offense. 

“He runs very aggressively,” he said. “He wants to run through your face and wants to look for contact and even get a little bloody in the process.” 

Davis plays both sides of the ball, starting the season at safety before switching to linebacker in last week’s win over Little Wound. The Thorpes are coming off that loss against Winnebago, in which the Thorpes rallied from a double-digit, second half deficit to tie the game at 34-34 before the Indians prevailed on a late 75-yard kick return for a touchdown. 

There’s plenty of optimism surrounding the Thorpes this season, as they strive to make it to Vermillion for the Class 9A championship game. 

“Making it to the Dome would mean the world to us coming from where we were a couple years ago,” Davis said. “I never thought we could get to this level and that feels good and I know us playing well means a lot to our community.”