By Rich Winter

605 Sports

For the past two seasons, Red Cloud’s Josiah Cottier has been a yardage and touchdown machine for the Red Cloud Crusaders. 

While the rest of the state will get an up close look at one of South Dakota’s best kept secrets on Friday, Cottier has been dreaming about this opportunity to play in the DakotaDome his entire life. 

“I’ve been playing football for as long as I can remember, as far back as age four or five,” Cottier said. “I used to play a kick return game with my uncle Spur Pourier on the bed. He would throw the ball and I would try to get to the bed frame.”

In 2021 Cottier accumulated 1,599 all-purpose yards and was one of the leaders in touchdowns in the All-Nations Conference. The Crusaders were nipped by Todd County in the A Division semifinals. 

This season the numbers have been even better. 

Entering Friday’s championship game, Cottier had accumulated 2,098 all-purpose yards (1,083 yards rushing, 715 yards receiving and 300 return yards). All told, Cottier has scored 28 touchdowns.

“He knows the game really well,” Art Vitalis, Red Cloud coach said. “He’s really smart and knows how to find those little gaps and do just enough to get through. He’s so fast and elusive and he is very hard to tackle.” 

Cottier’s presence in the Red Cloud program extends far beyond the football field. 

“He is really vocal and very positive and talks up the practice,” Vitalis said. “He makes sure the kids’ grades are in line and he’s a great role model and contagious throughout the whole team.” 

 Cottier himself takes the responsibility of being a role model in his community seriously. 

 “I take it as a huge responsibility,” Cottier, the son of Lacey Pourier and Nick Cottier said. “Sometimes it is hard to find someone to look up to on the Reservation and I take pride in showing the younger kids that this is possible.” 

 Friday’s appearance in the DakotaDome will be the second time Cottier has played in the championship game. As a freshman he saw limited playing time on the Crow Creek team that defeated Lower Brule for the inaugural All-Nations Championship. 

 Cottier says Friday’s game has some extra sentiment about it as he’ll be playing with Adriano Rama, Jules Ecoffey and Haedyn Haas. Red Could will play Todd County at 4 p.m. CT on Friday in the All-Nations Football Conference A Division title game. 

 “I’m really excited to get to do this with my guys,” he said. “I’ve been playing basketball with them since second grade and we’ve all been dreaming about this since we were little kids.