By Rich Winter

605 Sports 

VERMILLION —- If the rematch is anything like the regular season matchup, football fans are in for a treat when Winnebago, Nebraska and Pine Ridge meet Friday for the Class 9A All-Nations Football Conference championship. 

On Sept. 5 Winnebago jumped out to a 34-14 lead only to see the Thorpes roar back to tie the game late. The Indians prevailed when junior Adarius Flemister returned the ensuing kick for a late score and a Winnebago win. 

Friday’s trip to the All-Nations championship game will be the fifth consecutive for Winnebago. The Indians lost to Tiospa Zina in the abbreviated 2021 season then defeated Todd County in fall 2021 for their only All-Nations title. The Indians lost to Todd County in the 2022 and ‘23 championship games.

For Pine Ridge, Friday’s game will be the first time the Thorpes have reached the All-Nations championship game, and the first time any Pine Ridge team has stepped foot on the turf of the DakotaDome. Friday’s championship game starts at 4 p.m. CT. 

It is no secret that Winnebago likes to run the ball and it does so behind all-conference offensive line performers Jared Doxey and Ashton LaPointe. Flemister, along with sophomores Raiden Decora and Angelo Jones, do most of the damage on the ground. Quarterback Elijah White Bear was also an all-conference selection and will be joined on the field by tight end Thomas Walker and wide receiver Jon Earth who were both honorable mention all-conference selections.

WInnebago comes into Friday’s contest averaging 42 points per game while giving up just 12 points per contest. Winnebago defeated Little Wound on Nov. 1 to advance to Saturday’s championship game. 

Pine Ridge quarterback Marvin Richard III was injured in that season opener against Winnebago and has been battling a high-ankle sprain for much of the season. With the Thorpes trailing Mahpiya Luta in their Nov. 1 semifinal game Richard III came off the bench with three second half touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown to spark the Thorpes to a 46-22 win.

Pine Ridge skill players lit up the Class 9A All-Nations all-conference team this year with Richard III, Domonic Ghost Bear and running backs Daniel Davis and Anthony Steele making the first team. Delbert Peters, a 6-feet-2, 239 pound specimen, was the Thorpes other all-conference selection with lineman Jesse Hagen and end Kenny Pulliam Jr. both being selected as honorable-mention all conference members. 

Pine Ridge averaged 50 points per game this season while giving up 16 points per game.