By Rich Winter

605 Sports

With Todd County running back Ty Valandra returning for his senior season, and a number of significant returners, the Falcons are poised for another big All-Nations Football Conference season.

Riding a 20-game winning streak and back-to-back Class 9A championships, the Falcons will lean heavily on Valandra, the MVP of the All-Nations Football Conference a year ago. Valandra rushed for 1,748 yards last season and scored 23 touchdowns. For his career, the 5-foot-10, 180 pound senior has rushed for 3,096 yards and has scored 42 touchdows.

Todd County returns quarterback Chris Ellert and all-conference offensive lineman Aden Good Voice.

Lower Brule senior Lane Gray helped lead the Sioux to a Class B title in 2023.

The Lower Brule Sioux have gone 19-1 over the past two seasons and won back-to-back All-Nations Class 9B championships. Senior quarterback Lane Gray is back after leading the Sioux to a 42-0 win over Tiospa Zina in the 2023 Class 9B championship game. Other key returners for the Sioux are junior Nicolas Flute and Nate Middletent, both of whom are coming off all-conference seasons a year ago. 

Several other offseason headlines for the conference as White River joined the conference and McLaughlin was bumped up to Class 9A. 

Players to watch, returning all conference players, honorable mention players: 

Standing Rock: Ryan Weddell, RB, Keaton St. John, DL

Cheyenne-Eagle Butte/Tiospaye Topa: Easton Lawrence, TE, Dana Diver, RB

Todd County: Aden Good Voice, OL

Winnebago: Jared Doxey, OL, Caden Browning, DB

Lower Brule: Nicolas Flute, LB, Nate Middletent, Kicker, Isaiah Felicia, RB

Little Wound: Jamison O’Rourke, DB, Jayvier Red Owl, QB

Tiospa Zina: Merith Izzary, OL

Pine Ridge: Marvin Richard III, QB, Dominic Ghost Bear, WR

St. Francis Indian: Michael Rogers, LB

Class A team capsules

Cheyenne-Eagle Butte/Tiospaye Topa Braves

Coach: Larry Elwess

Last Season: 5-4

First game: Aug. 29 - Winnebago at Cheyenne-Eagle Butte/Tiospaye Topa

Little Wound Mustangs

Coach: Jacey Hunter

Last Season: 2-6

First Game: Aug. 30 - Todd County at Little Wound 

Mahpíya Lúta

Coach: Robert Brave Heart Jr.

Last Season: 0-7: 

First Game: Aug 29 - Pine Ridge at Mahpíya Lúta

McLaughlin: 

Coach: Kenny Comeau

Last Season: 5-4

First Game: Aug. 29 - St. Francis Indian at McLaughlin

Pine Ridge

Coach: Teddy Pedregon

Last Season: 5-3

First Game: Aug. 29 - Pine Ridge at Mahpíya Lúta

St. Francis Indian

Coach: Leo McCauley

Last Season: 2-5

First Game: St. Franic Indian at McLaughlin

Todd County

Coach Bob Kornely

Last Season: 9-0, Class A Champions

First Game: Aug. 30 Todd County at Little Wound

Winnebago

Coach: Adam James

Last Season: 7-3, Class A runner-up

First Game: Aug. 29 Winnebago at Cheyenne-Eagle Butte

Class B Team Capsules: 

Crazy Horse

Coach: Jacob Dreamer

Last Geason: 2-6

First game: Aug. 29 Crazy Horse at Crow Creek

Crow Creek

Coach: Jeremy His Law

Last Season: 3-5

First Game: Aug. 29 Crazy Horse at Crow Creek

Flandreau Indian

Coach: Dustin Headrick

Last Season: 1-6

First Game: Aug. 31 Lower Brule at Flandreau Indian

Lower Brule

Coach: Charlie LaRoche

Last Season: 8-1, Class B Champions

First Game: Aug. 31 Lower Brule at Flandreau Indian

Marty

Coach: Unavailable

Last Season: 0-7

First Game: Aug. 29 White River at Marty (Postponed, TBA)

Omaha Nation

Coach: Matt Hudnall

Last Season: 7-3

First Game: Aug. 29 Omaha Nation at Tiospa Zina

Tiospa Zina

Coach: Mike Peters

Last Season: 7-2, Class B runner up

First Game: Aug. 29 Omaha Nation at Tiospa Zina

White River

Coach: Spencer Blom

Last Season: 3-5

First Game: Aug. 29 White River at Marty (Postponed, TBA)