Lower Brule and Crow Creek met at the Dakota Dome in Vermillion on Friday night to crown the first state champion of the All Nations Football Conference. This newly created high school football league consisted of twelve native schools in the Mt. Rushmore state, who were separated into two divisions. Come the championship night, it was Crow Creek who defeated Lower Brule 74-39 to win the state title.
Crow Creek Chieftains head coach Scott Klaudt said this win is monumental to his program, because it’s their first state football championship in history.
"It never happened before and what’s really cool about it, it’s a basketball school and we still won the state title in football," said Klaudt. "I’m just very very very proud of the kids. They’re just a group of kids, who I’ll never forget in my life. I come out of retirement from twelve years to coach them, and they rewarded me for that. So very very proud of them."
Along with Friday’s game showcasing the two remaining teams of the season, it also honored student athletes from all twelve schools in the league as part of an All-Conference team. Next season, the All Nations Football Conference will look to increase the number of teams in the league.