Frisco, Texas (January 17, 2025) — The Native American All-Star Football Game, hosted by the Native American Athletic Foundation, ended in an unforgettable, double overtime showdown at The Star in Frisco, Texas, on Jan. 7. High school seniors from across Indian Country descended on north Texas to attend the NAAF’s annual camp, where they received high-caliber coaching, lessons on leadership and life, and the incredible opportunity to play and exhibition game on the field of the Dallas Cowboys world headquarters.
Both teams played their hearts out, but Team Wa’ya (“Wolf” in Cherokee) emerged victorious with a 37-34 win over Team Ta’Tanka (“Buffalo” in Lakota), but only after two intense overtimes and a game-winning field goal.
The game’s decisive moment came at the end of the second overtime when Spring Hill, Tenn. senior Trejan Issac (Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians) nailed a game-winning field goal, securing Team Wa’ya’s hard-fought victory. Issac’s performance and game-changing moment earned him the title of Offensive Player of the Game for Team Wa’ya.
On Wa’Ya’s defensive side, Luke Smith of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians from Cherokee, N.C., earned Defensive Player of the Game honors. His tremendous performance contributed to Team Wa’ya’s win over Team Ta’Tanka.
For Team Ta’Tanka, Geoffrey LeFevre of Edinburg, Texas (Cherokee Nation) was named Offensive Player of the Game, and El Staley from Charlotte, N.C. and the Kainai Nation was named Defensive Player of the Game.
The night before the game, the players, their families and sponsors were treated to a banquet featuring Raghib “Rocket” Ismail as the keynote. Rocket was an All-American and Walter Camp Award winner out of Notre Dame. He played nine seasons in the NFL, retiring in 2002 from the Dallas Cowboys.
Coaches Randon Lowe, Mason Fine, Bryan O’Neal, Bryan Raymond and Dylan Harding led Team Wa’ya. Team Ta’Tanka’s coaching staff included Kiah Smith, Damon Evans, Tony Daniels, and Cody Wilson.
Offensive and defensive players of the game, Rocket Ismail and other camp leaders were gifted custom hand-beaded medallions, courtesy of Great Plains Indian Trading in New Town, N.D.
“We couldn’t be happier with the results of the game. These young Native men played a hard-fought game that went into overtime, showing how important this event was to each of them. The Foundation is thankful for our partners and sponsors for investing in our Native youth and allowing them to showcase their athleticism on a big stage,” said Michael Stopp, Executive Director and Chairman of the Native American Athletic Foundation.
The NAAF is a 501(c3), providing opportunities for Native American youth through athletics, mentorship, and leadership to help strengthen the next seven generations. Engaging young athletes from across Indian Country helps them learn valuable life and leadership lessons from mentors and each other. It also allows them to take those lessons back to their Tribal communities and reservations to impact others.
Major sponsors included the NFL, Nike, Enbridge, the Cherokee Nation, the Three Affiliated Tribes (Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation), Colusa Indian Energy Corp., Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, Direct 2 Completion (D2C), Warfeather, Terry Babcock Consulting and United Indian Involvement Fund.
The NAAF also holds an All-Star Baseball Game, which the organization hopes to announce later this spring. For more information about the Native American Athletic Foundation and future events, visit nativeathletes.org.
To view the game in its entirety, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfZBEBEZHGA.
Tribal Nations and Communities represented:
- Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
- American Samoa
- Blackfeet Nation
- Catawba Nation
- Cherokee Nation
- Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes
- Cheyenne River Sioux T
- Chickasaw Nation
- Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy
- Choctaw Nation
- Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes
- Eastern Band Of Cherokee Indians
- Hopi Tribe
- Kainai Nation (Canada)
- Kewa Pueblo
- Laguna Pueblo
- Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians
- Muscogee (Creek) Nation
- Native Village of Barrow
- Navajo Nation
- Oglala Sioux Tribe
- Osage Nation
- Ponca Tribe of Nebraska
- Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation
- Puyallup Tribe of Indians
- Quapaw Nation
- Reno-Sparks Indian Colony
- Rosebud Sioux Tribe
- Seminole Nation
- Tlingit & Haida
- Tule River Tribe of California
- Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians
- White Earth Nation
- Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska
- Wyandotte Nation
About the Native American Athletic Foundation:
The Native American Athletic Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 dedicated to providing opportunities for Native youth to excel in sports, education, and leadership. Through camps, mentorship, and community-building initiatives, the foundation inspires young athletes to achieve their full potential and become leaders of character in their communities. Learn how to make a difference by supporting the next generation of Native athletes and leaders by visiting nativeathletes.org.