Reedy’s squad wins Native American All-star game

Reedy, who played on the East team, also served as one of the team captains and saw a significant amount of playing time on the offensive and defensive lines as well as the kickoff and kickoff return teams. He finished his night with several tackles and a fumble recovery to his credit. His East squad won on a 2-point conversion with no time left on the clock, defeating the West 16-14.

Briar Reedy, Zeke’s youngest brother who plays for the 11- and 12-year-old Warren County Pioneer Youth Football League, was chosen to be water boy for the East Team.

Parents and friends were on hand to cheer their favorite players along in a game that had a bizarre ending. The West All-Star squad was leading by six points with under five seconds to play, and a simple kneel-down would have secured victory. But on the last play, at their own 35-yard line, the ball was supposed to run out of the backfield to the end zone for a safety. The running back took the ball and sprinted towards the East goal and stopped in the end zone when he thought he heard a whistle, but he was mistaken, and East player Chance Allensworth took the ball from his hands for a touchdown to tie the score, and the East quickly punched in the 2-point conversion to win the game, 16-14.

Fans and players were in disbelief, helmets were tossed, and choice words were said in the stands and on the field. When the commotion cleared, however, it was the members of the East team who were spotted doing a victory dance on the field, consisting of many styles of PowWow dancing.

Even though the rivalry between the East and West is a heated one, the game is meant to do more than provide a final contest before players enter college.

Native American youth from around the country are brought together on the common ground of learning more about their culture and heritage. They room together and form bonds with other members of the Indian community that will be with them for the rest of their lives.

For example, Reedy and his roommate, Cody Donnell (Cherokee) from Barnsdall Okla., have formed such a friendship and are staying in touch though text messaging and e-mail. Some of the boys are from places deep in Indian country, while others like Reedy are doing the best they can to honor their heritage in areas of the country where it’s hard to find others like yourself.

Following their game many of the boys, including Reedy, were recruited by Haskell coaches to come to school there in fall and continue their football careers. Although deeply honored by this request, Reedy said he felt that Kansas was too far away from home for him. However, upon returning home he was overheard to say, ‘It was the best game I’ve ever played in, in my whole life!’

After experiencing the all-star game from the sidelines, Briar is now hoping to follow in his brother’s footsteps and be asked to play in the Native All-Star game upon his graduation in six years.