South Dakota Community Rallies Behind Team Looking for 1st Title

One South Dakota high school football team is on the verge of completing one of the most dramatic turnarounds in state history.

When the McLaughlin Mustangs take the field at home against Cheyenne-Eagle Butte/Tiospaye Topa Thursday (October 16) night, they will be looking to cap an undefeated regular season.

What a difference a year makes

That in itself is quite an accomplishment, but when you consider where the McLaughlin program was a year ago, it seems mind-boggling to say the least. In 2024, the Mustangs didn't win a single game. They suffered through six defeats by a combined score of 304-12 and had to forfeit a pair of games, finishing the season 0-8.

This season has been the exact opposite.

In 2025, McLaughlin has won six games by a combined score of 286-36 and also had a forfeit victory to push their record to 7-0 heading into this week's regular season finale.

Dreaming big

With the South Dakota High School Football Playoffs starting next week, Mustang fans are starting to dream big, as the school looks for its first-ever state championship on the gridiron.

Sensing the significance of the moment, the McLaughlin community is rallying behind their team with an ambitious campaign to support their hometown heroes.

A GoFundMe page has been launched for not only what's left for this season but to invest in the future of the program.

GoFundMe

The initial goal is $5,500, with the money earmarked for:

This Season

Travel costs for playoffs and (hopefully) state competition
Letterman jackets to honor this historic season
College visits and football camps to open doors for players

Building for the Future

Launch a flag football program to grow the next generation of Mustangs
Strengthen the middle school program so players enter high school ready to compete
Invest in training, safety gear, and off-season football camps to keep kids strong, skilled, and safe
Build meaningful team traditions — team meals, senior scholarships, and community celebrations that make this more than a team, but a source of pride

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LOOK: Best high schools for sports in South Dakota

Stacker compiled a list of the best high schools for sports in South Dakota using data from Niche.

Gallery Credit: Stacker

Do You Know Your South Dakota College and University Mascots

The college football experience is an ultimate high for football fans and it takes several other teams to make that happen week after week during the season.

Just think about what goes into gameday.

First and foremost, the players and coaching staff who put in hours and hours of practice and training to play in front of their fans. Then there's field prep, game officials, live broadcasts, concessions, and on-the-field entertainment. Yep, entertainment.

Second to the game, who do you watch? The cheerleaders? The band at halftime? What about the mascot? That's a job not many people can do.

I asked Sioux Falls native and former Cagey mascot for the Sioux Falls Canaries and Little Red & Herbie for the Nebraska Huskers Nate Welch about being a mascot:

What does it take to be a mascot?
"Losing a bet or filling an opportunity!" Welch says, "An internal energized desire to love life. After meeting great performers who are introverts out of costume, they become the center of attention when they take the stage. And also feeding off the performance of others."
Why does the mascot never talk?
"Know your role and shut your mouth. You are there to entertain. Tell the story with your actions and not your voice."
Advice to someone putting on that costume for the first time?
"Remember you are now in a costume. Have fun. Otherwise, you're just a dork in tights. If the fur ain't flying you ain't trying."

So, can you name the mascots at our South Dakota Colleges and Universities? Check out the gallery below:

Gallery Credit: Dave Roberts