Donnie “Trey” Bennet III, Colby John Crosby and Ryan West played in the Native American All-Star Football Game at the Dallas Cowboys Ford Center in Frisco, Texas on Jan. 7.
Thirty-five tribes were represented in the national football game, which was the first of its kind sponsored by the NFL, Nike and the Native American Athletic Foundation (NAAF). According to a press release, 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.
“We couldn’t be happier with the results of the game,” said Michael Stopp, Executive Director and NAAF chairman. “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.”
Ryan West, from the Pawhuska District, attends Bethlehem High School in Bardstown, Ky. He is the great-great-great-grandson of Chief Baconrind and Rose Baconrind, and Charles and Mary Strikeaxe Brave. He is the great-great-grandson of Andrew Brave and Julia Baconrind Brave Whitehorn and Maynard B. Revard and Fay Lessert Revard Casebeer.
West has played football since third grade. He was selected for the All-Star game after his mother, Robin West, told him about the opportunity.
“My mom kind of told me about the game and I had to fill out a questionnaire,” he said. “You got selected from there and you submitted your film and all that stuff.”
After going through his highlights, they sent him an email.
“They sent an email out telling me I had been selected and I was very excited,” he said. “I was just very excited. I was one of more than 60 players to get selected.”
This year, West led his high school football team in tackles and interceptions and made the All-State and All-State Academic Teams in Kentucky.
West has played almost every position during his football career. He was placed on team Ta’Tanka and played strong safety/outside linebacker.
West was injured during the season this year, and the All-Star game gave him another opportunity to play one more time before he graduates.
“I didn’t really get to finish out my senior season,” he said. “I was injured and I was just wanting to play one last time before college, just to have fun. Mostly because every game of football I’ve been playing for the last four years has been sort of like a job. It’s just nice to be able to go out there and play for fun.”
West also gave advice to other football players who want to play in the All-Star game.
“Be open to advice and be willing to learn, don’t think that you have all the knowledge in the world,” he said. “There’s always someone out there that knows more than you or is better than you. Be smart with your decision making.”
West is currently being recruited and plans on going to play college football after he graduates and is commissioned into the Army through ROTC.
Donnie “Trey” Bennett III attends Woodland High School in Fairfax, Okla. He is from the Grayhorse District and is a direct descendant of Wilson Kirk and the Drexil family.
He has been playing football since first grade and was selected to play quarterback for team Wa’ya. His mom, Kimetha Bennett, told him about the All-Star game.
“My mom found out for me,” he said. “I went to the Native American All-Star game for baseball two years ago, and they had one for football too, so she got me on that too.”
He was excited to be picked and play another game.
“It was a great feeling,” he said. “I just knew all my hard work paid off.”
The players showed up three days ahead of the game to practice and bond with the other players.
“The first day we just did practice the entire day,” Bennett said. “The second day we had one practice and we had a bunch of meetings, and then we went and bowled for a little bit. The third day we practiced and then we had a banquet for it.”
The keynote speaker for the banquet was Raghib “Rocket” Ismail, former Dallas Cowboy.
Before the game, the players were able to tour AT&T stadium. They were able to go into the locker room and press box. The game was played at The Star, which is the Dallas Cowboys training facility.
He was able to connect with other players by sharing Osage culture.
“It was a great experience just getting out there and repping the Osage Nation and showing who we are and just telling everybody about Osage,” he said.
Bennett was proud to represent the Osage Nation during the game.
“It felt great,” he said. “Osage has been there for me forever. That’s who I am. I’m an Osage, and to represent means everything to me.”
Bennett led the Woodland Cougars to the Class A State Championship in December. He is one of the Valedictorians for Woodland High School and will play in the Oklahoma All-State game in July. Trey was selected for the honor by three publications, The Oklahoman, Tulsa World and The Sporting News. He signed on to play football at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in Miami, Okla., after graduation. He was also recently named Region 2 Male Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Colby Crosby attends Broken Arrow High School in Broken Arrow, Okla. He is from the Hominy District and is the great-grandson of Myrtle Oberly Jones.
He has played football since sixth grade. His mother, Lindsey Hager, told him about the game.
He was picked to play on team Ta’tanka and played strong safety.
“After my senior season, my mother sent me a message about the All-Star game, and obviously it was another opportunity to play again, one more time,” he said.
While Crosby started football later in life, he still found a love for the game through his dad, Cicel Crosby.
“My dad played at NSU and NEO through his college years,” Crosby said. “So I looked up to him to play football. He gave me the passion to play football. I never knew the sport as well as he did, but throughout the years he taught me, trained me to become the best out there, and I appreciated it.”
Crosby said his experience in the All-Star game was one he will never forget.
“I loved it,” he said. “It was a different experience meeting a lot of different athletes from around the world. I got to meet fellow athletes from across the country, so it was new to me. Instead of knowing these people for four years in the same school, I got to meet so many people from everywhere. I had fun.”
Crosby has played multiple positions in football including receiver, safety, strong safety and free safety.
He appreciated the opportunity to play in the All-Star game.
“It was a good opportunity,” he said. “There were many coaches that played at the higher level, NFL and there were coaches from high school teaching what they love. It was great.”
Crosby wants to play football in college and has dreams of being a physical therapist.
He was also honored to play in the All-Star game for the Osage Nation.
“You don’t get this opportunity too much,” he said. “Once I got the opportunity to play, not just for myself again, but for my tribe. It was an honor to do it for them and for myself.”
