Wikipedia

1977 Valley City State Vikings football team

The 1977 Valley City State Vikings football team was an American football team that represented Valley City State University as a member of the North Dakota College Athletic Conference (NDCAC) during the 1977 NAIA Division II football season. In their fourth season under head coach Jim Dew, the Vikings compiled a perfect 9–0 record (6–0 against NDCAC opponents), won the NDCAC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 333 to 65. They were ranked No. 5 in the final NAIA Division II rankings.[1]

1977 Valley City State Vikings football
NDCAC champion
ConferenceNorth Dakota College Athletic Conference
Record9–0 (6–0 NDCAC)
Head coach
Seasons
← 1976
1978 →
1977 North Dakota College Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 5 Valley City State $ 6 – 0 – 0 9 – 0 – 0
No. 12 Jamestown 4 – 2 – 0 7 – 2 – 0
Wahpeton Science 4 – 2 – 0 6 – 2 – 0
Dickinson State 3 – 3 – 0 4 – 5 – 0
Mayville State 3 – 3 – 0 3 – 5 – 0
Minot State 1 – 5 – 0 2 – 7 – 0
Bismarck JC 0 – 6 – 0 0 – 7 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from NAIA Division II poll

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultSource
September 10Bemidji State*Valley City, NDW 17–10[2]
September 17Wahpeton ScienceValley City, NDW 21–14[3]
September 24at Minot StateMinot, NDW 45–0[4]
October 1Wisconsin–River Falls*River Falls, WIW 27–18[5]
October 8JamestownValley City, NDW 28–14[6]
October 15at Dickinson StateDickinson, NDW 39–6[7]
October 22Bismarck JCValley City, NDW 52–0[8]
October 29at Mayville StateMayville, NDW 21–3[9]
November 5Huron*Valley City, NDW 83–0[10][11]
  • *Non-conference game

Statistics and honors

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The team featured two of the greatest running backs in Valley City history. John Overbey tallied 3,332 rushing yards (90.1 yards per game) and 150 points scored from 1976 to 1979, and Buck Kasowski tallied 2,401 rushing yards (64.9 yards per game) and 162 points scored from 1974 to 1977.[12] Notable individual achievements by Valley City players during the 1977 season include:

  • Buck Kasowski led the team with 80 points and 14 touchdowns (13 rushing, one receiving).
  • Ken Aiello rushed for 497 yards on 74 carries, an average of 6.72 yards per carry.
  • Tom Stevenson set a school record (broken in 2014) with 35 extra points and an 89.7% conversion percentage.
  • Jon Achter set school records with 214 punt return yards and an averarge of 15.29 yards per return. Achter's career average of 15.29 yards per return remains a school record.
  • Dave Rausch tallied 147 total tackles (39 unassisted, 108 assisted), ranking second in school history at the time behind his own 1976 total of 163 tackles.

[12]

At the end of the season, senior linebacker Dave Rausch was named the most valuable graduating football player in the NDCAC. He played four years of football at Valley State, was captain of the 1977 team, and also won the NDCAC discus title as a member of the school's track and field team.[13] Nine Valley City players were selected as first-team players on the 1977 All-NDCAC football team: Buck Kasowski at running back; Jim Achter at flanker; Jim Ukestad at offensive guard; Dave Olson and Jerry Holinka at offensive tackle; Dave Rausch and Eric Jorgensen at linebacker; Randy Belsinger at defensive line; and Steve Leier at defensive back.[14]

Four Valley City players were also selected as first-team players on the NAIA's All-District 12 football team: Rausch; Dave Olson, tackle; Jon Achter, flanker; and Jim Ukestad.[15]

References

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  1. ^ "NAIA". The Tampa Tribune. December 8, 1977. p. 2C – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Jim Carrington (September 12, 1977). "Valley City hands Beavers 17-10 opening game setback". The Pioneer. Bemidji, Minnesota. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Valley City State Nudges Science". The Bismarck Tribune. Associated Press. September 19, 1977. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Patchen Lifts Dickinson State To 28-6 League Win Over BJC". The Bismarck Tribune. September 28, 1977. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Valley City 27, River Falls 18". The La Crosse Tribune. October 2, 1977. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Valley City Coach Didn't Expect Tough Game". The Bismarck Tribune. October 10, 1977. p. 27 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Valley City State Coach Unhappy With Grid Rating". The Bismarck Tribune. October 17, 1977. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Valley City Rips Mystics to Earn Share of NDCAC". The Bismarck Tribune. Associated Press. October 24, 1977. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Valley City Coach Grim Rated No. 4". The Bismarck Tribune. Associated Press. October 31, 1977. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Valley City State Has One Chance to Impress". The Bismarck Tribune. Associated Press. November 4, 1977. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Poll-Minded Vikings Win 83-0: Valley City State Makes a Point". The Bismarck Tribune. Associated Press. November 7, 1977. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ a b "VCSU Football Record Book" (PDF). VCSU. 2021. Retrieved February 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Rausch Is MVP Senior". The Bismarck Tribune. Associated Press. November 19, 1977. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Valley City Heads NDCAC Honor Team". The Bismarck Tribune. Associated Press. November 23, 1977. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Nelson Dist. 12 Coach of Year". Great Falls Tribune. November 27, 1977. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
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