1963 Valley City State Vikings football team

1963 Valley City State Vikings football
NDCAC champion
ConferenceNorth Dakota College Athletic Conference
Record6–1–1 (5–0–1 NDCAC)
Head coach
1963 North Dakota College Athletic Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Valley City State $ 5 0 1 6 1 1
Mayville State 4 1 1 5 2 1
Minot State 3 2 1 4 3 1
Dickinson State 3 2 1 3 3 2
Wahpeton Science 3 3 0 3 5 0
Jamestown 1 5 0 1 7 0
Ellendale 0 6 0 0 7 0
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1963 Valley City State Vikings football team represented Valley City State College—now known as Valley City State University—as a member of the North Dakota College Athletic Conference (NDCAC) during the 1963 NAIA football season. Under second-year head coach Dick Koppenhaver, the Vikings compiled an overall record of 6–1–1 overall with a mark of 5–0–1 in conference play, capturing the NDCAC championship.[1][2]

Valley City State opened the season with NDCAC victories over Minot State and Ellendale before battling Mayville State to a scoreless tie. A non-conference win over the Bethel Royals followed, and the Vikings then shut out Dickinson State, Wahpeton Science, and Jamestown in consecutive dominant defensive performances.

The 1963 squad is remembered as one of the best defensive teams in Valley City State history, recording five shutouts. The Vikings' only defeat came in the season finale against Moorhead State. The team was inducted into the Viking Hall of Fame in 2008.[2]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResult
September 13at Minot StateMinot, NDW 35–12
SeptemberEllendaleW 48–0
SeptemberMayville State (rivaly)T 0–0
October 5Bethel (MN)*Valley City, NDW 12–7
October 12Dickinson State (rivaly)W 21–0
OctoberWahpeton ScienceW 27–0
OctoberJamestown (rivaly)W 45–0
November 2Moorhead State*Valley City, NDL 7–26
  • *Non-conference game

[2]

Personnel

Coaching staff

Roster

Team members recognized at the Hall of Fame induction include: J. Welder, R. Smedshammer, R. Prien, L. Christman, E. Nistrom, R. Stedl, B. Donarski, A. Kreeder, P. Podoll, L. Beatte, G. Bjerke, Bob Bruhschwein, F. Young, L. Lissala, L. Smith, C. Estes, R. Eynes, M. Glad, Don Lemnus, Larry Grooters, W. Welch, J. Johnson, C. Christianson, C. Amey, F. Henry, T. Koch, B. Harg, Al Goeff, D. Dewald, H. Schwans, M. Duberous, H. King, R. Schultz, C. Schroeder, and Coach Don Lemnus.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Valley City Clinches Loop Title Tie". The Bismarck Tribune. Bismarck, North Dakota. Associated Press. October 21, 1963. p. 21. Retrieved November 13, 2020 – via Newspapers.com .
  2. ^ a b c d "1963 Football Team – Viking Hall of Fame". Valley City State University Alumni Association. Retrieved December 2, 2025.