1976 Valley City State Vikings football team
| 1976 Valley City State Vikings football | |
|---|---|
NDCAC champion | |
NAIA Division II Semifinal, L 39-40 OT at Redlands | |
| Conference | North Dakota College Athletic Conference |
| Record | 8–2 (6–0 NDCAC) |
| Head coach |
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| Home stadium | Lokken Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 5 Valley City State $^ | 6 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minot State | 5 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jamestown | 4 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mayville State | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dickinson State | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wahpeton Science | 1 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bismarck JC | 0 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1976 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 1976 NAIA Division II football season. Under third-year head coach Jim Dew, the Vikings posted an 8–2 overall record and a perfect 6–0 mark in conference play, winning the NDCAC championship. Valley City State advanced to the NAIA Division II football national championship playoffs, where the Vikings lost in the semifinals to Redlands in overtime, 40–39. Valley City State was ranked no. 5 in the final NAIA Division II poll.[1]
After an opening the season with a loss to Bemidji State, Valley City State rebounded with a dominant stretch, defeating Wahpeton Science, Minot State, Wisconsin–River Falls, Jamestown, Dickinson State, Bismarck JC, Mayville State, and Huron. The 1976 team was inducted into the Viking Hall of Fame in 1998.[2]
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 11 | 7:30 p.m. | at Bemidji State* | Bemidji, MN | L 3–34 | [3][4] | |
| September 18 | at Wahpeton Science | Wahpeton, ND | W 37–12 | [5] | ||
| September 25 | Minot State | Valley City, ND | W 21–16 | [6] | ||
| October 2 | Wisconsin–River Falls* | Valley City, ND | W 15–14 | [7] | ||
| October 9 | 1:30 p.m. | at Jamestown |
| W 13–10 | 3,000 | [8][9] |
| October 16 | 1:00 p.m. | Dickinson State | Valley City, ND (rivalry) | W 45–18 | 3,300 | [10][11][12] |
| October 23 | 2:00 p.m. | at Bismarck JC |
| W 42–3 | [13][14] | |
| October 30 | Mayville State | Valley City, ND (rivalry) | W 24–0 | [15] | ||
| November 6 | at Huron* | Huron, SD | W 35–6 | [16] | ||
| November 27 | 9:00 p.m. | at Redlands* |
| L 39–40 OT | 5,000 | [17][18] |
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Personnel
Coaching staff
Roster
Jon Achter, Bruce Babcock, Bill Beranek, Doug Bergan, Randy Betsinger, Randy Bush, Gus Claymore, P.J. Cunningham, Kevin Evenson, Jerry Holinka, Craig Hougen, Jerome Huck, Eric Jorgenson, Buck Kasowski, David Katzenmeyer, Craig Knudsen, Randy Kottsick, Doug Laber, Jeff Leech, Steve Leier, Dave McClay, Nate McFadden, Paul Moriarty, Ted Naggatz, David Olson, John Overbey, Ken Pettie, Pete Quigley, David Rausch, Mark Stack, Tom Stingl, Tom Stevenson, Kyle Stricklin, Jim Ukestad, Tom Watson, Tim Webber, Tom White, Tom Birkeland, Colby Boeder, Mark Bounds, Perry Brintnell, John Code, Connell Dillard, Doyle Fraddosio, Glenn Hangaard, Dave Hentges, Don Hillman, Tony Huck, Brad Kruger, Brian Kidtbo, Todd Morgan, Brian Midthun, Dean Olstad, Keith Sundquist, and Rick Huether. The team was coached by Jim Dew and assisted by Bob Bruhschwein, Gerry Kringlie, Don Lemnus and Ed Pung. Student assistants were Larry Boschee, Ralph Parenio, Scott Rerick, Tom Studevant, Alan Bjornson, Holly Werner, Steve Willert, Don Huck and Gilbert Kjelden.[2]
References
- ^ "Carroll College gridders 12th in final poll". Independent Record. Helena, Montana. December 16, 1976. p. 9. Retrieved May 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ a b c d "1976 Football Team – Viking Hall of Fame". Valley City State University Alumni Association. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
- ^ "Bulldogs, 'Jackets clash". Duluth News-Tribune. Duluth, Minnesota. September 11, 1976. p. 9, Inside Football '76 section. Retrieved December 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Bemidji routs Valley City, 34-3 in season opener". The Forum. Fargo, North Dakota. September 13, 1976. p. 14. Retrieved December 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Valley City Rip Science". The Bismarck Tribune. Bismarck, North Dakota. Associated Press. September 20, 1976. p. 26. Retrieved December 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ Monson, Curt (September 26, 1976). "Penalties help Valley City State top Minot 21-16". The Sunday Forum. Fargo, North Dakota. p. E3. Retrieved December 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Valley City wins 15-14 with late TD". The Sunday Forum. Fargo, North Dakota. October 3, 1976. p. C2. Retrieved December 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ Monson, Curt (October 8, 1976). "Jamestown worried about stopping Viking runningback Buck Kasowksi". The Forum. Fargo, North Dakota. p. 17. Retrieved December 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ Monson, Curt (October 10, 1976). "Valley City wins 13-10". The Sunday Forum. Fargo, North Dakota. pp. D1, D4. Retrieved December 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ Ostrom, Lee (October 16, 1976). "Hawks face unbeaten, bigger Vikings". The Dickinson Press. Dickinson, North Dakota. p. 10. Retrieved December 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ Monson, Curt (October 17, 1976). "Achter lifts Valley City to 45-18 win". The Sunday Forum. Fargo, North Dakota. pp. D1–D2. Retrieved December 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Vikings 'pass' by Hawks, 45-18". The Dickinson Press. Dickinson, North Dakota. October 17, 1976. p. 6. Retrieved December 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ Stelter, Stan (October 22, 1976). "Mystics Entertain Confident Vikings". The Bismarck Tribune. Bismarck, North Dakota. p. 15. Retrieved December 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Mystics Finish Winless In Loop After 42-3 Loss". The Bismarck Tribune. Bismarck, North Dakota. October 25, 1976. p. 22. Retrieved February 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ Monson, Curt (October 31, 1976). "Valley City wins 24-0 over Comets". The Sunday Forum. Fargo, North Dakota. p. E1, E4. Retrieved December 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Valley City State crushes Huron 35-6". The Sunday Forum. Fargo, North Dakota. November 7, 1976. p. C5. Retrieved December 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ Kishi, Russ (November 27, 1976). "Bulldogs, Vikings to clash". Redlands Daily Facts. Redlands, California. p. B3. Retrieved December 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Redlands Wins, 40-39, to Gain NAIA Finals". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. November 28, 1976. p. 6, part III. Retrieved December 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .