• Source: 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.


      Schedule




      Statistics and honors


      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. 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.

      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. 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.
      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.


      References

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