1996 Valley City State Vikings football team

American college football season March 2026 November 2025 1996 Valley City State Vikings football 1996 VCSU Football Team.jpg 285 North Dakota College Athletic Conference NDCAC 9–2 5–1 Steve LeGrand (3rd season) Dennis McCulloch (3rd season) Lokken Stadium NAIA First Round L 7–14 vs. 1996 Northwestern Red Raiders Northwestern (IA) The 1996 Valley City State Vikings football team represented Valley City State University in the 1996 NAIA football season. Led by head coach Steve LeGrand, the Vikings finished with a 9–1 regular season record and earned a berth in the NAIA National Playoffs. The team was later inducted into the VCSU Vikings Hall of Fame.VCSU Vikings Hall of Fame – 1996 Football Team https://www.vcsualumni.org/awards-recognition/vikings-hall-of-fame/hall-of-fame.html VCSU Alumni November 25, 2025 The Vikings defeated Jamestown College, Dakota State, Dakota Wesleyan, Minnesota–Crookston, Mayville State, Dickinson State, South Dakota Mines and Minot State during the regular season. Their only regular-season loss came on the road against the University of Mary. Valley City State advanced to the national playoffs, where they dropped a close 14–7 decision to 1996 Northwestern Red Raiders Northwestern (IA). Seven Vikings earned First-Team All-Conference honors: Gerald Urlaub, Mikah Boudreaux, Trevor Bakalar, Mark Pippin, Ray Reinhart, Sarge Truesdell, and George Perich. The Vikings opened the 1996 season with eight straight victories, building one of the strongest starts in program history. Valley City State posted dominant defensive performances throughout the year, including shutouts against Minnesota–Crookston and Mayville State. After a narrow road loss to the University of Mary late in the season, Valley City State earned an at-large berth to the NAIA National Playoffs. The Vikings traveled to Iowa in the first round, where they were narrowly defeated by Northwestern (IA), 14–7. Schedule 1996 NAIA NAIA Division II Central September 7 w y 1996 Jamestown Jimmies Jamestown Lokken Stadium Valley City, ND rivalry 20–14 September 14 w y y 1996 Dakota State Trojans Dakota State Madison, SD 40–7 September 21 w y 1996 Dakota Wesleyan Tigers Dakota Wesleyan Lokken Stadium Valley City, ND 28–12 September 28 w y 1996 Minnesota–Crookston Golden Eagles Minnesota–Crookston Crookston, MN 20–0 October 5 w 1996 Mayville State Comets Mayville State Lokken Stadium Valley City, ND rivalry 32–0 October 12 w 1996 Dickinson State Blue Hawks Dickinson State Lokken Stadium Valley City, ND rivalry 21–7 October 19 w y y 1996 South Dakota Mines Hardrockers South Dakota Mines Rapid City, SD 28–15 October 26 w 1996 Minot State Beavers Minot State Lokken Stadium Valley City, ND 41–7 November 2 l y 1996 Mary Marauders Mary Bismarck, ND 14–20 November 9 w y Jamestown Jamestown, ND 24–13 November 16 l y y 1996 Northwestern Red Raiders Northwestern (IA) Orange City, IA NAIA First Round 7–14 1996 Football Schedule https://vcsuvikings.com/sports/football/schedule/1996 Valley City State University Athletics December 16, 2025 Coaching staff Steve LeGrand: head coach Dennis McCulloch: defensive coordinator Gregg Horner: defensive line coach Awards and honors NDCAC First-Team All-Conference Gerald Urlaub Mikah Boudreaux Trevor Bakalar Mark Pippin Ray Reinhart Sarge Truesdell George Perich References Valley City State Category:Valley City State Vikings football seasons Category:North Dakota College Athletic Conference football champion seasons Valley City State Vikings football