2000 Valley City State Vikings football team

American college football season March 2026 November 2025 2000 Valley City State Vikings football 2000 VCSU football team.jpg 285 Dakota Athletic Conference DAC 9–2 8–1 Dennis McCulloch 4th Cory Anderson Gregg Horner 4th Jeremy Peschel Lokken Stadium DAC co-champion NAIA First Round L 21–24 vs. 2000 Carroll Fighting Saints Carroll (MT) The 2000 Valley City State Vikings football team represented Valley City State University in the 2000 NAIA football season as a member of the Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC). Under fourth-year head coach Dennis McCulloch, the Vikings completed one of the most dramatic turnarounds in program history, rebounding from an 0–10 season two years prior to finish 9–2 overall and 8–1 in conference play. The Vikings tied 2000 Huron Screaming Eagles Huron for the DAC championship, and advanced to the NAIA playoffs, hosting the 2000 Carroll Fighting Saints Carroll Saints at the Fargodome in Fargo, North Dakota, where they narrowly lost, 24–21.VCSU Athletics Hall of Fame – 2000 Football Team https://vcsuvikings.com/news/2017/9/25/2000-vcsu-football-team-to-enter-viking-hall-of-fame.aspx VCSU Athletics November 11, 2025 Quarterback Jeremy Peschel was named DAC Most Valuable Player, and wide receiver Steve Battle earned Second-Team NAIA All-American honors. Seven Vikings were named First-Team All-Conference: Peschel, Battle, Mark Rerick, Darin Walters, Ben Aarestad, Brent Miller, and James Thornton.Valley City State Football Tradition https://vcsuvikings.com/sports/2023/2/24/viking-football-tradition.aspx VCSU Athletics November 11, 2025 After an early loss to Minot State, the Vikings caught fire, reeling off eight consecutive victories to clinch a share of the Dakota Athletic Conference title. VCSU's high-powered offense averaged more than 33 points per game, led by quarterback Jeremy Peschel and wideout Steve Battle. The defense, anchored by linemen Brent Miller and James Thornton, limited opponents to 17.5 points per game. The Vikings earned the right to host their first-ever playoff game in the Fargodome, where they fell to Carroll (MT), 24–21, in a back-and-forth contest decided in the final minutes. Schedule 2000 NAIA NAIA Central September 2 w y 24 2000 Minnesota–Morris Cougars Minnesota–Morris Lokken Stadium Valley City, ND 40–13 September 9 l y 24 2000 Minot State Beavers Minot State Minot, ND 12–13 September 16 w 2000 Dakota State Trojans Dakota State Lokken Stadium Valley City, ND 34–10 September 23 w 2000 Black Hills State Yellow Jackets Black Hills State Lokken Stadium Valley City, ND 28–7 September 30 w y 24 2000 Jamestown Jimmies Jamestown Jamestown, ND rivalry 27–25 October 7 w y 22 2000 Huron Screaming Eagles Huron 6 Huron, SD 51–28 October 14 w 10 2000 Dickinson State Blue Hawks Dickinson State 24 Lokken Stadium Valley City, ND rivalry 35–28 October 21 w 8 2000 Mayville State Comets Mayville State Lokken Stadium Valley City, ND rivalry 45–3 October 28 w y 8 2000 South Dakota Mines Hardrockers South Dakota Mines Rapid City, SD 21–14 November 4 w 8 2000 Mary Marauders Mary 3 Lokken Stadium Valley City, ND 35–21 November 18 l y 6 2000 Carroll Fighting Saints Carroll (MT) 16 Fargodome Fargo, ND NAIA First Round 21–24 2000 Football Schedule https://vcsuvikings.com/sports/football/schedule/2000 Valley City State University Athletics November 12, 2025 Rankings NAIA Coaches' Poll 0 11 24 NR NR 24 22 10 8 8 8 6 6 10 Coaching staff Dennis McCulloch: head coach Cory Anderson: assistant coach Gregg Horner: assistant coach Lenny Doerfler: assistant coach Dave Rausch: assistant coach Awards and honors Jeremy Peschel: Dakota Athletic Conference Most Valuable Player Steve Battle: NAIA Second-Team All-American Mark Rerick, Darin Walters, Ben Aarestad, Brent Miller, James Thornton: First-Team All-DAC References Valley City State Category:Valley City State Vikings football seasons Category:Dakota Athletic Conference football champion seasons Valley City State Vikings football