2000 Valley City State Vikings football team

Last updated

2000 Valley City State Vikings football
2000 VCSU football team.jpg
DAC co-champion
Conference Dakota Athletic Conference
Record9–2 (8–1 DAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorCory Anderson
Defensive coordinator Gregg Horner (4th season)
MVPJeremy Peschel
Home stadium Lokken Stadium
Seasons
← 1999
2001 →
2000 Dakota Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 10 Valley City State +^  8 –1   9 –2  
No. 8 Huron +^  8 –1   9 –3  
No. 12 Mary  7 –2   7 –2  
Dickinson State  5 –4   6 –4  
Minot State  5 –4   5 –5  
Mayville State  4 –5   4 –6  
Dakota State  3 –6   3 –7  
Black Hills State  3 –6   3 –7  
Jamestown  2 –7   3 –6  
South Dakota Mines  0 –9   0 –10  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll

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 Huron for the DAC championship, and advanced to the NAIA playoffs, hosting the Carroll Saints at the Fargodome in Fargo, North Dakota, where they narrowly lost, 24–21. [1]

Contents

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. [2]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResult
September 2 Minnesota–Morris *
W 40–13
September 9at Minot State Minot, ND L 12–13
September 16 Dakota State
  • Lokken Stadium
  • Valley City, ND
W 34–10
September 25 Black Hills State
  • Lokken Stadium
  • Valley City, ND
W 28–7
October 7at Huron Huron, SD W 51–28
October 14 Dickinson State
  • Lokken Stadium
  • Valley City, ND
W 35–28
October 21 Mayville State
  • Lokken Stadium
  • Valley City, ND
W 45–3
October 28at South Dakota Mines Rapid City, SD W 21–14
October 30at Jamestown Jamestown, ND (rivalry)W 27–25
November 4 Mary
  • Lokken Stadium
  • Valley City, ND
W 35–21
November 18 Carroll (MT) *
L 21–24
  • *Non-conference game

[3]

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked
Week
PollPre12345678910Final
NAIA Coaches' Poll 24——2422108886610

Season summary

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.

Coaching staff

Awards and honors

References

  1. ↑ "VCSU Athletics Hall of Fame – 2000 Football Team". VCSU Athletics. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Valley City State Football Tradition". VCSU Athletics. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  3. ↑ "2000 Football Schedule". Valley City State University Athletics. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
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