1978 Football Team (2008) - Coyote Sports Hall of Fame - University of South Dakota Athletics

Coyote Sports Hall of Fame

1978 Football Team

Class

1978
Induction

2008
Sport(s)

Hall of Champions

The 1978 Coyote Football team won the NCC title with an unbelievable finish. This fall will mark the 30th anniversary of that team that rallied from a 1-3 start to win an NCC title with a 7-4 record. USD won the NCC title with a 21-3 win over Nebraska-Omaha on ABC regional TV in the final league game of the season. They won six-straight games, beginning with a 17-14 win over NDSU in Fargo. During their six-game winning streak, the Coyotes outscored their opponents, 146-42. South Dakota averaged 178.3 yards rushing and 68.4 yards by passing. The U had a solid defense which recorded two safeties, 16 fumble recoveries and 19 interceptions, including seven by Bill Moats. From game 2 through 10, USD did not allow a team to score more than 14 points in a game (game 5, NDSU). Brian Barnes rushed for 576 yards and three TDs while Emmett Huston had 484 yards and four TDs. Kicker Knud Nielsen led the team in scoring with 42 points. At the end of the season, six players were named to the All-NCC team, two were named NCC MVPs (Moats, defensive back; and Mike Scherer, offensive lineman), one (Moats) earned All-American honors while two others (linebacker Ben Long and defensive tackle Dave Schwab) earned honorable mention All-American honors.

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