There haven't been better back-to-back teams in the history of the University of South Dakota football program in terms of national prominence, number of victories and school records that the players established during the 1985 and 1986 seasons.

During that two-year period, the Coyotes won 21 of 27 games, resetting the school single season victory mark each year from 10 wins in 1985 to 11 in 1986 capped off by a trip to the NCAA Division II National Championship. Fifty-four school records were set during that stretch, including 29 in 1986.

The 1986 Coyote football team was the most prolific rushing team in the school's storied football history, establishing two all-time NCAA records that still exist today. That unit also owns three current school rushing records, including attempts in season (666); yards rushing in single game (581); as well as in a single season with 3,456. And if that's not enough, eight players from the 1985 and 1986 Coyote teams signed with NFL teams.

Those 1985 and 1986 Coyote football teams will be recognized during South Dakota's October 24 home game against North Dakota.

"We appreciate the effort by the University, the athletic department, the football program and the USD Foundation to recognize us," said Dave Triplett, who served as the head football coach of the Coyotes, constructing a 70-45 mark from 1979-88. "Our former players are thrilled at the opportunity to return and see the campus.

"When you talk about a chemistry, you talk about ability, personality, leadership and getting some breaks," said Triplett. "Our players had been in the former stages of a very solid program, playing a strategic role. Both teams had great potential. We were able to take it one step further in 1986.

There was reason to believe that South Dakota would field a good team in 1986 with 15 starters and 18 other letterwinners returning from the 1985 team which posted a 10-3 record while advancing to the semifinal round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.

The 1985 senior class included second-team Associated Press Little All-Americans in offensive tackle Eric Maxson and running back Chul Schwanke. Outside linebacker JP Buzynski, safety Mike Slaton and receiver Rod Tweet earned honorable mention accolades.

The Coyotes started the 1985 campaign with a 6-0 record and ranked No. 1 during the first five weeks of the 1985 NCAA Division II poll - the best getaway at the school since 1902. That quick start out of the gates, which included impressive victories at North Dakota (45-3) and over North Dakota State (38-14), allowed USD to tie a school record for consecutive victories at 11, after winning the final five games of 1984.

In its final regular season home game, South Dakota held Northern Colorado to a mere 36 yards rushing while collecting five quarterback sacks en route to a 49-6 victory. USD picked off five interceptions, with Buzynski tying a school mark with three pass thefts. A 36-yard field goal by sophomore Mark McLaughlin with six seconds left gave South Dakota a 20-17 victory at Omaha, sealing the Coyotes' ticket to the NCAA playoffs.

USD hosted the first-ever NCAA Division II playoff game played indoors, which also would turn out to be the longest in Division II history. The Coyotes prevailed 13-10 against Central State (Ohio) in two overtimes, using a bruising defense and then relying on the foot of McLaughlin. Jones' one-yard touchdown gave USD a 10-3 lead in the first overtime. McLaughlin, who had scored USD's only points in regulation on a 44-yard kick, had a game winning 41-yarder to send the Coyotes into the semifinal round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.

There were certainly enough "ifs" in USD's journey to the national championship, but mistakes proved costly in a 17-7 semifinal round home loss to North Dakota State. "What if" USD had added another touchdown to its 7-0 second quarter lead instead of fumbling on the Bison four? … And "what if" Schwanke, both the school and North Central Conference career rushing leader, had played in the game instead of observing from the sidelines with an injured right knee?

South Dakota would ride the momentum of advancing to the semifinals of the 1985 NCAA Division II Playoffs by establishing loftier goals of winning the national title in 1986.

After a 2-2 record to open the 1986 campaign USD shifted into high gear by winning nine straight games. The Coyotes won their final seven games of the NCC by an average victory margin of 25.7 points.

South Dakota posted a 10-0 record in 1986 whenever a player rushed for over 100 yards in a game. From 1983-86 the Coyotes won 27 of 29 games in which a player rushed for over 100 yards. For the second-straight year, USD had five games in which at least two players rushed for over 100 yards in the same contest.

The offense was bolstered by a veteran line which featured four seniors including three-year regulars Jerry Gilinsky at center and Tim McFarland at right guard, both All-America performers. No other team in the NCC was blessed with the depth USD enjoyed in the backfield featuring senior quarterbacks Scott Jones and Joe Longueville, the best one-two punch in the league; the emergence of sophomore running back James Hambrick, who led the league in rushing; the steady effort of tailback Tony Higgins; and the bruising play of fullback Darryl Colvin. 

The defense was headed by defensive tackle Robb White, linebacker Tim Hood and free safety Todd Salat, a third-team All-American. Hood led the Coyotes with 122 tackles, including six fumble recoveries. White was a force on the line with 47 solo tackles, while tackle Mike Schwab led the team with 12 quarterback sacks. Salat had a team-high seven interceptions.

South Dakota's special teams were led by McLoughlin and punter Jim Sulentic, who both earned second-team all-NCC honors. USD also blocked four punts during the season, with two resulting in touchdowns.

The seven-game winning streak that propelled the Coyotes to the NCAA Division II playoffs for the second-straight year began with a 48-8 Dakota Days victory against Augustana (S.D.). Hambrick gained 144 yards rushing, including a then-school record 92-yard scoring jaunt.  Behind Jones' record-setting five touchdowns, USD beat South Dakota State 51-39, marking the first time ever that the Coyotes beat their arch-rival twice in the same season. Earlier, USD earned a 26-14 win over the Jackrabbits in Brookings.

A veteran offensive line led an assault on two all-time NCAA records as the Coyotes ambushed St. Cloud State, 52-0, in the DakotaDome. USD set an all-time all-NCAA division record (which still stands today) of having the most players - five - gain over 100 yards rushing in the same game: Hambrick 125, Colvin 123, Higgins 118, Dave Elle 109 and Longueville 106.

Longueville, starting in place of Jones who was nursing a bruised shoulder, had a 25-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Hambrick added a 26-yard scoring burst, while Colvin scored on touchdowns of three, one and 12 yards. Higgins had a 71-yard scoring sprint in the second half. Elle, a freshman redshirt, hit the century mark late in the game. USD rolled up 648 yards total offense, including a single-game team record 581 yards rushing, against the Huskies.

"It's amazing to be part of a record that still stands today and has stood the test of time," said Triplett. "It is sure nice to ask people a trivia question about that football record."

USD also set another all-time NCAA record by having four active players pass 1,000 career yards rushing in Jones, Higgins, Colvin and Hambrick during the 1986 season.

The road to the NCAA Division II Championship was not easy as South Dakota had to travel to then-No. 2 ranked and undefeated UC Davis (10-0) in the opening round. South Dakota trailed UC Davis, 14-3, at halftime before Jones rallied the Coyotes with a pair of second-half touchdown runs as well as a dramatic touchdown pass. Jones scored on a 10-yard run with 5:34 left in the third quarter to close the gap to 17-12. That set the stage for the biggest fourth-down play in Coyote football history.

Early in the fourth quarter, facing a fourth down and three-yard situation at the UC Davis 23-yard line, Triplett faced a dilemma: attempt a 40-yard field goal, try a coffin corner punt to pin the Aggies deep in their own territory or gamble by trying to convert a first down. The Coyotes exhausted a time out to explore all options.

"I still recall we were in the huddle; offensive coordinator John Fritsch was in the press box, and we were talking back and forth," Triplett said. "We had been running the ball well in the second half, but he was convinced we could catch UC Davis off-guard with a pass play."

South Dakota surprised the UC Davis defense when Jones threw a perfect 23-yard touchdown strike to Kurt Southwick, running down the middle with 13:48 left in the game to give USD a 19-17 lead. After UC Davis regained the lead at 23-17, Jones sealed the victory by fending off six tackles en route to a six-yard game winning touchdown with 5:49 left in the contest. White played a big hand in preserving the victory for USD, deflecting a pass which Hood intercepted, returning it 10 yards to stop a drive late in the game. Then, on the Aggies' last possession of the contest, White forced a fumble with junior teammate Murl Dodds, a safety, recovering the football at the 19-yard line.

In the semifinal round home game against No. 3 ranked Troy State, Jones tied a career-high with 155 yards rushing, including two touchdowns, but he suffered a concussion in the third quarter. Reserve quarterback Longueville scored the eventual go-ahead touchdown for USD on a five-yard run. Sulentic kept Troy State at bay with a 46.7-yard punting average in the game. Hambrick rounded out the scoring with a five-yard run with 6:04 left to give USD a 42-28 victory, punching a ticket to the NCAA Championship game against nemesis North Dakota State.

Coyote fans may have something from those 1985 and 1986 teams to remember - maybe a pass, a tackle, a run, one play, one game. Readers may have their own words for the players and coaches of the 1985 and 1986 Coyote football teams. A majority would include "Thanks for the Memories."