The 1976 Valley City State Vikings football team represented Valley City State CollegeâÂÂnow known as Valley City State UniversityâÂÂas a member of the North Dakota College Athletic Conference NDCAC) during the 1976 NAIA Division II football season. Under third-year head coach Jim Dew, the Vikings posted an 8âÂÂ2 overall record and a perfect 6âÂÂ0 mark in conference play, winning the NDCAC championship. Valley City State advanced to the NAIA Division II football national championship playoffs, where the Vikings lost in the semifinals to in overtime, 40âÂÂ39. Valley City State was ranked no. 5 in the final NAIA Division II poll.
After an opening the season with a loss to , Valley City State rebounded with a dominant stretch, defeating , , , , , , , and . The 1976 team was inducted into the Viking Hall of Fame in 1998.
Jon Achter, Bruce Babcock, Bill Beranek, Doug Bergan, Randy Betsinger, Randy Bush, Gus Claymore, P.J. Cunningham, Kevin Evenson, Jerry Holinka, Craig Hougen, Jerome Huck, Eric Jorgenson, Buck Kasowski, David Katzenmeyer, Craig Knudsen, Randy Kottsick, Doug Laber, Jeff Leech, Steve Leier, Dave McClay, Nate McFadden, Paul Moriarty, Ted Naggatz, David Olson, John Overbey, Ken Pettie, Pete Quigley, David Rausch, Mark Stack, Tom Stingl, Tom Stevenson, Kyle Stricklin, Jim Ukestad, Tom Watson, Tim Webber, Tom White, Tom Birkeland, Colby Boeder, Mark Bounds, Perry Brintnell, John Code, Connell Dillard, Doyle Fraddosio, Glenn Hangaard, Dave Hentges, Don Hillman, Tony Huck, Brad Kruger, Brian Kidtbo, Todd Morgan, Brian Midthun, Dean Olstad, Keith Sundquist, and Rick Huether. The team was coached by Jim Dew and assisted by Bob Bruhschwein, Gerry Kringlie, Don Lemnus and Ed Pung. Student assistants were Larry Boschee, Ralph Parenio, Scott Rerick, Tom Studevant, Alan Bjornson, Holly Werner, Steve Willert, Don Huck and Gilbert Kjelden.