Bio

In the long history of Missouri Valley College football, the 1989 team is looked back on as one of the most dominating teams in program-history.  That season, the team set new offensive records and finished with an undefeated record in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, giving Head Coach Ken Gibler his final conference title leading the program.  The team also earned a berth into the NAIA Football Championship series for the first time in several seasons, advancing to the quarterfinal round.  

The 1989 team dominated opponents, averaging 49 points per game on offense, and giving up only 10 points per game.  After dropping the season-opener to Peru State, the Vikings won 10-straight games, which included an undefeated, 7-0, record in the conference.  After capturing the program’s seventh Heart title under Coach Gibler, and the first since 1978, the team earned a berth into the NAIA Championship Series.  With the program’s first National playoff appearance in 11 years, the team opened with a 48-27 win over Hanover, before falling to Baker in the quarter final round to finish with a 10-2 record.  The ten wins was tied with the 1974 team as the most in a season for the program since 1947.  

As I mentioned, the team finished undefeated in conference play, with an average margin of victory of 45 points per game.  A number of individual and team records were also set, and still stand to date.  Brian Clayton set the program record for single-season rushing touchdowns, with 22, single-season total touchdowns, with 31, and single-season points scored, with 199.  Todd Moore also set the program record for most extra-points in a single-season, with 62 and Mike Polk holds the single-season record for most receiving yards, with 1,344 yards.  The 1989 team also holds the record for most points scored in a season, with 578, and most rushing yards in a single-season, with 3,422 yards.

Head Coach Ken Gibler would go on to lead the program for one more season but his 1989 team will be remembered for its dominance on the field.  To date, a total of seven players from the that team have been inducted individually into the Missouri Valley College Athletic Hall of Fame.