Football 1977 Archive
MIAC: 5-2 (2nd place)
Season Review
Fighting to a 6-4 season record, the 1977 Gustie football squad took second place in the MIAC behind perenniel power, St. John’s. Paced by quarterback Brad Baker, the backfield duo of senior co-captain Jim Alker and freshman Ron Straka formed the offensive punch for the Gusties in a season featuring both fine running and frustrating fumbles. The Gustie crew held another potent offensive weapon in the foot of junior, Keith Bettes. As the team’s placekicker, Bettes set the Minnesota collegiate record at Northfield where he blasted a fieldgoal from 55 yards out to secure a Gustie victory over St. Olaf.
A successful football season also meant individual honors for the team. Elected to the All-MIAC team were seniors Mike Keating, Pat Conway, and Scott Racek, junior Bettes and sophomore Baker. Traditional Gustavus awards given at the season’s conclusion honored Keating as the team’s Most Valuable Player, an unusual distinction for a defensive lineman. Receiving the Craig Olson award for desire, dedication, and courage, was co-captain Marc Sterle while senior Dave Gibson received the first annual Lee Krough award for humility and humanity, a special distinction since Gibson sat out the season with a leg injury, serving instead as an assistant coach for the squad.
| 1977 MIAC Final Standings | |||||
| Team | W | L | T | ||
| St. John's | 7 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Concordia | 5 | 2 | 0 | ||
| GUSTAVUS | 5 | 2 | 0 | ||
| St. Thomas | 3 | 3 | 1 | ||
| Augsburg | 3 | 4 | 0 | ||
| St. Olaf | 2 | 4 | 1 | ||
| Hamline | 2 | 5 | 1 | ||
| Macalester | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
| 1977 Final Results (6-4-0, 5-2-0) | |||||
| GA | Opponent | ||||
| 17 | Augustana | 49 | |||
| 10 | East Texas St. | 43 | |||
| 49 | Hamline | 6 | |||
| 7 | Concordia | 9 | |||
| 44 | Macalester | 12 | |||
| 31 | St. Thomas | 0 | |||
| 20 | St. Olaf | 15 | |||
| 18 | St. John’s | 28 | |||
| 34 | Augsburg | 28 | |||
| 28 | Luther | 26 | |||
| 1977 Roster | |||||
| Number | Name | Year | Position | Hometown | |
| 1 | Keith Bettes | JR | K | Minneapolis, Minn. | |
| 9 | Brad Baker | SO | QB | St. Peter, Minn. | |
| 10 | Dave Mjolsness | SR | QB | Red Wing, Minn. | |
| 11 | Kirk Brunswold | FR | DB | Rochester, Minn. | |
| 12 | Rick Lund | SR | QB | Faribault, Minn. | |
| 13 | Roger Justin | FR | QB | Sartell, Minn. | |
| 14 | Neal Hagberg | FR | QB | Montevideo, Minn. | |
| 15 | Jay Soule | SO | QB | Mound, Minn. | |
| 16 | Roger Willhaus | SO | QB | Owatonna, Minn. | |
| 17 | Bill Annis | FR | LB | Hesperia, Michigan | |
| 18 | Craig Utterberg | FR | DB | Buffalo, Minn. | |
| 19 | Jim Peterson | FR | HB | Duluth, Minn. | |
| 20 | Bill Ingaldson | JR | FB | Fridley, Minn. | |
| 21 | Pete Taggatz | SR | DB | Port Edwards, Wisc. | |
| 22 | Ed Drenttel | FR | DB | St. Peter, Minn. | |
| 23 | Dave Hargrove | SO | DB | Dallas, Texas | |
| 24 | Jim Mortinson | FR | DB | Duluth, Minn. | |
| 25 | John Huepenbecker | SO | SE | Mankato, Minn. | |
| 27 | Dwight Rudquist | FR | LB | Lindstrom, Minn. | |
| 28 | Al Sletten | JR | HB | Wells, Minn. | |
| 29 | Scott Swansson | SR | HB | Willmar, Minn. | |
| 30 | Jim Alker | SR | FB | Rochester, Minn. | |
| 31 | Dave Rode | SO | LB | Hopkins, Minn. | |
| 32 | Ron Straka | FR | HB | St. Peter, Minn. | |
| 33 | Gordy Engstrand | SO | DB | Mound-Westonka, Minn. | |
| 34 | Randy Lauer | FR | FB | Winnetka, Illinois | |
| 35 | Dave Bucher | JR | FB/DE | Zumbrota, Minn. | |
| 36 | Bob Dehnke | JR | DB | Sartell, Minn. | |
| 37 | Todd Lehigh | FR | DB | Owatonna, Minn. | |
| 38 | Roger Rogotske | SO | HB | Fairfax, Minn. | |
| 39 | Scott Nelson | FR | LB | Le Sueur, Minn. | |
| 40 | Bill Skallerud | FR | HB | Minneapolis, Minn. | |
| 41 | Steve Swansson | SO | DB | Willmar, Minn. | |
| 42 | Jay Schoenebeck | SO | HB | Green Bay, Wisc. | |
| 43 | Casey Malmquist | JR | LB | St. Peter, Minn. | |
| 44 | Mark Poppe | FR | DB | Phoenix, Arizona | |
| 45 | John Moynihan | FR | HB | Edina, Minn. | |
| 46 | Pat Conway | SR | DB | Waseca, Minn. | |
| 47 | Jeff Schramm | SO | DB | Glenwood, Minn. | |
| 48 | Pat Cropsey | SO | DE | N. St. Paul, Minn. | |
| 49 | Reid Katzung | SR | DB | Albert Lea, Minn. | |
| 50 | Dan Thorson | FR | N | Detroit Lakes, Minn. | |
| 51 | Dave Harmsen | SO | LB | Lake Wilson, Minn. | |
| 52 | Mark Sterle | SR | LB | Hibbing, Minn. | |
| 53 | Curt Scherer | FR | T | Osseo, Minn. | |
| 54 | Bob Minkema | SO | C | Orono, Minn. | |
| 55 | Gary Williams | SO | C | Rosemount, Minn. | |
| 56 | Marty Mauser | JR | LB | Ely, Minn. | |
| 57 | J.C. Chrest | SO | C | Winthrop, Minn. | |
| 58 | Kris Johansen | SO | DT | Janesville, Minn. | |
| 59 | Mike Zea | FR | C | Blackduck, Minn. | |
| 60 | Mike Corcoran | SO | G | S. St. Paul, Minn. | |
| 61 | Harlan Anderson | FR | G | Fairmont, Minn. | |
| 62 | Jim Tate | Fr | G | St. Peter, Minn. | |
| 63 | Greg Waskewicz | SO | G | Rochester, Minn. | |
| 64 | Eric Hedlund | Fr | G | Phoenix, Arizona | |
| 65 | John Penrod | JR | G | Wisconsin Dells, Wisc. | |
| 66 | Scott Racek | SR | G | Burnsville, Minn. | |
| 67 | Greg Roberts | SO | G | St. Peter, Minn. | |
| 68 | Ed Talsness | SO | LB | Clearwater, Florida | |
| 69 | Jay Cope | FR | OT | St. Peter, Minn. | |
| 70 | Frank Wray | SO | DT | Edina, Minn. | |
| 71 | Tim Olson | JR | OT | Minneapolis, Minn. | |
| 72 | Mike Keating | SR | N | Winsted, Minn. | |
| 73 | Randy Lindberg | FR | DT | White Bear Lake, Minn. | |
| 74 | Craig Lenz | SO | DT | Hutchinson, Minn. | |
| 75 | Dave Pfeiffer | SR | OT | Hartland, Wisc. | |
| 76 | Mike Burlager | SO | OT | Spring Lake Park, Minn. | |
| 77 | Steve Sizer | SR | DT | Braham, Minn. | |
| 78 | Greg Langmo | FR | DT | Litchfield, Minn. | |
| 79 | Pat Baker | FR | OT | St. Peter, Minn. | |
| 80 | Greg Norgaard | JR | TE | Lakeville, Minn. | |
| 82 | Gary Hill | JR | DE | Northfield, Minn. | |
| 83 | Don Jensen | SR | SE | Park Center, Minn. | |
| 84 | Greg Henning | FR | DB | Montevideo, Minn. | |
| 85 | Kevin Lindstrand | SR | TE | Winthrop, Minn. | |
| 86 | Rich Rydland | JR | SE | Robbinsdale, Minn. | |
| 87 | Pete Bengston | SO | DE | Edmonds, Washington | |
| 88 | Randy Johnson | SO | De | Bloomington, Minn. | |
| 90 | Jeff Molemaar | FR | SE | Bloomington, Minn. | |
| 91 | Scott Streed | FR | TE | Lindstrom, Minn. | |
| 92 | Scott Meek | FR | SE | Zimmerman, Minn. | |
| 93 | Mike Schobert | FR | DE | Bricelyn, Minn. | |
| 94 | Sylvester Smith | JR | DE | Memphis, Tennessee | |
| Head Coach: Dennis Raarup | |||||
| Team Statistics | |||||
| Rushing | Gustavus | Opponents | |||
| Carries | 642 | 488 | |||
| Net yards gained rushing | 2664 | 1918 | |||
| Ave. per game | 266.4 | 191.8 | |||
| TD’s | 24 | 15 | |||
| Passing | |||||
| Attempts | 165 | 224 | |||
| Completions | 78 | 91 | |||
| Intercepted | 8 | 14 | |||
| Gain | 1229 | 1320 | |||
| Ave. per game | 122.9 | 132.0 | |||
| TD’s | 10 | 13 | |||
| Total Offense | |||||
| Plays | 807 | 712 | |||
| Gain | 3893 | 3238 | |||
| Ave. per game | 389.3 | 323.8 | |||
| First Downs | |||||
| Rushing | 148 | 96 | |||
| Passing | 56 | 57 | |||
| Penalty | 26 | 12 | |||
| Total | 230 | 155 | |||
| Scoring | |||||
| Touchdowns | 35 | 31 | |||
| PAT Kick | 24-30 | 22-30 | |||
| PAT Other | 2-5 | 0-1 | |||
| Field Goals | 7-14 | 2-9 | |||
| Safeties | 0 | 2 | |||
| Total Points | 259 | 218 | |||
| Ave. per game | 25.9 | 21.8 | |||
| Penalties | |||||
| Number | 64 | 63 | |||
| Yards | 575 | 629 | |||
| Fumbles | |||||
| Number | 55 | 39 | |||
| Lost | 30 | 21 | |||
| Interceptions | |||||
| Number | 15 | 8 | |||
| Yards | 83 | 213 | |||
| Punt Returns | |||||
| Number | 22 | 26 | |||
| Yards | 75 | 132 | |||
| Kickoff Returns | |||||
| Number | 37 | 41 | |||
| Yards | 666 | 694 | |||
| Return Touchdowns | 1 | 3 | |||
| Punting | |||||
| Number | 57 | 62 | |||
| Yards | 1822 | 2236 | |||
| Average | 32.0 | 36.1 | |||
| Blocked | 0 | 0 | |||
| Scoring/Quarters | |||||
| First | 79 | 51 | |||
| Second | 54 | 27 | |||
| Third | 47 | 70 | |||
| Fourth | 82 | 70 | |||
| Total | 259 | 218 | |||
| Individual Statistics | |||||
| Rushing | Attempts | Net | Average | TD | |
| Jim Alker | 123 | 512 | 4.2 | 4 | |
| Brad Baker | 153 | 315 | 2.1 | 1 | |
| Neal Hagburg | 3 | 1 | 0.3 | 1 | |
| John Huepenbecker | 2 | 11 | 5.5 | 0 | |
| Bill Ingaldson | 72 | 289 | 4.0 | 1 | |
| Randy Lauer | 2 | 4 | 2.0 | 0 | |
| Rick Lund | 13 | 12 | 0.9 | 0 | |
| Dave Mjolsness | 15 | 27 | 1.8 | 0 | |
| John Moynihan | 2 | 49 | 24.5 | 0 | |
| Roger Rogotzke | 3 | -2 | -0.7 | 0 | |
| Jay Schoenebeck | 118 | 646 | 5.5 | 8 | |
| Al Sletten | 10 | 39 | 3.9 | 0 | |
| Jay Soule | 1 | 28 | 28.0 | 0 | |
| Ron Straka | 81 | 502 | 6.2 | 7 | |
| Scott Swansson | 42 | 227 | 5.4 | 2 | |
| Roger Willhaus | 2 | 9 | 4.5 | 0 | |
| Passing | Attempts | Completed | Interceptions | Yards | TD |
| Brad Baker | 138 | 69 | 7 | 1126 | 9 |
| Neal Hagberg | 1 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| Rick Lund | 15 | 4 | 0 | 38 | 0 |
| Dave Mjolsness | 8 | 3 | 1 | 28 | 0 |
| Jay Schoenebeck | 2 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 1 |
| Ron Straka | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Scoring | TD’s | Points | PAT Kick | Pat Other | Field Goals |
| Jim Alker | 4 | 26 | 1 | ||
| Brad Baker | 1 | 6 | |||
| Keith Bettes | 45 | 24-30 | 7-14 | ||
| Neal Hagberg | 1 | 6 | |||
| John Huepenbecker | 6 | 36 | |||
| Greg Norgaard | 1 | 6 | |||
| Bill Ingaldson | 1 | 6 | |||
| Jay Schoenebeck | 9 | 56 | 1 | ||
| Ron Straka | 9 | 54 | |||
| Scott Swansson | 3 | 18 | |||
| Pass Receiving | Number | Yards | TD | ||
| Jim Alker | 2 | 9 | 0 | ||
| Gary Hill | 6 | 103 | 0 | ||
| John Huepenbecker | 24 | 340 | 6 | ||
| Bill Ingaldson | 2 | 39 | 0 | ||
| Kevin Lindstrand | 9 | 152 | 0 | ||
| Scott Meek | 1 | 17 | 0 | ||
| Greg Norgaard | 7 | 114 | 1 | ||
| Jay Schoenebeck | 17 | 266 | 1 | ||
| Ron Straka | 4 | 78 | 1 | ||
| Scott Swansson | 6 | 121 | 1 | ||
| Interceptions | Number | Yards | |||
| Dave Bucher | 1 | 9 | |||
| Bob Dehnke | 4 | 6 | |||
| Dave Harmsen | 1 | 5 | |||
| Don Jensen | 2 | 0 | |||
| Kris Johansen | 1 | 5 | |||
| Reid Katzung | 1 | 0 | |||
| Todd Lehigh | 1 | 0 | |||
| Steve Sizer | 1 | 13 | |||
| Steve Swansson | 1 | 0 | |||
| Pete Taggatz | 1 | 15 | |||
| Ed Talsness | 1 | 30 | |||
| Punting | Number | Yards | Average | Blocked | |
| Brad Baker | 57 | 1822 | 32.0 | 0 | |
| Punt Returns | Number | Yards | |||
| Bob Dehnke | 1 | -5 | |||
| John Huepenbecker | 3 | 14 | |||
| Don Jensen | 11 | 42 | |||
| Scott Swansson | 4 | 17 | |||
| Pete Taggatz | 3 | 9 | |||
| Kickoff Returns | Number | Yards | |||
| Dave Bucher | 1 | 3 | |||
| Bob Dehnke | 1 | 0 | |||
| Bill Ingaldson | 1 | 29 | |||
| Todd Lehigh | 2 | 22 | |||
| Jim Peterson | 6 | 109 | |||
| Greg Norgaard | 1 | 9 | |||
| Roger Rogotzke | 1 | 12 | |||
| Jay Schoenebeck | 6 | 137 | |||
| Al Sletten | 2 | 31 | |||
| Ron Straka | 11 | 249 | |||
| Scott Swansson | 5 | 65 | |||
