Every Thursday throughout the season, GoAugie.com will take a dive into a new decade of Augustana football in honor of the 100th season. The 100th season of Augustana football is presented by CorTrust Bank.

The 1930s, by the numbers, are the most dominant era of Augustana football. The Vikings tallied an overall record of 56-16-1 and won seven South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference Championships. Under the direction of head coach L.A. Olson, the Vikings earned the programs first-ever conference championship in 1932 with a 5-0 league mark and a 6-1 overall record. 

Augustana simply went on to win conference titles in 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937 and 1939. Over the total of seven conference titles, the Vikings did not lose an SDIC contest. In 1937, the Vikings did not lose a game and that is the focus of this week’s look back. 

In the Augustana Edda, it is mentioned that six-straight seasons under Olson, six consecutive football championships had been left in his wake. It was under his guidance that he turned around the football, men’s basketball and track & field programs and allowed Augustana to make a bid for a berth into the North Central Conference. 

Continuing with the 1938 Edda, “No small part of Augustana’s athletic success has been due to capable Archie Midkiff, assistant and line coach, whose friendly personality and “never-say-die” spirit, on the training field and on the sidelines have endeared him to the hearts of all who have ever come under his tutelage.” A second assistant coach is also directly pointed out with “Spark-Plug” Anderson assisting both football and track, executing his three-fold duties as coach, director of physical education and director of college publicity. 

Now that we’ve set the stage for the 1938 season, Augustana opened with a 19-13 win over Hastings on Sept. 25. On oct. 1, it was another close victory, this time 27-19 over Nebraska Wesleyan as Ekeland moved from fullback to quarterback to throw the game-winning touchdown pass. 

Homecoming saw 2,000 fans arrive to watch Augustana move past Huron, 36-0. Augustana then moved to 4-0 on the season with a 38-0 victory at Yankton. Once again quoting the Edda, “Paced by Sheley, Schultz and Elkins, the Vikings had a field day on the muddy Yankton gridiron. Putnam, a fleet and much-publicized Greyhound (Yankton’s mascot), was held at bay by Augie’s ‘good old line’.”

Augustana again took it to Northern State (then called Northern Normal) by a score of 25-7. The Edda said it best. “Northern-a rough game, we remember. They were out to get Sheley, but they didn’t, and he passed beautifully to our two ends, Hagen and Plowman. Nelson was successful in his reverse attempts. Final score was 25-7.” 

The ground game helped Augustana run past Jamestown, 31-0, including a 97-yard score by Schultz. Augustana went 7-0 with a 26-6 win over Sioux Falls. 

The final game of 1937 was a 19-0 win over Mankato. One final quote from the Edda, “Mankato held the Vikings to a scoreless first half. But after one of Lefty’s famed dynamic pep talks the home team came through with three touchdowns and a point after to shut out the Teachers, 19-0.”

The season is the only undefeated season on the Vikings’ ledger as Wayne Sheley earned First team Collyer’s Little All-America honors. Bob Moreland was named to the SDIC All-Conference team. When all was said and done, “Leftymen” piled up a total of 221 points to their opponents’ 45, once again quoting the Edda. 

Sheley was an inaugural inductee into the Augustana Athletics Hall of Fame in 1970. Moreland joined his teammate in 1978 in the Hall of Fame. Schultz, the gentleman who ran 97 yards for a touchdown, did not play football before enrolling at Augustana but found himself as a 1984 inductee in to the Augustana Athletics Hall of Fame. 

Throughout the 100th season, alumni, friends, and family of Augustana Football are asked to make a gift to the Augustana Football Excellence Fund. These dollars will help fund a championship-level program and student-athlete experience. Our goal is to raise $100,000 during the 100th season.  To donate, click here or head to  augielink.com/100in100 .

A celebration of 100 years of Augustana Football: The Beginning

A Look Ahead of Augustana Football Against Bemidji State

CJ Ham Named Captain for Minnesota Vikings

No. 19 Football Welcomes Bemidji State for Home Opener

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