SMSU Athletics

The 1987 SMSU football team, under the direction of head coach Gary Buer, set a then-school record for victories and made the program’s first ever NAIA playoff appearance. The squad finished the season 7-4-1, which was just the third winning season in the school’s history.  SMSU finished the season 4-1-1 in conference play and finished in second place in the league standings, just a half game behind league champion Minnesota-Duluth. One of the highlights of the season was the Mustangs’ 27-14 victory over UMD in the regular season home finale, the program’s first ever win over the Bulldogs on the field.

The Southwest football program was known for its passing game in the early to mid-1980s, but the 1987 team put SMSU football on the national landscape.  The team broke 17 single season records throughout the season, several of which still stand today.  The 1987 squad still holds the school record for passing yards in one season (4,301), total offense (5,303) and total offense per game (482.1). SMSU finished the regular season as NAIA’s top passing offense and finished second in the country in total offense and scoring offense. SMSU, which averaged 35.3 points during the 12-game season, finished the year ranked 14th in the final NAIA coaches’ poll.

The Mustangs opened the 1987 season with a victory at St. Thomas, which was one of the top teams in the MIAC that season and the followed that with a close five-point loss at NCAA Division II foe Mankato State. Southwest then closed out the pre-conference schedule with blowout victories over Wayne State and Iowa Wesleyan.  In conference action, SMSU opened with victories over Moorhead State and Winona State before losing to Minnesota-Morris.  After defeating Northern State in week four of conference play, SMSU suffered a tie against Bemidji State before ending the conference season with the big victory over Minnesota-Duluth.  SMSU closed out the regular season at the Metrodome with a non-conference loss to Minnesota-Morris.

Following the regular season, the team hosted and lost to undefeated and 4th-ranked Mesa State (Colo.) in the first round of the NAIA playoffs.  It’s the only home playoff game ever played in school history.

The team had several standouts on the team, but two of the most decorated were senior quarterback Steve Elzenga and junior wide receiver James Ashley.  Elzenga broke 12 school records that season, including passing yards in one season with 4,222 yards which still stands today.  He also still holds the school record for completions (313) and pass attempts (507) that were both set during the 1987 season.  Elzenga averaged 383.8 yards passing per game and finished the season with 38 touchdown passes.

Elzenga’s favorite target was wide receiver James Ashley, who caught a then-school record 107 passes for 1,746 yards and 20 touchdowns.  The 1,745 yards receiving still ranks number one in school history.

Five SMSU standouts earned first team all-conference honors following the season, including James Ashley (WR), Andy Pepper (OL), Thomas Williams (OL), Steve Elzenga (QB) and Brian Ginn.  Eleven other players earned honorable mention all-conference accolades.

Ashley was named first team NAIA All-America, first team AP Little All-America and Kodak All-America, while Elzenga garnered honorable mention NAIA All-America accolades. Head coach Gary Buer was named both Northern Intercollegiate Conference and NAIA All-District Coach of the Year honors.