1985 Southwestern Apaches football team

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Record9–1–1 (7–1 Mission)
Headcoach
Co-offensivecoordinators
  • Jan Chapman Sr. (1st season)
  • Gil Warren (1st season)
1985 Southwestern Apaches football
ConferenceMission Conference
Record9–1–1 (7–1 Mission)
Head coach
Co-offensive coordinators
  • Jan Chapman Sr. (1st season)
  • Gil Warren (1st season)
Offensive schemeI formation (first four games)
Split backs (remainder of season)[1]
Defensive coordinatorBing Dawson (4th season)
Home stadiumDeVore Stadium
Seasons
 1984
1986 
1985 Mission Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Saddleback $8001100
Southwestern (CA)710911
Palomar440640
Riverside440550
Citrus440460
Rancho Santiago350550
San Diego Mesa350460
Orange Coast260271
San Diego City170190
  • $ Conference champion

The 1985 Southwestern Apaches football team was an American football team that represented Southwestern College as a member of the Mission Conference during the 1985 junior college football season. In their 10th year under head coach Bob Mears,[a] the Apaches compiled a 9–1–1 record (7–1 in conference games) and finished second in the Mission Conference. They tied with Grossmont in the National Football Foundation Bowl and were ranked No. 10 in the final J.C. Grid-Wire poll of 1985.

Southwestern led the Mission Conference in total defense for the fourth year in a row after allowing 236.2 yards per game in the regular season.[3] They also ranked first in the state in rushing defense by allowing just 48.2 yards per game on the ground.[3][4] Linebacker Chris Rinehart led the team in tackles while defensive linemen Larry Sandson led the team with 15 sacks.[3] Southwestern also led the conference in passing with a school record 2,630 yards.[5][6] After ending training camp with seven quarterbacks, the Apaches settled on a three-quarterback system, alternating Brad Platt, Rick Joseph, and Rodney Hill.[6][7] Platt threw for 1,483 yards and set single-game school records for attempts, completions, and passing yards. The team's other statistical leaders included tight end Guy Liggins, who caught 58 passes for 1,059 yards (both school records) and eight touchdowns, and running back Danny Holmes, who recorded 125 carries for 444 yards.[6][b]

Rinehart was selected as a first-team player on the 1985 junior college All-American football team by J.C. Grid-Wire – as well as the Mission Conference Defensive Player of the Year – while Liggins earned second-team All-American honors.[3][8] Six Southwestern players were first-team honorees on the 1985 All-Mission Conference football team: wide receiver Willie McCloud; Guy Liggins; defensive linemen Larry Sandson, Tim Wells, and Tony Wells; and Chris Rinehart.[3]

The team played its home games at DeVore Stadium in Chula Vista, California.

The 1985 schedule consisted of five home games and five away games in the regular season.[9] The season opener was moved from the normal 7:30 p.m. kickoff to 2:30 p.m. due to a Grateful Dead concert in DeVore Stadium the following day.[10]

On November 14, Southwestern accepted a bid to play in the inaugural National Football Foundation Bowl against Grossmont, who won the Foothill Conference championship and accepted their bid two days prior. It was the first meeting between the two teams since 1977,[11] though Grossmont entered the game with a four-game winning streak in the rivalry.[12]

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 142:30 p.m.Antelope Valley*
W 38–0[13][14]
September 217:30 p.m.at Imperial Valley*Imperial, CAW 45–0[15]
September 281:30 p.m.at PalomarW 17–16[16][17][18]
October 57:30 p.m.Citrus
  • DeVore Stadium
  • Chula Vista, CA
W 30–24[19]
October 127:30 p.m.at Rancho SantiagoW 31–16[20]
October 197:30 p.m.Saddlebackdagger
  • DeVore Stadium
  • Chula Vista, CA
L 17–312,300–2,400[21][22][23]
October 261:30 p.m.at Orange CoastW 17–71,000[24][25]
November 27:30 p.m.Riverside
  • DeVore Stadium
  • Chula Vista, CA
W 20–9[26][27]
November 91:30 p.m.at San Diego Mesa
W 31–24[28]
November 237:30 p.m.San Diego City
  • DeVore Stadium
  • Chula Vista, CA
W 45–0[29]
December 67:30 p.m.vs. Grossmont*T 35–351,600–1,800[30][31][32]


Offseason

Coaching staff changes

Former Southwestern offensive coordinator Jan Chapman Sr. returned to the team as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.[33][34] Running backs coach Gil Warren assumed co-offensive coordinator duties as well.[35] Two former Apaches players returned to the team in coaching roles. Dale O'Brien joined the staff as offensive line coach after serving in the same role at Mira Mesa High School, while former defensive back Steve Reed returned to the team as wide receivers coach.[33]

Transfers

Outgoing

Outgoing transfers
Name Pos. Year Height Weight College transferred to Source(s)
Theo BarleyDBSophomore6'2"180Minnesota[36]
Marc D'AndreaOL/TESophomore6'4"250Northern Arizona[37][38]
Rich EhmkeKFreshman5'10"160Grossmont[39][40]
John KingDBSophomore5'10"173San Jose State[41]
Kevin LudwigDBSophomore6'0"185West Texas A&M[42]
Rich McGintyOLSophomore6'0"230Sonoma State[43]

Additionally, quarterback and punter Mike Poteet transferred to United States International University to play baseball.[44]

Incoming

Incoming transfers
Name Pos. Year Previous School Source(s)
Alan BrownDLLincoln (MO)[45]
Mike GonzalesOLRedshirt Freshman[46]Northern Arizona[47]
Mike Meehan[c]DLRedshirt Sophomore[49]Long Beach State[45]
Anthony ReedDBSan Diego Mesa[10]
Maurice Sowell[d]WRRedshirt Freshman[51]San Diego State[35]

The team was also bolstered by Rodney Hill, who sat out the 1984 season after transferring from District of Columbia.[52] He was deployed as a goal-line quarterback, running back, kick returner, and punt returner.[53]

Preseason

Sports information director' poll

In the preseason Mission Conference sports information directors' poll, Southwestern was predicted to finish seventh in the conference.[54]

Sports information director' poll
Predicted finish Team
1Saddleback
2Riverside
3San Diego Mesa
4Orange Coast
5Citrus
6Rancho Santiago
7Southwestern
8Palomar
9San Diego City

Preseason All-Americans

Linebacker Chris Rinehart was named a preseason first-team All-American by J.C. Grid-Wire.[55]

Preseason scrimmage

Southwestern hosted a tri-team preseason scrimmage against Grossmont and Arizona Western on September 6.[56][9] Darren Pudgil was named the starting quarterback for the season opener based on his performance in the scrimmage, becoming the first Southwestern freshman quarterback to start a season opener since 1980.[34][e]

Coaching staff

NamePosition
Bob MearsHead coach
Jan Chapman Sr.Co-offensive coordinator / quarterbacks
Gil WarrenCo-offensive coordinator / Running backs
Bing DawsonDefensive coordinator[45]
Steve ReedWide receivers
Dale O'BrienOffensive line
Craig MoffittDefensive line[33]
Bill KinneyDefensive backs[33]

Awards and honors

Notes

References

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI