1947 Missouri Valley Vikings football team

The 1947 Missouri Valley Vikings football team was an American football team that represented Missouri Valley College as a member of the Missouri College Athletic Union (MCAU) during the 1947 college football season. In their eighth season under head coach Volney Ashford, the Vikings compiled a perfect 12–0 record (4–0 against MCAU teams), won the MCAU championship and two bowl games, and outscored all opponents by a total of 372 to 98.[1]

1947 Missouri Valley Vikings football
MCAU champion
Boy's Ranch Bowl, W 20–13 vs. McMurry
Cigar Bowl, W 26–7 vs. West Chester
ConferenceMissouri College Athletic Union
Record12–0 (4–0 MCAU)
Head coach
Seasons
← 1946
1948 →
1947 Missouri College Athletic Union football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Missouri Valley $ 4 0 0 12 0 0
Central (MO) 2 2 0 5 4 0
Culver–Stockton 2 2 0 4 4 0
William Jewell 2 2 0 3 6 1
Tarkio 0 4 0 3 5 0
  • $ – Conference champion

In the final Litkenhous Ratings released in mid-December, Missouri Valley was ranked at No. 136 out of 500 college football teams.[2]

The season was part of a 41-game winning streak (1941–1942, 1946–1948) that still ranks as the fifth longest in college football history.[note 1] Coach Ashford, who led the team during the streak, was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.[3]

Schedule

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DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 272:30 p.m. at Washington UniversitySt. Louis, MOW 28–139,000[4][5]
October 2Ottawa (KS)Marshall, MOW 32–6
October 10Shurtleff*Marshall, MOW 34–12
October 17at Central (MO)Fayette, MOW 27–14
October 24at Central Missouri StateWarrensburg, MOW 21–6
October 31Culver–StocktonMarshall, MOW 33–7
November 7at TarkioTarkio, MOW 60–6
November 14William JewellMarshall, MOW 31–0
November 21vs. Rockhurst*Kansas City, MOW 21–7
November 27Bethany (KS)Marshall, MOW 39–7
December 13at McMurryAbilene, TX (Boy's Ranch Bowl)W 20–13
January 1, 19481:00 p.m.vs. West ChesterW 26–710,000[6][7][8][9]

Notes

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  1. ^ The United States Navy took over the Missouri Valley College during World War II. While the Navy fielded V-12 Navy College Training Program football teams under the Missouri Valley name in 1943 and 1944, the V-12 teams played with different coaches and players, and are not counted as part of the Missouri Valley Vikings football program's record.

References

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  1. ^ 1947 - Missouri Valley. College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 13, 2015. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  2. ^ Dr. E. E. Litkenhous (December 18, 1947). "Michigan National Champion in Final Litkenhous Ratings". Times. p. 47 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Volney Ashford". National Football Foundation. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  4. ^ Herman, Jack (September 27, 1947). "Bears Make Bow Against Vikings Today". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. St. Louis, Missouri. p. 6A. Retrieved July 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com  .
  5. ^ Herman, Jack (September 28, 1947). "Washington Loses Grid Inaugural, 28 To 13". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. St. Louis, Missouri. p. 1E. Retrieved July 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com  .
  6. ^ Hollingsworth, Byron (January 1, 1948). "Vikings Meet Rams In Cigar Bowl Game". Tampa Morning Tribune. Tampa, Florida. p. 11. Retrieved May 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com  .
  7. ^ Hollingsworth, Byron (January 2, 1948). "Vikings Overpower Rams In Cigar Bowl, 26-7". Tampa Morning Tribune. Tampa, Florida. p. 21. Retrieved May 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com  .
  8. ^ Hollingsworth, Byron (January 2, 1948). "Vikings Roll Over Rams in Cigar Bowl Contest, 26-7 (continued)". Tampa Morning Tribune. Tampa, Florida. p. 23. Retrieved May 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com  .
  9. ^ "Missouri Valley blasts West Chester Teachers, 26–7, in Cigar Bowl game". Intelligencer Journal. January 2, 1948. Retrieved January 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.