Jesse Hamer

For over 20 years the record for most field goals in a game has been held by Russ Meier after he kicked four in one game. That changed at the last home game when freshman kicker Parker Douglass kicked six field goals in one game, and it was only his third game.

South Dakota State University did not start their sport’s records book until the 1950s. However, there was one football game in 1922 against Columbus College that was so well-played that someone wrote down the statistics. A few of the records set at this game are still holding their place in the record book. These records include the eight touchdowns made in a single game by Ross Owen. Owen scored 48 points, a feat that keeps him in the book of records. Owen is also in the SDSU Hall of Fame.

Jeff Tiefenthaler was another valuable player. He holds the record for most receiving yards in a single game at 256, set against North Dakota State in 1986. He was recruited by SDSU to run track and field, but tried out for the football team on a dare from his buddies.

Ted Wahl keeps the record for most offensive yards in a game at 439. Originally from Bismarck, he set this record playing his home state of North Dakota in 1988.

Adam Vinatieri is the player that most SDSU and NFL fans know. Vintieri demolished the old record in 1994, averaging 43.5 yards per kick. He set the SDSU mark for kicking the longest field goal of 51 yards-he did this twice. He’s also scored the most points scored by a place kicker, at 195 and most career PATs (points after touchdown) at 104 and career field goals with 27.

Ron Lenz, SDSU’s athletic information director, remembers him as an excellent and versatile player. He remembered a game against Augustana when Vinatieri punted 50 yards into the wind.

“He was just so good,” Lenz said.

Josh Ranek, former running back, holds quite a few records including 170 points (28 touchdowns) made in a single season and 426 points (69 touchdowns) in his career at SDSU. All together Ranek holds 15 records-the most of anybody. He left SDSU as the career-rushing leader not only at SDSU, but also in the North Central Conference. In 2001 he was one of three finalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy as the Division II Player of the Year.

Lenz said that Ranek had so many great plays it is hard to remember just one of them. He was famous for turning small plays into big ones. Ranek is still playing football with the Ottawa Renegades of the Canadian Football League.