To celebrate 30 years of excellence in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, the league is recognizing some of its all-time top moments. We’ve divided these moments into 10 categories, and have selected the Top 3 in each … today, we take a look at our “Championship Clinchers.”
UNI owns the most conference championships – with 16 total. The Panthers have 10 outright championships, and have shared league titles six times. Southern Illinois (5) and Western Illinois (5) are followed closely by North Dakota State, which has won each of the past three MVFC crowns. Nine different league teams (the league has had 12 all-time members) have earned at least a share of the title, although since 2003, only four different leagues won the crown (UNI, Southern Illinois, Youngstown State, and North Dakota State).
If not listed below, the moment you are looking for could be coming later in another yet-to-be released Top Moment segment (or has already been included in a previous segment).
Still to come:
- Streak Snappers
- Individual Accomplishments
TOP 3
Nov. 22, 2008 (Southern Illinois 17, Illinois State 10 OT) In the final week, SIU clinched the conference title in dramatic fashion, with a 29-yard TD in OT, on 3rd-and-14, and then stopped Illinois State at the goal-line on 4th-and-1.
Nov. 18, 2000 (Western Illinois 44, UNI 41) Punter Mike Scifres hit a 56-yard field goal as time expired to win the league title inside the UNI Dome. It remains the sixth-longest made field goal in conference history.
Nov. 15, 2003 - UNI won a share of the Valley Football title with a thrilling 43-40 comeback win over Southern Illinois. SIU led 28-7 but UNI scored 15 points in the final 4:37.
OTHERS CONSIDERED
Nov. 12, 2005 – UNI clinched a 2005 playoff berth with a 25-24 victory over Southern Illinois. The Salukis led 24-10 in the fourth quarter before UNI rallied, scoring the game winner at :24.
Oct. 21, 1989 – With three weeks remaining in the season, Missouri State’s 31-25 win at Southern Illinois clinched MSU’s first-ever conference title. MSU would advance to the NCAA second round and finish 10-3.
Nov. 7, 2009 – In the first-ever meeting between two 6-0 league teams, Southern Illinois blasted South Dakota State. SIU jumped to a 34-3 lead and won 34-15, to claim the league’s automatic bid.
Championship Summary, Outright Titles
UNI - 10
Western Illinois - 4
North Dakota State - 2
Southern Illinois - 2
Eastern Illinois - 1
Illinois State - 1
Missouri State - 1
Youngstown State - 1
Shared Titles
UNI (1990) (1995) (2003) (2005) (2008) (2011) - 6
Southern Illinois (2003) (2005) (2008) - 3
Eastern Illinois (1995) - 1
Missouri State (1990) - 1
North Dakota State (2011) - 1
Western Illinois (2002) - 1
Western Kentucky (2002) - 1
Youngstown State (2005) - 1
Total Titles (Outright and Shared, Combined)
UNI - 16
Southern Illinois - 5
Western Illinois - 5
North Dakota State - 3
Eastern Illinois - 2
Missouri State - 2
Youngstown State - 2
Illinois State - 1
Western Kentucky - 1