1985 Long Beach State 49ers football team

American college football season

1985 Long Beach State 49ers football

Conference| Pacific Coast Athletic Association
Record| 6–6 (4–3 PCAA)
Head coach|

* Mike Sheppard (2nd season)

Defensive coordinator| Ken Visser (5th season)
Home stadium| Veterans Stadium

Seasons

<- 1984

1986 ->

1985 Pacific Coast Athletic Association football standings

* v
* t
* e

| Conf |  |  | Overall

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Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
No. 16 Fresno State $  | 7  | - | 0  | - | 0 |  |  | 11  | - | 0  | - | 1
Cal State Fullerton | 5  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 6  | - | 5  | - | 0
UNLV | 4  | - | 2  | - | 1 |  |  | 5  | - | 5  | - | 1
Long Beach State | 4  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 6  | - | 6  | - | 0
Utah State | 3  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 3  | - | 8  | - | 0
San Jose State | 2  | - | 4  | - | 1 |  |  | 2  | - | 8  | - | 1
Pacific (CA) | 2  | - | 5  | - | 0 |  |  | 5  | - | 7  | - | 0
New Mexico State | 0  | - | 7  | - | 0 |  |  | 1  | - | 10  | - | 0

* $ - Conference champion

Rankings from Coaches Poll

The 1985 Long Beach State 49ers football team represented California State University, Long Beach[note 1] during the 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season.

Hopes were high as the 49er's returned 15 starters heading into the 1985 season. They were once again led by senior quarterback Doug Gaynor who passed for 3563 yards a 71.2% completion percentage and 19 TD's. He returned his entire receiving corps from the previous season including Charles Lockett 69 catches, 949 yards and 10 TD's, Troy Ory (46-554-5), tight end Greg Locy (38-502-0) and running back Mark Templeton (62-500-1). The rushing attack was led by Martin Sartin who ran for 441 yards and scored 13 total TD's. The Niners also received a strong contribution from Sheldon Gaines who gained a combined 514 yards rushing and receiving along with leading the team as a kick-returner. The defense was led by a strong pass rush from ends Tom Hensley and Chuck Meierbachtol. Val James led the secondary with 5 interceptions.

The Niners were a "streaky" team in 1985. They lost their first two games, then reeled off three wins, two losses, three wins and finally two losses. The highlight of the season was a showdown with Fresno St. The 49er's were only one game behind the Bulldogs in the PCAA standings for this late-season matchup. The game was an exciting one, as the 49ers drove down the field in the waning seconds. A 54-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right and Fresno prevailed 33-31, clinching the conference championship.

Cal State Long Beach competed in the Pacific Coast Athletic Association.[note 2] The team was led by second-year head coach Mike Sheppard, and played home games at Veterans Stadium adjacent to the campus of Long Beach City College in Long Beach, California. They finished the season with a record of six wins and six losses (6–6, 4–3 PCAA).

## Schedule

[edit]

Date| Time| Opponent| Site| Result| Attendance| Source

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September 7| 7:00 pm| Utah State|

* Veterans Stadium
* Long Beach, CA

| L 17–19| 8,621|
September 14| 7:00 pm| at San Diego State*|

* Jack Murphy Stadium
* San Diego, CA

| L 14–34| 30,866|
September 21| 7:30 pm| at Hawaii*|

* Aloha Stadium
* Halawa, HI

| W 33–30| 43,076|
September 28| 5:00 pm| at UNLV|

* Sam Boyd Silver Bowl
* Whitney, NV

| W 28–24| 21,816|
October 5| 7:00 pm| at Boise State*|

* Bronco Stadium
* Boise ID

| W 17–16| 15,509|
October 12| 7:00 pm| at Tulsa*|

* Skelly Stadium
* Tulsa, OK

| L 35–37| 12,262|
October 19| 1:30 pm| No. 17 Eastern Washington*|

* Veterans Stadium
* Long Beach, CA

| L 23–30| 9,605|
October 26| 7:00 pm| New Mexico State|

* Veterans Stadium
* Long Beach, CA

| W 38–17| 5,369|
November 2| 1:30 pm| at Pacific (CA)|

* Pacific Memorial Stadium
* Stockton, CA

| W 20–7| 16,723| [1]
November 7| 7:00 pm| San Jose State|

* Veterans Stadium
* Long Beach, CA

| W 37–22| 7,110|
November 16| 7:00 pm| Fresno State|

* Veterans Stadium
* Long Beach, CA

| L 31–33| 15,240|
November 23| 1:00 pm| at Cal State Fullerton|

* Santa Ana Stadium
* Santa Ana, CA

| L 27–38| 4,012|

* *Non-conference game
* Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee Poll released prior to the game
* All times are in Pacific time

[2][3]

## Roster

[edit]

1985 Long Beach State 49ers football team roster

Players  | Coaches
Offense | Pos. | # | Name | Class

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|
|

QB | `19` | Doug Gaynor | Sr
RB | `34` | Martin Sartin | Sr
RB | `25` | Mark Templeton | Jr
WR | `1` | Charles Lockett | Jr
WR | `80` | Troy Ory | Sr
TE | `89` | Greg Locy | Jr
OT | `75` | Joe Iosefa | Jr
G | `66` | Dickson Falefia | Sr
C | `55` | John Stapleton | Sr
Defense | Pos. | # | Name | Class

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|
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DE | `84` | Tom Hensley | Sr
DE | `64` | Chuck Meierbachtol | Sr
LB | `33` | Dave Carter | Sr
LB | `32` | Kevin Moore | Sr
CB | `9` | Val James | Jr
FS | `18` | Roger Beavers | Jr
Special teams | Pos. | # | Name | Class

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|
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KR | `8` | Sheldon Gaines | Sr

Head coach

Coordinators/assistant coaches

* * *

Legend

* (C) Team captain
* (S) Suspended
* (I) Ineligible

* Injured
* Redshirt

## Team players in the NFL

[edit]

The following were selected in the 1986 NFL draft.[4]

Player | Position | Round | Overall | NFL team

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Doug Gaynor | Quarterback | 4 | 99 | Cincinnati Bengals

The following finished their Cal State Long Beach career in 1985, were not drafted, but played in the NFL.[5]

Player | Position | First NFL team

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|

Martin Sartin | Running back | 1987 San Diego Chargers
Sheldon Gaines | Wide receiver | 1987 Buffalo Bills

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ The official name of Long Beach State has been California State University, Long Beach since 1972. However, it is still commonly known as Long Beach State.
2. ^ The Big West Conference was known as the Pacific Coast Athletic Association from its founding in 1969 through 1987.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Southland". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. November 3, 1985. p. III-19. Retrieved April 2, 2017 - via Newspapers.com.
2. ^ "1985 Long Beach State Forty Niners Schedule". Retrieved December 6, 2016.
3. ^ A Touch of Magic In The Air; 1986 Football Media Guide (pamphlet). Long Beach, California: CSULB Athletic Department. 1986.
4. ^ "1986 NFL Draft". Archived from the original on December 21, 2007. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
5. ^ "Long Beach St. Players/Alumni". Retrieved December 8, 2016.

* v
* t
* e

Long Beach State 49ers football

Venues|

* Veterans Memorial Stadium (1955–1991)
* Anaheim Stadium (alternate, 1977–1982)

Bowls & rivalries|

* 1970 Pasadena Bowl

People|

* Head coaches
* NFL draftees

Seasons|

* 1955
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*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Conf]: Conference record
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[T]: Ties
*[No.]: Number