1985 Long Beach State 49ers football team
1985 Pacific Coast Athletic Association football standings 1985 Long Beach State
Conf Overall 49ers football
Team W L T W L T Conference Pacific Coast
Athletic
No. 16 Fresno State $ 7 – 0 – 0 11 – 0 – 1
Association
Cal State Fullerton 5 – 2 – 0 6 – 5 – 0
Record 6–6 (4–3 PCAA)
UNLV 4 – 2 – 1 5 – 5 – 1
Head coach Mike Sheppard
Long Beach State 4 – 3 – 0 6 – 6 – 0 (2nd season)
Utah State 3 – 4 – 0 3 – 8 – 0 Home stadium Veterans Stadium
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
Date Time Opponent Site Result Attendance Source
Veterans
Stadium ·
September 7 7:00 pm Utah State Long L 17–19 8,621
Beach,
CA
Jack
Murphy
Stadium ·
September 14 7:00 pm at San Diego State* L 14–34 30,866
San
Diego,
CA
Aloha
Stadium ·
September 21 7:30 pm at Hawaii* W 33–30 43,076
Halawa,
HI
Sam
Boyd
Silver
September 28 5:00 pm at UNLV W 28–24 21,816
Bowl ·
Whitney,
NV
Bronco
October 5 7:00 pm at Boise State* Stadium · W 17–16 15,509
Boise ID
Skelly
Stadium ·
October 12 7:00 pm at Tulsa* L 35–37 12,262
Tulsa,
OK
Veterans
Stadium ·
October 19 1:30 pm No. 17 Eastern Washington* Long L 23–30 9,605
Beach,
CA
Veterans
Stadium ·
October 26 7:00 pm New Mexico State Long W 38–17 5,369
Beach,
CA
Pacific
Memorial
November 2 1:30 pm at Pacific (CA) Stadium · W 20–7 16,723 [1]
Stockton,
CA
Veterans
Stadium ·
November 7 7:00 pm San Jose State Long W 37–22 7,110
Beach,
CA
Veterans
Stadium ·
November 16 7:00 pm Fresno State Long L 31–33 15,240
Beach,
CA
Santa
Ana
November 23 1:00 pm at Cal State Fullerton Stadium · L 27–38 4,012
Santa
Ana, CA
*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
1985 Long Beach State 49ers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense Defense Special teams
Pos. # Name Class Pos. # Name Class Pos. # Name Class Head coach
Doug DE 84 Tom Hensley Sr Sheldon
QB 19 Sr KR 8 Sr Coordinators/assistant
Gaynor Chuck Gaines
Martin DE 64 Sr coaches
Meierbachtol
RB 34 Sr
Sartin LB 33 Dave Carter Sr
Mark LB 32 Kevin Moore Sr Legend
RB 25 Jr
Templeton
CB 9 Val James Jr
Charles (C) Team captain
WR 1 Jr Roger
Lockett FS 18 Jr
Beavers (S) Suspended
WR 80 Troy Ory Sr
(I) Ineligible
TE 89 Greg Locy Jr
OT 75 Joe Iosefa Jr Injured
Dickson Redshirt
G 66 Sr
Falefia
John
C 55 Sr
Stapleton
Team players in the NFL
The following were selected in the 1986 NFL Draft.[4]
Player Position Round Overall NFL team
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
Martin Sartin Running back 1987 San Diego Chargers
Sheldon Gaines Wide receiver 1987 Buffalo Bills
Notes
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
1. "Southland" (https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9990725/southland_19851103/). 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" (https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/l
ong-beach-state/1985-schedule.html). 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" (https://web.archive.org/web/20071221172950/http://www.pro-football-referenc
e.com/draft/1986.htm). Archived from the original (https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/19
86.htm) on December 21, 2007. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
5. "Long Beach St. Players/Alumni" (https://www.pro-football-reference.com/schools/longbeachst/).
Retrieved December 8, 2016.
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