A look back at some of the sports happenings during the week of Aug. 31-Sept. 6, 2025:
Last year on Aug. 31, 2024: No. 5 Alabama defeated Western Kentucky 63-0 in Milbank native Kalen DeBoer’s debut as head coach of the Crimson Tide. The 49-year-old University of Sioux Falls graduate is 105-12 as a head college football coach at USF, Fresno State, Washington and Alabama.
10 years ago on Sept. 5, 2015: The South Dakota State football team defeated Kansas 41-38 on the Jayhawks’ home field. It was SDSU’s first ever win over a BCS squad. Zach Lujan threw for 293 yards and three TDs for the Jacks while teammate Isaac Wallace scored the game-winning touchdown with 6:18 left to play.
20 years ago on Sept. 6, 2005: Led by Betsy Bies, the Yankton girls’ cross country team is ranked fourth in the nation.
30 years ago on Sept. 3, 1995: Roxi Erickson, 32, of Omaha (NE) won the 17th annual Black Hill Marathon in 2 hours, 39 minutes, 25 seconds. She also won the women’s division. Second was men’s division winner Dennis Wallach of Eden Prairie (MN), who ran a 2:43.17.
40 years ago on Sept. 1, 1985: Last Chance of Aberdeen won the National American Softball Association’s Class A Slowpitch 16-Inch Softball Tournament in Aberdeen. The national champs defeated The Des Plaines Turtles of Illinois 4-3 in extra (11) innings for the title. Bill Gayton of Aberdeen hit a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 11th to produce the game-winning run. Last Chance pitcher Tom Brenden was named tourney MVP.
50 years ago on Sept. 5, 1975: Gloria Donnelly of Elk Point fired a par 39 on the Elk Point Golf Course. She is first woman to accomplish the feat at the course as her nine-hole round included four birdies.
