The 1985 Southwestern Apaches football team was an American football team that represented Southwestern College as a member of the Mission Conference during the 1985 junior college football season. In their 10th year under head coach Bob Mears, the Apaches compiled a 9–1–1 record (7–1 in conference games) and finished second in the Mission Conference. They tied with in the National Football Foundation Bowl and were ranked No. 10 in the final J.C. Grid-Wire poll of 1985.
Southwestern led the Mission Conference in total defense for the fourth year in a row after allowing 236.2 yards per game in the regular season. They also ranked first in the state in rushing defense by allowing just 48.2 yards per game on the ground. Linebacker Chris Rinehart led the team in tackles while defensive linemen Larry Sandson led the team with 15 sacks. Southwestern also led the conference in passing with a school record 2,630 yards. After ending training camp with seven quarterbacks, the Apaches settled on a three-quarterback system, alternating Brad Platt, Rick Joseph, and Rodney Hill. Platt threw for 1,483 yards and set single-game school records for attempts, completions, and passing yards. The team's other statistical leaders included tight end Guy Liggins, who caught 58 passes for 1,059 yards (both school records) and eight touchdowns, and running back Danny Holmes, who recorded 125 carries for 444 yards.
Rinehart was selected as a first-team player on the 1985 junior college All-American football team by J.C. Grid-Wire – as well as the Mission Conference Defensive Player of the Year – while Liggins earned second-team All-American honors. Six Southwestern players were first-team honorees on the 1985 All-Mission Conference football team: wide receiver Willie McCloud; Guy Liggins; defensive linemen Larry Sandson, Tim Wells, and Tony Wells; and Chris Rinehart.
The team played its home games at DeVore Stadium in Chula Vista, California.
Schedule The 1985 schedule consisted of five home games and five away games in the regular season. The season opener was moved from the normal 7:30 p.m. kickoff to 2:30 p.m. due to a Grateful Dead concert in DeVore Stadium the following day.
On November 14, Southwestern accepted a bid to play in the inaugural National Football Foundation Bowl against , who won the Foothill Conference championship and accepted their bid two days prior. It was the first meeting between the two teams since 1977, though Grossmont entered the game with a four-game winning streak in the rivalry.
Offseason Coaching staff changes Former Southwestern offensive coordinator Jan Chapman Sr. returned to the team as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Running backs coach Gil Warren assumed co-offensive coordinator duties as well. Two former Apaches players returned to the team in coaching roles. Dale O'Brien joined the staff as offensive line coach after serving in the same role at Mira Mesa High School, while former defensive back Steve Reed returned to the team as wide receivers coach.
Transfers Outgoing Outgoing transfers Name Pos. Year Height Weight College transferred to Source(s) Theo Barley DB Sophomore 6'2" 180 Minnesota Marc D'Andrea OL/TE Sophomore 6'4" 250 Northern Arizona Rich Ehmke K Freshman 5'10" 160 Grossmont John King DB Sophomore 5'10" 173 San Jose State Kevin Ludwig DB Sophomore 6'0" 185 West Texas A&M Rich McGinty OL Sophomore 6'0" 230 Sonoma State Additionally, quarterback and punter Mike Poteet transferred to United States International University to play baseball.
Incoming Incoming transfers Name Pos. Year Previous School Source(s) Alan Brown DL Lincoln (MO) Mike Gonzales OL Freshman Northern Arizona Mike Meehan DL Sophomore Long Beach State Anthony Reed DB San Diego Mesa Maurice Sowell WR Freshman San Diego State The team was also bolstered by Rodney Hill, who sat out the 1984 season after transferring from District of Columbia. He was deployed as a goal-line quarterback, running back, kick returner, and punt returner.
Preseason Sports information director' poll In the preseason Mission Conference sports information directors' poll, Southwestern was predicted to finish seventh in the conference.
Sports information director' poll 1 Saddleback 2 Riverside 3 San Diego Mesa 4 Orange Coast 5 Citrus 6 Rancho Santiago 7 Southwestern 8 Palomar 9 San Diego City
Preseason All-Americans Linebacker Chris Rinehart was named a preseason first-team All-American by J.C. Grid-Wire.
Preseason scrimmage Southwestern hosted a tri-team preseason scrimmage against and on September 6. Darren Pudgil was named the starting quarterback for the season opener based on his performance in the scrimmage, becoming the first Southwestern freshman quarterback to start a season opener since 1980.
Coaching staff Name Position Bob Mears Head coach Jan Chapman Sr. Co-offensive coordinator / quarterbacks Gil Warren Co-offensive coordinator / Running backs Bing Dawson Defensive coordinator Steve Reed Wide receivers Dale O'Brien Offensive line Craig Moffitt Defensive line Bill Kinney Defensive backs
Awards and honors All-AmericanPlayerPositionTeam Chris Rinehart LB First Team Guy Liggins TE Second Team Source:
Annual awardsChris RinehartMission Conference Defensive Player of the Year
All-Mission ConferencePlayerPositionTeam Willie McCloud WR First Team Guy Liggins TE Larry Sandson DL Tim Wells DL Tony Wells DL Chris Rinehart LB Brad Platt QB Second Team Mike Gonzales OL Keith Tomlinson OL Santos Gil LB Tony Gullotto DB Tyler Ackerson K Source: 12 Southwestern players were selected as first- or second-team honorees on the 1985 All-Mission Conference football team. Eight additional Apaches players earned honorable mention.
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