A look back at some of the sports happenings during the week of Oct. 20-26:

Last year on Oct. 21, 2023: Strange things happened for the NSU football team for the Wolves to earn their third straight win. With three seconds left, left-footed sophomore kicker Drew Smook kicked a game-winning 21-yard field goal in NSU’s 28-26 win over Wayne State. Before that, Smook had missed a field goal and two PATs in the game. Plus, the Wolves trailed 19-0 at halftime, but rallied for a 25-19 lead fueled by pick-six interception touchdowns by Jake Adams and Luke Gunderson.

10 years ago on Oct. 25-26, 2014: The small- town Ipswich girls’ running dynasty continued with its fifth straight cross-country team title on Oct. 25. The Tigers were led by individual champion Macy Heinz, who pulled off a rare double as she was the State B 100-meter champion last spring. The next day on Oct. 26, Northern State junior soccer standout Allie Macdonald scored a game-winning goal for her Wolves. Macdonald has scored four goals this season, and all have been game-winners.

20 years ago on Oct. 23, 2004: The USD volleyball team defeated Minnesota-Duluth 3-2 to move into first place in the North Central Conference. It is the first time in program history that the Coyotes have been in first place in the NCC volleyball race.

30 years ago on Oct. 20, 1994: Last week on Oct. 14, Eric Piatkowski (the 15th pick in the 1994 draft) signed his first NBA contract, a multi-year, multi-million dollar deal. His dad, Walt Piatkowski of Rapid City, told the Rapid City Journal that he made $30,000 a season during his professional career (1968-72) in the old American Basketball Association from 1968-72 with Denver, Florida and Kentucky.

40 years ago on Oct. 20, 1984: For the first time in program history, Augustana defeated the SDSU men’s cross country team 42-44. Augie’s Brent Friesth finished first in the race in Brookings. Augie coach Vance Butler is a veteran in those Augie-SDSU races as he also ran for the Vikings in college. Two weeks later, SDSU won the North Central Conference title and Augie finished fifth.

50 years ago on Oct. 25, 1974: Twin brothers Mike (winner) and Mark (second) Bills led Sioux Falls Lincoln to its fifth State AA championship in a row and to the Patriots 59th cross country meet win in a row. SFL is coached by Rich Greeno. The St. Francis boys of coach Father Joseph Gill won their third State B meet in a row thanks to fourth- (Tonyn Irons), fifth- (Pat Bad Hands) and sixth- (Gilly Running) place finishes.