1988 Westminster Titans football team

1988 Westminster Titans football
NAIA Division II national champion
ConferenceIndependent
Record14–0
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorGene Nicholson (17th season)
Home stadiumMemorial Field
Seasons
← 1987
1989 →
1988 NAIA Division II independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Westminster (PA) ^   –   14 – 0 – 0
No. 19 Azusa Pacific   –   7 – 1 – 0
No. 13 Bluffton ^   –   9 – 2 – 0
Geneva   –   8 – 2 – 0
No. 23 Wilmington (OH)   –   7 – 2 – 1
Franklin (IN)   –   7 – 3 – 0
St. Francis (IL)   –   6 – 4 – 0
Chadron State   –   5 – 5 – 0
Findlay   –   3 – 6 – 0
St. Ambrose   –   2 – 6 – 1
Tiffin   –   2 – 8 – 0
Waynesburg   –   2 – 8 – 0
Oklahoma Panhandle State   –   1 – 7 – 0
Iowa Wesleyan   –   0 – 10 – 0
  • ^ – NAIA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA Division II poll

The 1988 Westminster Titans football team was an American football team that represented Westminster College of Pennsylvania as an independent during the 1988 NAIA Division II football season. In their 17th season under head coach Joe Fusco, the Titans compiled a perfect 14–0 record. They advanced to the NAIA Division II playoffs, defeating Bluffton (40–7) in the quarterfinal, Evangel (26–9) in the semifinal and Wisconsin–La Crosse (21–14) in the NAIA Division II National Championship Game.[1]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 10Franklin (IN)
W 43–14[2]
September 17Findlay
  • Memorial Field
  • New Wilmington, PA
W 23–17[3]
September 24at BuffaloBuffalo, NYW 14–12[4]
October 1at AdrianAdrian, MIW 36–31,400[5][6]
October 8at GenevaBeaver Falls, PAW 39–0[7]
October 15at West Virginia WesleyanBuckhannon, WVW 56–42[8]
October 22Waynesburg
  • Memorial Field
  • New Wilmington, PA
W 30–0[9]
October 29Tiffin
  • Memorial Field
  • New Wilmington, PA
W 41–0[10]
November 5at Buffalo StateBuffalo, NYW 21–7[11]
November 12Ashland
  • Memorial Field
  • New Wilmington, PA
W 14–103,162[12]
November 19Austin
W 34–12[13]
November 26Bluffton
  • Memorial Field
  • New Wilmington, PA (NAIA Division II quarterfinal)
W 40–7[14]
December 3at Evangel
W 26–9[15]
December 10Wisconsin–La Crosse
  • Memorial Field
  • New Wilmington, PA (NAIA Division II Championship Game)
W 21–14[16]

NAIA Division II playoffs

First round vs. Austin

Westminster advanced to the NAIA Division II playoffs and faced the Austin Kangaroos in the first round. The Titans won, 34–12. Sophomore running back Brad Tokar tallied 167 rushing yards in the game. Quarterback Joe Micchia completed seven of 19 passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. The Titans out-gained the Kangaroos by 432 yards of total offense to 226.[13]

Quarterfinal vs. Bluffton

On November 26, Westminster defeated Bluffton, 40–7, in the quarterfinals of the playoffs. Westminster recovered three Bluffton fumbles (two by Andre Borowicz) in the first quarter and converted each of them into touchdowns, taking a 21–0 lead at the end of the quarter. Brad Tokar rushed for 152 yards on 20 carries.[14]

Semifinal at Evangel

On December 3, Westminster defeated Evangel, 26–9, in the NAIA Division II semifinal game at Briggs Stadium in Springfield, Missouri. Westminster tight end Jeff Hahn caught two touchdown passes and was named the game's most valuable player. Evangel quarterback Don Decker was intercepted five times.[15]

Championship game vs. Wisconsin–La Crosse

On December 11, Westminster defeated Wisconsin–La Crosse, 21–14, in the NAIA Division II national championship game at Memorial Field in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. Westminster quarterback Joe Micchia completed 22 of 44 passes for 302 yards and three touchdowns passes to wide receiver David Foley. Micchia had been battling the flu and spent the day before the game in infirmary. Micchia threw his first touchdown pass with 16 seconds remaining in the first half to tie the score at 7–7. With 3:35 remaining in the game, Micchia threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Foley, tying the score at 14–14. Westminster forced a punt and got the ball back with 2:38 remaining. On fourth down, Micchia threw the game-winning touchdown pass to Foley for 33 yards. After the game, coach Fusco said: "I've never been in a game like that, not in a national championship game, not with an ending like that."[16]

References

  1. ^ "1988 Football Schedule". Westminster College. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  2. ^ "Grizzlies fall to Westminster". The Daily Journal. September 12, 1988. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Westminster 23, Findlay 17". The Pittsburgh Press. September 18, 1988. p. D9 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Westminster 14, Buffalo 12". The Pittsburgh Press. September 25, 1988. p. D8 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Westminster 36, Adrian 3". Detroit Free Press. October 2, 1988. p. 12D – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Westminster 36, Adrian 3". The Pittsburgh Press. October 2, 1988. p. D9 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Westminster Routs Geneva: titans Second In NAIA Division II". Latrobe Bulletin. October 10, 1988. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Three-time champ Westminster back on top of the polls". The Indiana Gazette. October 19, 1988. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Chris Bates (October 28, 1988). "No. 1 Westminster wins, 30–0". The Pittsburgh Press. p. D8 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Westminster 41, Tiffin 0". The Tribune. October 30, 1988. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Westminster 21, Buffalo State 7". The Pittsburgh Press. November 6, 1988. p. D11 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Westminster 14, Ashland 10". The Akron Journal. November 13, 1988. p. C9 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ a b "Top-ranked Westminster roll past Austin College". York Sunday News. November 20, 1988. p. C7 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ a b Chris Bates (November 27, 1988). "Early breaks launch Westminster past Bluffton, 40–7". The Pittsburgh Press. p. D6 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ a b Ronnie J. Willis (December 4, 1988). "Titans pull out all their guns to whip Evangel". The News-Leader. p. D1 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ a b Gerry Dulac (December 11, 1988). "Westminster's Christmas wish comes true in title game, 21–14". The Pittsburgh Press. p. D6 – via Newspapers.com.

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