1989 Holy Cross Crusaders football team

1989 Holy Cross Crusaders football
Colonial League champion
Conference	Colonial League
Record	10–1 (4–0 Colonial)
Head coach	Mark Duffner (4th season)
Defensive coordinator	Kevin Coyle (4th season)
Captains	Tim Donovan Chris Maruca Dave Murphy Randy Pedro
Home stadium	Fitton Field

1989 Colonial League football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. T–4 Holy Cross $	4	–	0	–	0			10	–	1	–	0
Bucknell	2	–	2	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
Lafayette	2	–	2	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
Lehigh	1	–	3	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Colgate	1	–	3	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee poll

The 1989 Holy Cross Crusaders football team was an American football team that represented the College of the Holy Cross during the 1989 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Holy Cross swept its conference and won its third Colonial League championship in four years.

In their fourth year under head coach Mark Duffner, the Crusaders compiled a 10–1 record. Tim Donovan, Randy Pedro, Chris Maruca and Dave Murphy were the team captains.^[1]

The Crusaders outscored opponents 396 to 161. Holy Cross' undefeated (4–0) conference record placed first in the five-team Colonial League standings.^[2]

The Crusaders started the year at No. 8 in the national Division I-AA rankings and reached as high as No. 3. They were ranked No. 4 at season's end but did not participate in the national championship playoffs, as Colonial League rules at the time prohibited postseason play.

Holy Cross played its home games at Fitton Field on the college campus in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 9	Villanova*	No. 8	Fitton Field Worcester, MA	W 38–17	12,881	[3]
September 16	at Lafayette	No. 8	Fisher Field Easton, PA	W 23–21	10,700	[4]
September 23	at Harvard*	No. 4	Harvard Stadium Boston, MA	W 31–17	17,500	[5]
September 30	Princeton*	No. 4	Fitton Field Worcester, MA	W 46–0	16,442	[6]
October 7	at Dartmouth*	No. 3	Memorial Field Hanover, NH	W 33–7	7,107	[7]
October 14	at Army*	No. 3	Michie Stadium West Point, NY	L 9–45	40,869	[8]
October 21	Colgate^	No. 9	Fitton Field Worcester, MA	W 31–6	17,803	[9]
October 28	Brown*	No. 8	Fitton Field Worcester, MA	W 49–13	8,614	[10]
November 4	Northeastern*	No. 6	Fitton Field Worcester, MA	W 46–13	8,335	[11]
November 11	at Lehigh	No. 6	Goodman Stadium Bethlehem, PA	W 55–16	7,727	[12]
November 18	at Bucknell	No. 4	Christy Mathewson–Memorial Stadium Lewisburg, PA	W 35–6	4,662	[13]
*Non-conference game Homecoming ^ Family Weekend Rankings from the latest NCAA Division I-AA poll released prior to the game

References

1. "2019 Holy Cross Football Fact Book" (PDF). Worcester, Mass.: College of the Holy Cross. p. 125. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
2. "Football All-Time Year-by-Year Results". Patriot League Football Record Book (PDF). Center Valley, Pa.: Patriot League. 2020. p. 2. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
3. Dell'Apa, Frank (September 10, 1989). "Holy Cross Whips 'Nova, 38-17". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pa. p. 13-E – via Newspapers.com.
4. Thomas, David K. (September 17, 1989). "Holy Cross Rallies, 23-21". Boston Sunday Globe. Boston, Mass. p. 61 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Holy Cross Comeback Stifles Harvard, 31-17". The Hartford Courant. Hartford, Conn. Associated Press. September 24, 1989. pp. D15, D18 – via Newspapers.com.
6. Knobelman, Bob (October 1, 1989). "Nothing Goes Right as Tigers Suffer Blowout". The Home News. New Brunswick, N.J. p. E1 – via Newspapers.com.
7. Craig, John (October 8, 1989). "Holy Cross Soars; Ciaccio Throws Dartmouth, 33-7". Boston Sunday Globe. Boston, Mass. p. 64 – via Newspapers.com.
8. Harber, Paul (October 15, 1989). "Army Routs HC; Ground Assault Wilts Crusaders". Boston Sunday Globe. Boston, Mass. p. 62 – via Newspapers.com.
9. Harber, Paul (October 22, 1989). "Holy Cross Rebounds Against Colgate". Boston Sunday Globe. Boston, Mass. p. 72 – via Newspapers.com.
10. Reinert, Bob (October 29, 1989). "HC Pulls Away; Crusaders Leave Brown Behind". Boston Sunday Globe. Boston, Mass. p. 64 – via Newspapers.com.
11. Harber, Paul (November 5, 1989). "Holy Cross Overwhelms NU". Boston Sunday Globe. Boston, Mass. p. 72 – via Newspapers.com.
12. Albright, Mike (November 12, 1989). "Holy Cross Stifles Lehigh". Boston Sunday Globe. Boston, Mass. p. 66 – via Newspapers.com.
13. Abrahamsen, Mark (November 19, 1989). "Holy Cross Wins Colonial Crown". Boston Sunday Globe. Boston, Mass. p. 67 – via Newspapers.com.