1994 Westminster Titans football team

1994 Westminster Titans football
NAIA Division II national champion MSFA MEL champion
NAIA Division II Championship Game, W 27–7 vs. Pacific Lutheran
Conference	Mid-States Football Association
Division	Mideast League
Record	12–2 (4–0 MSFA)
Head coach	Gene Nicholson (4th season)

1994 Mid-States Football Association standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Mideast League
No. 3 Westminster (PA) x^	4	–	0	–	0			12	–	1	–	0
Malone	2	–	2	–	0			7	–	3	–	0
No. 16 Tiffin ^	2	–	2	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
Geneva	2	–	2	–	0			6	–	3	–	0
Urbana	0	–	4	–	0			3	–	7	–	0
Midwest League
No. 14 Trinity (IL) x^	5	–	0	–	0			7	–	3	–	1
No. 15 Findlay ^	4	–	1	–	0			6	–	4	–	0
Taylor	2	–	3	–	0			3	–	7	–	0
Olivet Nazarene	2	–	3	–	0			2	–	8	–	0
Saint Xavier	2	–	3	–	0			2	–	8	–	0
Lindenwood	0	–	5	–	0			2	–	8	–	0
x – League champion/co-champions ^ – NAIA playoff participant Rankings from NAIA Division II poll

The 1994 Westminster Titans football team was an American football team that represented Westminster College of Pennsylvania as a member of Mideast League (MEL) within the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) during the 1994 NAIA Division II football season. In their fourth season under head coach Gene Nicholson, the Titans compiled a 12–2 record. They advanced to the NAIA Division II playoffs, defeating Tiffin (42–14) in the quarterfinal, Lambuth (46–6) in the semifinal and Pacific Lutheran (27–7) in the NAIA Division II National Championship Game.^[1]

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 3		Malone	Memorial Field New Wilmington, PA	W 36–21		[2]
September 10		at Geneva	Beaver Falls, PA	W 38–6		[3]
September 17		Findlay*	Memorial Field New Wilmington, PA	W 17–14		[4]
September 24		at Clarion*	Clarion, PA	L 28–32		[5]
October 1		at Ferrum*	Adams Stadium Ferrum, VA	W 37–6		[6][7]
October 8		Georgetown (KY)*	Memorial Field New Wilmington, PA	W 28–7		[8]
October 15		Allegheny*	Memorial Field New Wilmington, PA	L 9–14	3,500	[9][10]
October 22		Urbana	Memorial Field New Wilmington, PA	W 35–6		[11]
October 29		at Tiffin	Columbian Stadium Tiffin, OH	W 25–23		[12][13]
November 12		Buffalo State*	Memorial Field New Wilmington, PA	W 35–19		[14][15]
November 19		Findlay*	Memorial Field New Wilmington, PA (NAIA Division II first round)	W 41–30	1,500	[16][17]
December 3		Tiffin*	Memorial Field New Wilmington, PA (NAIA Division II quarterfinal)	W 42–14		[18]
December 10		Lambuth*	Memorial Field New Wilmington, PA (NAIA Division II semifinal)	W 46–6	1,300	[19]
December 17	4:00 p.m.	vs. Pacific Lutheran*	Civic Stadium Portland, OR (NAIA Division II Championship Game)	W 27–7	4,357	[20][21][22]
*Non-conference game All times are in Eastern time

NAIA playoffs

First round vs. Findlay

On November 19, Westminster defeated the Findlay Oilers, 41–30, in its first-round playoff game. Findlay led, 23–14, at the start of the fourth quarter. The Titans came from behind with four fourth-quarter touchdowns by junior running back Andy Blatt. Blatt rushed for 96 yards on 20 carries and scored five touchdowns in the game. Westminster quarterback Sean O'Shea completed 20 of 32 passes for 254 yards. Westminster out-gained Findlay by 340 yards of total offense to 320.^[16]

Quarterfinal vs. Tiffin

On December 3, Westminster defeated Tiffin, 42–14, in the NAIA Division II quarterfinal game at New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. Quarterback Sean O'Shea completed 22 of 29 passes for 340 yards and five touchdowns. He also broke Joe Micchia's career record by extending his total to 4,695 passing yards. Westminster back Andy Blatt also rushed for 152 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. The Titans out-gained Tiffin by 582 yards to 354.^[18]

Semifinal vs. Lambuth

On December 10, No. 3 Westminster defeated No. 7 Lambuth (Tennessee), 46–6, in an NAIA Division II semifinal game played before a crowd of 1,300 at Memorial Field in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. Senior tailback Andy Blatt led the offense with 216 rushing yards and three touchdowns in the first half.^[19]

National championship game vs. Pacific Lutheran

On December 17, Westminster defeated Pacific Lutheran, 27–7, in the NAIA Division II national championship game before a crowd of 4,357 at Civic Stadium in Portland, Oregon. The game was a rematch of the 1993 championship game won by Pacific Lutheran. Andy Blatt led the offense for Westminster, rushing for 128 yards and a touchdown and throwing a 60-yard touchdown pass. Westminster quarterback Sean O'Shea also threw two touchdown passes, and Tim McNeil also caught two touchdown passes. The Titans also intercepted three passes off Pacific Lutheran quarterback Karl Hoseth. It was the sixth national championship for Westminster, following prior championships in 1970, 1976, 1977, 1988, and 1989.^[21][22]

References

1. "1994 Football Schedule". Westminster College. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
2. "Westminster 36, Malone 21". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. September 4, 1994. p. D7 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Westminster wins over Geneva again: Titans extend streak to 37 games". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. September 11, 1994. p. F12 – via Newspapers.com.
4. Scott Robertson (September 18, 1994). "Westminster outlasts fumbling Findlay, 17–14". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. F13 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Clarion 32, Westminster 28". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. September 25, 1994. p. D12 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Westminster 37, Ferrum 6". The Sunday News Leader. October 2, 1994. p. C5 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Box Score Westminster vs Ferrum" (PDF). Westminster College. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
8. "Westminster 28, Georgetown, Ky. 7". Centre Daily Times. October 9, 1994. p. 5B – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Allegheny 14, Westminster 9". The Daily Item. October 16, 1994. p. C8 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Box Score Allegheny vs Westminster" (PDF). Westminster College. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
11. "Westminster 35, Urbana 6". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. October 23, 1994. p. D13 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Westminster 25, Tiffin 23". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. October 30, 1994. p. D16 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Box Score Westminster at Tiffin" (PDF). Westminster College. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
14. "Westminster 35, Buffalo State 19". Centre Daily Times. November 13, 1994. p. 7B – via Newspapers.com.
15. "Box Score Westminster vs. Buffalo State" (PDF). Westminster College. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
16. David Garth (November 20, 1994). "Westminster's big 4th quarter salvages 41–30 win over Findlay". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. D11 – via Newspapers.com.
17. "Box Score Westminster vs. Findlay" (PDF). Westminster College. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
18. "O'Shea puts it in passing gear leads Westminster to semifinal". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. December 4, 1994. p. D6 – via Newspapers.com.
19. Scott Robertson (December 11, 1994). "Blatt leads 46–6 rout by Titans". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. D8 – via Newspapers.com.
20. "Pacific Lutheran defense to challenge Westminster". North Hills News Record. North Hills, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. December 17, 1994. p. 18. Retrieved November 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
21. "Westminster beats Pac Lutheran for NAIA Division II title". The Montana Standard. Butte, Montana. Associated Press. December 18, 1994. p. B2. Retrieved November 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
22. "Scoring Summary Westminster at Pacific Lutheran" (PDF). Westminster College. Retrieved December 3, 2021.