1988 Westminster Titans football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1988
| team = Westminster Titans
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Independent
| record = 14–0
| head_coach = Joe Fusco
| hc_year = 17th
| def_coach = Gene Nicholson
| dc_year = 17th
| captain =
| stadium = Memorial Field
| champion = NAIA Division II national champion
| bowl = NAIA Division II Championship Game
| bowl_result = W 17–9 vs. {{cfb link|year=1988|team=Wisconsin–La Crosse Eagles|title=Wisconsin–La Crosse}}
}}
{{1988 NAIA Division II independents football records}}
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 {{cfb link|year=1988|team=Bluffton Beavers|title=Bluffton}} (40–7) in the quarterfinal, {{cfb link|year=1988|team=Evangel Crusaders|title=Evangel}} (26–9) in the semifinal and {{cfb link|year=1988|team=Wisconsin–La Crosse Eagles|title=Wisconsin–La Crosse}} (21–14) in the NAIA Division II National Championship Game.{{cite web|title=1988 Football Schedule|publisher=Westminster College|accessdate=November 26, 2021|url=https://athletics.westminster.edu/sports/football/schedule/1988}}
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| attend = y
| source = y
|September 10||{{cfb link|year=1988|team=Franklin Grizzlies|title=Franklin (IN)}}|Memorial Field|New Wilmington, PA|W 43–14||{{cite news|title=Grizzlies fall to Westminster|newspaper=The Daily Journal|date=September 12, 1988|page=9|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90016944/grizzlies-fall-to-westminster/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|September 17||{{cfb link|year=1988|team=Findlay Oilers|title=Findlay}}|Memorial Field|New Wilmington, PA|W 23–17||{{cite news|title=Westminster 23, Findlay 17|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=September 18, 1988|page=D9|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90017523/westminster-23-findlay-17/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|September 24|at|Buffalo||Buffalo, NY|W 14–12||{{cite news|title=Westminster 14, Buffalo 12|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=September 25, 1988|page=D8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90017672/westminster-14-buffalo-12/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 1|at|{{cfb link|year=1988|team=Adrian Bulldogs|title=Adrian}}||Adrian, MI|W 36–3|1,400|{{cite news|title=Westminster 36, Adrian 3|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=October 2, 1988|page=12D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90017777/westminster-36-adrian-3/|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|title=Westminster 36, Adrian 3|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=October 2, 1988|page=D9|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90017879/westminster-36-adrian-3/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 8|at|{{cfb link|year=1988|team=Geneva Golden Tornadoes|title=Geneva}}||Beaver Falls, PA|W 39–0||{{cite news|title=Westminster Routs Geneva: titans Second In NAIA Division II|newspaper=Latrobe Bulletin |date=October 10, 1988 |page=15 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90018016/westminster-routs-geneva-titans-second/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 15|at|{{cfb link|year=1988|team=West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats|title=West Virginia Wesleyan}}||Buckhannon, WV|W 56–42||{{cite news|title=Three-time champ Westminster back on top of the polls|newspaper=The Indiana Gazette|date=October 19, 1988|page=21|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90018588/three-time-champ-westminster-back-on/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 22||{{cfb link|year=1988|team=Waynesburg Yellow Jackets|title=Waynesburg}}|Memorial Field|New Wilmington, PA|W 30–0||{{cite news|title=No. 1 Westminster wins, 30–0|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|author=Chris Bates|date=October 28, 1988|page=D8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90016001/no-1-westminster-wins-30-0/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 29||{{cfb link|year=1988|team=Tiffin Dragons|title=Tiffin}}|Memorial Field|New Wilmington, PA|W 41–0||{{cite news|title=Westminster 41, Tiffin 0|newspaper=The Tribune|date=October 30, 1988|page=14|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90018877/westminster-41-tiffin-0/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 5|at|{{cfb link|year=1988|team=Buffalo State Bengals|title=Buffalo State}}||Buffalo, NY|W 21–7||{{cite news|title=Westminster 21, Buffalo State 7|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=November 6, 1988|page=D11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90016189/westminster-21-buffalo-state-7/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 12||{{cfb link|year=1988|team=Ashland Eagles|title=Ashland}}|Memorial Field|New Wilmington, PA|W 14–10|3,162|{{cite news|title=Westminster 14, Ashland 10|newspaper=The Akron Journal|date=November 13, 1988|page=C9|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90019005/westminster-14-ashland-10/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 19||{{cfb link|year=1988|team=Austin Kangaroos|title=Austin}}|Memorial Field|New Wilmington, PA (NAIA Division II first round)|W 34–12||{{cite news|title=Top-ranked Westminster roll past Austin College|newspaper=York Sunday News|date=November 20, 1988|page=C7|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90019215/top-ranked-westminster-roll-past-austin/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 26||{{cfb link|year=1988|team=Bluffton Beavers|title=Bluffton}}|Memorial Field|New Wilmington, PA (NAIA Division II quarterfinal)|W 40–7||{{cite news|title=Early breaks launch Westminster past Bluffton, 40–7|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|author=Chris Bates|date=November 27, 1988|page=D6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90019448/early-breaks-launch-westminster-past/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|December 3|at|{{cfb link|year=1988|team=Evangel Crusaders|title=Evangel}}|Briggs Stadium|Springfield, MO (NAIA Division II semifinal)|W 26–9||
|December 10||{{cfb link|year=1988|team=Wisconsin–La Crosse Eagles|title=Wisconsin–La Crosse}}|Memorial Field|New Wilmington, PA (NAIA Division II Championship Game)|W 21–14||
}}
NAIA Division II playoffs
=First round vs. Austin=
Westminster advanced to the NAIA Division II playoffs and faced the {{cfb link|year=1988|team=Austin Kangaroos|title=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.
=Quarterfinal vs. Bluffton=
On November 26, Westminster defeated {{cfb link|year=1988|team=Bluffton Beavers|title=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.
=Semifinal at Evangel=
On December 3, Westminster defeated {{cfb link|year=1988|team=Evangel Crusaders|title=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.{{cite news|title=Titans pull out all their guns to whip Evangel|newspaper=The News-Leader|author=Ronnie J. Willis|date=December 4, 1988|page=D1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89987579/titans-pull-out-all-their-guns-to-whip/|via=Newspapers.com}}
=Championship game vs. Wisconsin–La Crosse=
On December 11, Westminster defeated {{cfb link|year=1988|team=Wisconsin–La Crosse Eagles|title=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."{{cite news|title=Westminster's Christmas wish comes true in title game, 21–14|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|author=Gerry Dulac|date=December 11, 1988|page=D6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89987203/westminster/|via=Newspapers.com}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Westminster Titans football navbox}}
{{NAIA football national champion navbox}}
Category:Westminster Titans football seasons