1989 Westminster Titans football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1989
| team = Westminster Titans
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Independent
| record = 13–0
| head_coach = Joe Fusco
| hc_year = 18th
| def_coach = Gene Nicholson
| dc_year = 18th
| captain =
| stadium = Memorial Field
| champion = NAIA Division II national champion
| bowl = NAIA Division II Championship Game
| bowl_result = W 51–30 vs. {{cfb link|year=1989|team=Wisconsin–La Crosse Eagles|title=Wisconsin–La Crosse}}
}}
{{1989 NAIA Division II independents football records}}
The 1989 Westminster Titans football team was an American football team that represented Westminster College of Pennsylvania as an independent during the 1989 NAIA Division II football season. In their 18th season under head coach Joe Fusco, the Titans compiled a perfect 13–0 record. They advanced to the NAIA Division II playoffs, defeating {{cfb link|year=1989|team=Tarleton State Texans|title=Tarleton State}} (34–0) in the quarterfinal, {{cfb link|year=1989|team=Central Washington Wildcats|title=Central Washington}} (21–10) in the semifinal and {{cfb link|year=1989|team=Wisconsin–La Crosse Eagles|title=Wisconsin–La Crosse}} (51–30) in the NAIA Division II National Championship Game.{{cite web|title=1989 Football Schedule|publisher=Westminster College|accessdate=November 26, 2021|url=https://athletics.westminster.edu/sports/football/schedule/1989}}
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| attend = y
| source = y
|September 9|at|{{cfb link|year=1989|team=Franklin Grizzlies|title=Franklin (IN)}}||Franklin, IN|W 31–7||{{cite news|title=NAIA champ Westminster opens with impressive 31–7 win|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=September 10, 1989|page=D11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89997377/naia-champ-westminster-opens-with/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|September 16|at|{{cfb link|year=1989|team=Findlay Oilers|title=Findlay}}||Findlay, OH|W 35–15||{{cite news|title=Westminster 35, Findlay 15|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=September 17, 1989|page=D5|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89997544/westminster-35-findlay-15/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|September 23||{{cfb link|year=1989|team=Buffalo State Bengals|title=Buffalo State}}|Memorial Field|New Wilmington, PA|W 34–20||{{cite news|title=Westminster 34, Buffalo St. 20|newspaper=York Sunday News|date=September 24, 1989|page=C11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89997754/westminster-buffalo/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|September 30||{{cfb link|year=1989|team=Adrian Bulldogs|title=Adrian}}|Memorial Field|New Wilmington, PA|W 48–20||{{cite news|title=Westminster 48, Adrian 20|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=October 1, 1989|page=D13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89997892/westminster-48-adrian-20/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 7||{{cfb link|year=1989|team=Geneva Golden Tornadoes|title=Geneva}}|Memorial Field|New Wilmington, PA|W 31–26||{{cite news|title=Westminster floors Geneva, 31–26|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|author=Ed Kracz|date=October 8, 1989|page=D12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89998045/westminster-floors-geneva-31-26/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 21|at|{{cfb link|year=1989|team=Waynesburg Yellow Jackets|title=Waynesburg}}||Waynesburg, PA|W 28–0||{{cite web|title=Westminster 28, Waynesburg 0|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=October 22, 1989|page=D7|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89998225/westminster-28-waynesburg-0/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 28|at|{{cfb link|year=1989|team=Tiffin Dragons|title=Tiffin}}||Tiffin, OH|W 42–0||{{cite news|title=Westminster 42, Tiffin 0|newspaper=Dayton Daily News|date=October 29, 1989|page=7D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90022925/westminster-42-tiffin-0/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 4||{{cfb link|year=1989|team=Buffalo State Bengals|title=Buffalo State}}|Memorial Field|New Wilmington, PA|W 35–10||{{cite news|title=Westminster 35, Buffalo State 10|newspaper=Sunday Democrat and Chronicle|date=November 5, 1989|page=5E|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90023373/westminster-35-buffalo-state-10/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 11|at|{{cfb link|year=1989|team=Ashland Eagles|title=Ashland}}||Ashland, OH|W 21–13||{{cite news|title=Westminster streaks into playoffs, 21–13|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=November 12, 1989|page=D11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90023512/westminster-streaks-into-playoffs-21-13/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 18||{{cfb link|year=1989|team=Georgetown Tigers|title=Georgetown (KY)}}|Memorial Field|New Wilmington, PA (NAIA Division II first round)|W 29–9||{{cite news|title=Westminster reels in playoff win, 29–9|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|author=Ed Kracz|date=November 19, 1989|page=D7|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90024055/westminster-reels-in-playoff-win-29-9/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|December 2|at|{{cfb link|year=1989|team=Tarleton State Texans|title=Tarleton State}}||Stephenville, TX (NAIA Division II quarterfinal)|W 34–0|3,650|{{cite news|title=Westminster knocks Tarleton State out of NAIA playoffs|newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|author=Richie Whitt|date=December 3, 1989|page=II-17|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90023825/westminster-knocks-tarleton-state-out/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|December 9|at|{{cfb link|year=1989|team=Central Washington Wildcats|title=Central Washington}}||Ellensburg, WA (NAIA Division II semifinal)|W 21–10||
|December 16|vs|{{cfb link|year=1989|team=Wisconsin–La Crosse Eagles|title=Wisconsin–La Crosse}}|Fawcett Stadium|Canton, OH (NAIA Division II Championship Game)|W 51–30|3,728|
}}
NAIA playoffs
=First round vs. Georgetown=
In the opening round of the playoffs, Westminster defeated {{cfb link|year=1989|team=Georgetown Tigers|title=Georgetown (KY)}}, 29–9, at Memorial Field in New Wilmington. Westminster held Georgetown to six passing yards and 149 rushing yards and forced five fumbles and an interception. Westminster linebacker Mike Ruby recovered three of Georgetown's fumbles. The defense was aided when Georgetown running back Mitch Wilburn, the leading rusher in NAIA Division II with 1,340 yards, was injured in the second quarter and did not return to the game. Westminster running back Brad Tokar rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries.
=Quarterfinal at Tarleton State=
On December 2, Westminster defeated {{cfb link|year=1989|team=Tarleton State Texans|title=Tarleton State}}, 34–0, in the NAIA Division II quarterfinals before a crowd of 3,650 at Memorial Stadium in Stephenville, Texas. Coach Joe Fusco credited his team with having "played consistently on offense and defense" and not making mistakes.{{cite news|title=Westminster shows 'em, 34–0|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|author=Richie Whitt|date=December 3, 1989|page=D9|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89989392/westminster-shows-em-34-0/|via=Newspapers.com}}
=Semifinal at Central Washington=
On December 9, Westminster, ranked No. 1, defeated No. 2 {{cfb link|year=1989|team=Central Washington Wildcats|title=Central Washington}}, 21–10, in the NAIA Division II semifinals at Ellensburg, Washington. Westminster quarterback completed 10 of 24 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown and also scored a rushing touchdown. With the victory, Westminster's winning streak reached 26 games.{{cite news|title=Westminster uses breaks to win, 21–10|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|author=Tim Connelly|date=December 10, 1989|page=D7|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89988882/westminster-uses-breaks-to-win-21-10/|via=Newspapers.com}}
=Championship game vs. Wisconsin–La Crosse=
On December 16, Westminster defeated {{cfb link|year=1989|team=Wisconsin–La Crosse Eagles|title=Wisconsin–La Crosse}}, 51–30, in the national championship game before a crowd of 3,728 at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio. The victory extended Westminster's winning streak to 27 games. Westminster quarterback Joe Micchia completed 18 of 33 passes for 219 yards and four touchdowns. He finished his college career with a school-record 4,619 passing yards. Westminster cornerback Louis Berry scored the final points after intercepting a two-point conversion attempt and returning it 98 yards for two points.{{cite news|title=And still champs|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|author=Ed Kracz|date=December 17, 1989|page=B4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89988529/and-still-champs/|via=Newspapers.com}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Westminster Titans football navbox}}
{{NAIA football national champion navbox}}
Category:Westminster Titans football seasons
Category:NAIA football national champions