2018 Valparaiso Crusaders football team

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 2018

| team=Valparaiso Crusaders

| sport= football

| image=Valparaiso Crusaders wordmark.svg

| image_size= 175

| conference= Pioneer Football League

| division=

| short_conf= PFL

| STATSRank =

| FCSCoachRank =

| record = 2–9

| conf_record = 2–6

| head_coach= Dave Cecchini

| hc_year = 5th

| off_coach= Jason Miran

| oc_year =

| def_coach= Ernest Moore

| dc_year =

| off_scheme=

| def_scheme=

| stadium= Brown Field

| champion =

| bowl =

| bowl_result =

}}

The 2018 Valparaiso Crusaders football team represented Valparaiso University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by fifth-year head coach Dave Cecchini and played their home games at Brown Field. They competed in the Pioneer Football League. They finished the season 2–9, 2–6 in PFL play to finish in a three-way tie for seventh place.

Preseason

=Preseason All-PFL team=

The PFL released their preseason all-PFL team on July 30, 2018, with the Crusaders having three players selected.{{Cite web | url=http://www.pioneer-football.org/news/archives/2018/1361/twelve-first-team-all-pfl-returnees-highlight-preseason-all-pfl-team/ | title=Twelve First-Team All-PFL returnees highlight Preseason All-PFL Team }}

Offense

Tom Schofield – OL

Defense

Nick Turner – LB

Special teams

Bailey Gessinger – RET

=Preseason coaches poll=

The PFL released their preseason coaches poll on July 31, 2018, with the Crusaders predicted to finish in a tie for fourth place.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pioneer-football.org/news/archives/2018/1362/defending-champion-san-diego-edges-dayton-in-pfl-preseason-coaches-poll/|title = Defending Champion San Diego edges Dayton in PFL Preseason Coaches' Poll}}

class="wikitable"
align="center" {{CollegePrimaryHeader\|team=Valparaiso Crusaders\|Predicted finish\|Team\|Votes (1st place)}}
align="center" \| 1	San Diego	81 (9)
align="center" \| 2	Dayton	72 (1)
align="center" \| 3	Drake	58
align="center" \| T–4	Butler	48
align="center" \| T–4	Valparaiso	48
align="center" \| 6	Jacksonville	47
align="center" \| 7	Marist	44
align="center" \| 8	Morehead State	22
align="center" \| 9	Stetson	19
align="center" \| 10	Davidson	11

Schedule

{{CFB schedule

| opprank = y

| rankyear = 2018

| rankdivision = NCAA Division I FCS

| poll = STATS

| timezone = Central

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 8

| time = 11:00 a.m.

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| rank =

| opponent = Duquesne

| site_stadium = Rooney Field

| site_cityst = Pittsburgh, PA

| tv = [http://www.necfrontrow.com/ NECFR]

| score = 21–23

| attend = 943

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 15

| time = 1:00 p.m.

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| rank =

| opponent = Youngstown State

| site_stadium = Stambaugh Stadium

| site_cityst = Youngstown, OH

| tv = ESPN+

| score = 7–42

| attend = 14,913

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 22

| time = 1:00 p.m.

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| rank =

| opponent = {{cfb link|year=2018|team=Truman State Bulldogs|title=Truman State}}

| site_stadium = Brown Field

| site_cityst = Valparaiso, IN

| tv = ESPN3

| score = 20–34

| attend = 1,840

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 29

| time = 1:00 p.m.

| w/l = l

| rank =

| opponent = Davidson

| site_stadium = Brown Field

| site_cityst = Valparaiso, IN

| tv = ESPN3

| score = 35–40

| attend = 4,605

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 6

| time = 12:00 p.m.

| w/l = l

| away = y

| rank =

| opponent = Dayton

| site_stadium = Welcome Stadium

| site_cityst = Dayton, OH

| tv = Facebook Live

| score = 20–53

| attend = 2,592

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 13

| time = 1:00 p.m.

| w/l = w

| rank =

| opponent = Butler

| site_stadium = Brown Field

| site_cityst = Valparaiso, IN

| gamename = Hoosier Helmet Trophy

| tv = ESPN+

| score = 35–17

| attend = 1,724

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 20

| time = 1:00 p.m.

| w/l = l

| away = y

| rank =

| opponent = Morehead State

| site_stadium = Jayne Stadium

| site_cityst = Morehead, KY

| tv = ESPN+

| score = 24–31

| attend = 8,145

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 27

| time = 1:00 p.m.

| w/l = l

| rank =

| opponent = Drake

| site_stadium = Brown Field

| site_cityst = Valparaiso, IN

| tv = ESPN+

| score = 25–42

| attend = 1,945

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 3

| time = 11:00 a.m.

| w/l = l

| away = y

| rank =

| opponent = Marist

| site_stadium = Tenney Stadium at Leonidoff Field

| site_cityst = Poughkeepsie, NY

| tv = Red Fox Network

| score = 24–35

| attend = 1,227

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 10

| time = 12:00 p.m.

| w/l = w

| rank =

| opponent = Jacksonville

| site_stadium = Brown Field

| site_cityst = Valparaiso, IN

| tv = ESPN+

| score = 48–30

| attend = 1,150

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 17

| time = 12:00 p.m.

| w/l = l

| away = y

| rank =

| opponent = Stetson

| site_stadium = Spec Martin Stadium

| site_cityst = DeLand, FL

| tv = ESPN+

| score = 45–31

| attend = 1,961

}}

Source: [http://www.valpoathletics.com/football/schedule/2018-19/ Schedule]

Game summaries

=At Duquesne=

{{AFB game box start

|Title=

|Visitor=Crusaders

|V1=0 |V2=14 |V3=0 |V4=7

|Host=Dukes

|H1=7 |H2=0 |H3=10 |H4=6

|Date=September 8, 2018

|Location=Rooney Field • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

|StartTime=12:05 pm

|ElapsedTime=2:28

|TimeZone=EDT

|Attendance=943

|TVStation=NEC Front Row

|Referee=

|Weather=Temperature: {{convert|60|F}} • Weather: Rainy, cool • Wind: ENE {{convert|13|mph|abbr=on}}{{cite web |title=Duquesne 23 Valparaiso 21 |url=https://goduquesne.com/boxscore.aspx?id=1224&path=football |website=Go Duquesne |publisher=Duquesne University |accessdate=21 October 2018}}

}}

=At Youngstown State=

{{AFB game box start

|Visitor=Crusaders

|V1=7 |V2=0 |V3=0 |V4=0

|Host=Penguins

|H1=7 |H2=14 |H3=14 |H4=7

|Date=September 15, 2018

|Location=Stambaugh Stadium • Youngstown, Ohio

|StartTime=2:05 pm

|TimeZone=EDT

|ElapsedTime=3:13

|Attendance=14,913

|TVStation=ESPN+

|Referee=Andy Speciale

|Weather=Temperature: {{convert|82|F}} • Weather: Partly cloudy • Wind: E {{convert|5|-|10|mph|abbr=on}}{{cite web |title=Youngstown State 42 Valparaiso 7 |url=http://www.ysusports.com/sports/fball/2018-19/files/game3.htm |website=YSU sports |publisher=Youngstown State University |accessdate=21 October 2018}}

}}

=Truman State=

{{AFB game box start

|Visitor=Bulldogs

|V1=6 |V2=0 |V3=11 |V4=7

|Host=Crusaders

|H1=7 |H2=0 |H3=3 |H4=10

|Date=September 22, 2018

|Location=Brown Field • Valparaiso, Indiana

|StartTime=1:04 pm

|TimeZone=CDT

|ElapsedTime=2:58

|Attendance=1,840

|Weather=Temperature: {{convert|65|F}} • Weather: Sunny • Wind: E {{convert|9|mph|abbr=on}}

|Referee=Aaron Adams{{cite web |title=Truman State 34 Valparaiso 20 |url=https://static.trumanbulldogs.com/custompages/Football/Stats/Stats/2018/18fbts04.htm |website=Truman State Athletics |publisher=Truman State University |accessdate=21 October 2018}}

|TVAnnouncers=Todd Ickow, Dave Huseman

|TVStation=ESPN3

}}

=Davidson=

{{AFB game box start

|Title=Homecoming

|Visitor=Wildcats

|V1=14 |V2=20 |V3=0 |V4=6

|Host=Crusaders

|H1=14 |H2=7 |H3=7 |H4=7

|Date=September 29, 2018

|Location=Brown Field • Valparaiso, Indiana

|StartTime=1:04 pm

|TimeZone=CDT

|Attendance=4,605

|TVAnnouncers=Todd Ickow, Dave Huseman

|TVStation=ESPN3

|Weather=Temperature: {{convert|62|F}} • Weather: Partly cloudy • Wind: NE {{convert|3|mph|abbr=on}}

|Referee=Marcel Kerr{{cite web |title=Davidson 40 Valparaiso 35 |url=https://davidsonwildcats.com/boxscore.aspx?id=5524&path=football |website=Davidson Wildcats |publisher=Davidson University |accessdate=21 October 2018}}

}}

=At Dayton=

{{AFB game box start

|Title=

|Visitor=Crusaders

|V1=7 |V2=6 |V3=0 |V4=7

|Host=Flyers

|H1=14 |H2=23 |H3=16 |H4=0

|Date=October 6, 2018

|Location=Welcome Stadium • Dayton, Ohio

|StartTime=1:07 pm

|TimeZone=EDT

|ElapsedTime=2:38

|Attendance=2,592

|Weather=

|Referee=Grant Henderson{{cite web |title=Dayton 53 Valparaiso 20 |url=https://daytonflyers.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=8973 |website=Dayton Flyers |publisher=University of Dayton |accessdate=21 October 2018}}

|TVAnnouncers=Alex Mikos, Jason Phillips{{cite web |title=2018 Football Game Notes |url=http://cdn.streamlinetechnologies.com/valpoathletics/B21C9CA1-D4E4-4C6D-8F7C-B22DE5E9ED42/ValpoFB_GameNotes_Week6_Dayton.pdf |website=valpoathletics.com |publisher=Valpo Sports Media Relations}}

|TVStation=Facebook Live

}}

=Butler=

{{AFB game box start

|Title=Hoosier Helmet Trophy

|Visitor=Bulldogs

|V1=0 |V2=14 |V3=3 |V4=0

|Host=Crusaders

|H1=14 |H2=0 |H3=7 |H4=14

|Date=October 13, 2018

|Location=Brown Field • Valparaiso, Indiana

|StartTime=1:04 pm

|TimeZone=CDT

|ElapsedTime=2:52

|Attendance=1,724{{cite web |url=http://www.valpoathletics.com/football/boxscore/2018-19/6911/butler-vs-valpo-10-13-2018/ |title = Game 6 Notes |website=valpoathletics |publisher=Valparaiso University |accessdate=14 October 2018}}

|Weather=Temperature: {{convert|51|F}} • Weather: Sunny • Wind: SW {{convert|10|mph|abbr=on}}

|Referee=C. J. Jackson{{cite web |title=Valparaiso 35 Butler 17 |url=https://butlersports.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=7726 |website=Butler Sports |publisher=Butler University |accessdate=21 October 2018}}

|TVAnnouncers=Todd Ickow, Dave Huseman

|TVStation=ESPN+

}}

{{see also|2018 Butler Bulldogs football team|Hoosier Helmet Trophy}}

=At Morehead State=

{{AFB game box start

|Title=

|Visitor=Crusaders

|V1=0 |V2=7 |V3=0 |V4=17

|Host=Eagles

|H1=0 |H2=21 |H3=7 |H4=3

|Date=October 20, 2018

|Location=Jayne Stadium • Morehead, Kentucky

|StartTime=1:05 pm{{cite web |title=Game 7 Box Score |url=http://www.valpoathletics.com/football/boxscore/2018-19/6912/valpo-vs-morehead-st-10-20-2018/ |website=Valpo Athletics |publisher=Valparaiso University |accessdate=21 October 2018}}

|TimeZone=CDT

|ElapsedTime=3:15

|Attendance=8,145

|Weather=Temperature: {{convert|55|F}} • Weather: Mostly rainy

|Referee=Lamar Gresham{{cite web |title=Morehead State 31 Valparaiso 24 |url=https://msueagles.com/boxscore.aspx?id=3712&path=football |website=msueagles.com |publisher=Morehead State University |accessdate=21 October 2018}}

|TVAnnouncers=Chuck Mraz, Jason Blanton{{cite web |last1=Lucia |first1=Joe |title=Your 2018 college football Week 8 announcing schedule |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/schedules/your-2018-college-football-week-8-announcing-schedule.html |website=Awful Announcing |date=17 October 2018 |accessdate=20 October 2018}}

|TVStation=ESPN+

}}

=Drake=

{{AFB game box start

|Title=

|Visitor=Bulldogs

|V1=7 |V2=14 |V3=0 |V4=21

|Host=Crusaders

|H1=3 |H2=0 |H3=7 |H4=15

|Date=October 27, 2018

|Location=Brown Field • Valparaiso, Indiana

|StartTime=1:04 pm

|TimeZone=CDT

|ElapsedTime=3:18

|Attendance=1,945

|Weather=Temperature: {{convert|54|F}} • Weather: Partly cloudy • Wind: N {{convert|10|mph|abbr=on}}

|Referee=Andy Speciale{{cite web |title=Drake 42 Valparaiso 25 |url=https://godrakebulldogs.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=7941 |website=Drake University Athletics |publisher=Drake University |accessdate=28 October 2018}}

|TVAnnouncers=Todd Ickow, Dave Huseman

|TVStation=ESPN+{{cite web |title=Game 8 Preview |url=http://cdn.streamlinetechnologies.com/valpoathletics/B21C9CA1-D4E4-4C6D-8F7C-B22DE5E9ED42/ValpoFB_GameNotes_Week9_Drake.pdf |website=Valpo Athletics |publisher=Valparaiso University |accessdate=27 October 2018}}

}}

=At Marist=

{{AFB game box start

|Title=

|Visitor=Crusaders

|V1=3 |V2=7 |V3=7 |V4=7

|Host=Red Foxes

|H1=0 |H2=28 |H3=0 |H4=7

|Date=November 3, 2018

|Location=Leonidoff Field • Poughkeepsie, New York

|StartTime=12:05 pm

|TimeZone=EDT

|ElapsedTime=2:51

|Attendance=1,227

|Weather=Temperature: {{convert|51|F}} • Weather: Mostly cloudy, windy • Wind: W {{convert|14|mph|abbr=on}}

|Referee=Tom Kichline{{cite web |title=Marist 35 Valparaiso 24 |url=https://goredfoxes.com/boxscore.aspx?id=8646&path=football |website=Go Red Foxes |publisher=Marist College |accessdate=3 November 2018}}

|TVAnnouncers=Geoff Brault, Ed Weir{{cite web |title=Your 2018 college football Week 10 announcing schedule |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/schedules/your-2018-college-football-week-10-announcing-schedule.html |website=Awful Announcing |date=November 2018 |publisher=Awful Announcing |accessdate=1 November 2018}}

|TVStation=Red Fox Network

}}

=Jacksonville=

{{AFB game box start

|Title=

|Visitor=Dolphins

|V1=0 |V2=10 |V3=7 |V4=13

|Host=Crusaders

|H1=14 |H2=13 |H3=14 |H4=7

|Date=November 10, 2018

|Location=Brown Field • Valparaiso, Indiana

|StartTime=12:04 pm

|TimeZone=CST

|ElapsedTime=

|Attendance=1,150

|Weather= Temperature: {{convert|29|F}} • Weather: Extremely cold • Wind: W {{convert|7|mph|abbr=on}}

|Referee= Matt Packowski{{cite web |title=Valparaiso 48 Jacksonville 30 |url=http://judolphins.com/sports/fball/2018-19/boxscores/20181110_lnz4.xml |website=JU Dolphins |publisher=Jacksonville University |accessdate=10 November 2018 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

|TVAnnouncers=Todd Ickow, Dave Huseman{{cite web |title=Week 11 Preview |url=http://cdn.streamlinetechnologies.com/valpoathletics/B21C9CA1-D4E4-4C6D-8F7C-B22DE5E9ED42/ValpoFB_GameNotes_Week11_Jacksonville.pdf |website=Valpo Athletics |publisher=Valparaiso University |accessdate=9 November 2018}}

|TVStation=ESPN+

}}

=At Stetson=

{{AFB game box start

|Title=

|Visitor=Crusaders

|V1=7 |V2=17 |V3=0 |V4=7

|Host=Hatters

|H1=7 |H2=14 |H3=21 |H4=3

|Date=November 17, 2018

|Location=Spec Martin Stadium • DeLand, Florida

|StartTime=1:04 pm

|TimeZone=EST

|ElapsedTime=3:12

|Attendance=1,961

|Weather=Temperature: {{convert|71|F}} • Weather: Sunny • Wind: NE {{convert|7|mph|abbr=on}}

|Referee=Terrance Lamar{{cite web |title=Stetson 45 Valparaiso 31 |url=https://gohatters.com/boxscore.aspx?id=5890&path=football |website=Go Hatters |publisher=Stetson University |accessdate=18 November 2018}}

|TVAnnouncers=Evan Weston, Tom James

|TVStation=ESPN+

}}

References

Valparaiso

Category:Valparaiso Beacons football seasons

Valparaiso Crusaders football