1976 Westminster Titans football team

The 1976 Westminster Titans football team was an American football team that represented Westminster College of Pennsylvania as an independent during the 1976 NAIA Division II football season. In their fifth season under head coach Joe Fusco, the Titans compiled a 10–1 record. They advanced to the NAIA Division II playoffs, defeating Texas Lutheran (31–0) in the semifinal and Redlands (20–13) in the NAIA Division II National Championship Game.[1][2]

1976 Westminster Titans football
NAIA Division II national champion
ConferenceIndependent
Record10–1
Head coach
Home stadiumMemorial Field
1976 NAIA Division II independents football records
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 3 Texas Lutheran ^   –  10 –1 –0
No. 1 Westminster (PA) ^   –  10 –1 –0
No. 4 Cal Lutheran   –  9 –1 –0
No. 11 Georgetown (KY)   –  7 –2 –1
Franklin (IN)   –  6 –3 –0
No. 18 Waynesburg   –  6 –3 –0
No. T–19 Benedictine (KS)   –  7 –4 –0
Simon Fraser   –  5 –5 –0
Azusa Pacific   –  4 –5 –0
Iowa Wesleyan   –  2 –7 –0
Oklahoma Panhandle State   –  2 –8 –0
Geneva   –  1 –8 –0
  • ^ – NAIA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA Division II poll

Schedule
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 11at SusquehannaSelinsgrove, PAW 20–7[3][4]
September 18Juniata
L 7–14[5]
September 25at Indiana (PA)Indiana, PAW 6–2[6]
October 2vs. Waynesburg
W 33–7[7]
October 9Grove Citydagger
  • Memorial Field
  • New Wilmington, PA
W 27–0[8][9]
October 16at Frostburg StateFrostburg, MDW 55–7[10][11]
October 23at Bethany (WV)Bethany, WVW 10–3[12][13]
October 30Geneva
  • Memorial Field
  • New Wilmington, PA
W 28–6[14][15]
November 6at AlleghenyMeadville, PAW 10–7[16][17]
November 20at Texas Lutheran
W 31–04,500[18][19]
December 4at Redlands
W 20–135,278[20][21]
  • daggerHomecoming

Season overview

Homecoming vs. Grove City

On October 9, Westminster defeated Grove City, 27–0, in the Titans' homecoming game. It was Westminster's 25th consecutive homecoming victory. Quarterback Jan Budai ran 74 yards for a touchdown after the running back missed an assignment to take the handoff from Budai.[9]

Frostburg State

Westminster won its most one-sided game of the season on October 16, defeating Frostburg State by a 55–7 score at Frostburg, Maryland. Westminster's defense gave up only four first downs, forced six fumbles and two interceptions, and held Frostburg to 14 passing yards and minus 16 rushing yards. Frostburg's sole touchdown came on an 88-yard kickoff return.[11] Westminter out-gained Frostburg by 535 yards of total offense to minus two.[10]

Allegheny

On November 6, Westminster concluded its regular season with a 10–7 victory over Allegheny at Robertson Field in Meadville, Pennsylvania. Sophomore Jeff Ribey returned a punt 88 yards for the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter.[17] Rimbey was a backup safety and not the team's regular punt returner until an injury earlier in the season gave him the opportunity to play.[22] The victory qualified the Titans for a berth in the NAIA Division II playoffs.[17]

Semifinals at Texas Lutheran

Westminster entered the playoffs with the top rushing defense in Division II, allowing only 57.7 points per game.[23]

On November 20, Westminster upset the No. 1-ranked Texas Lutheran Bulldogs, winning by a 31–0 score on the road in Seguin, Texas. Texas Lutheran had won the Division II championship in both 1974 and 1975 and was the favorite to win again in 1976. Quarterback Jan Budai threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Dave Hasson and ran one yard for another touchdown. Dave Armahizer also scored on an 85-yard interception return in the third quarter. On defense, the Titans held Texas Lutheran to 122 rushing yards and 139 passing yards.[18]

Championship game at Redlands

On December 4, Westminster, ranked No. 2, played in the Division II national championship game, defeating No. 3 Redlands, 20–13, on the road in Redlands, California. Westminster quarterback Jan Budai threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to Dave Hasson. Redlands kicked two field goals, and the Titans led, 7–6, at halftime. In the third quarter, Westminster capitalized on a Redlands fumble recovered at the six-yard line. Mike Szuba scored on a one-yard run. Redlands tied the game, 13–13, on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Steve Vento to Brian DeRoo. Redlands fumbled a punt, and Westminster recovered the ball at Redlands' 22-yard line. From there, the Titans advanced to the two-yard line, and Budai ran two yards for the game-winning touchdown with 6:56 remaining in the game.[20][24]

References
  1. "1976 Football Schedule". Westminster College. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  2. Skip Wachter (November 18, 1976). "Westminster Happy Being in Playoffs, Whoever Opposition". The Daily Courier. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Westminster 20, Susquehanna 7". The Morning Call. September 12, 1976. p. C9 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. Rod Platt (September 13, 1976). "Titans 'solid' in opening win: Stop Susquehanna 20–7". New Castle News. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. Rod Platt (September 20, 1976). "Juniata upends Titans: Rallies in final minutes". New Castle News. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Titans slip past Indiana: Szuba scores lone TD". New Castle News. September 27, 1976. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Rod Platt (October 4, 1976). "Titans finally get offense in gear: Crush Waynesburg 33–7". New Castle News. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Westminster Belts Grove City, 27–0". The Scrantonian. October 10, 1976. p. 48 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. Rod Platt (October 11, 1976). "Titans blank Grovers 27–0: To highlight homecoming". New Castle News. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Titans Explode, 55–7". The Pittsburgh Press. October 17, 1976. p. D13 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Titans roll past Frostburg: Score fifth win 55–7". New Castle News. October 18, 1976. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Westminster 10, Bethany 3". Beckley Post-Herald and Register. October 24, 1976. p. 32 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. Rod Platt (October 25, 1976). "Titans' defense gains 10–3 win: Offense sputters at Bethany". New Castle News. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "Westminster Turns Back Geneva, 28–6". The Pittsburgh Press. October 31, 1976. p. D9 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. Tom Spudic (November 1, 1976). "Titans 'rush' past Geneva: Wins seventh game 28–6". New Castle News. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "Titans Win On 88-Yard Run". The Pittsburgh Press. November 7, 1976. p. D11 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. Rod Platt (November 8, 1976). "Titans nip Allegheny 10–7 for eighth win: On Rimbey's 88-yard punt return". New Castle News. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. "Tex. Lutheran falls to end trio hopes". Brownwood Bulletin. November 21, 1976. p. 1B – via Newspapers.com.
  19. Rod Platt (November 22, 1976). "Titans advance to NAIA championships". New Castle News. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. Russ Kishi (December 6, 1976). "Titans win, 20–13: Bulldogs lose close one for NAIA district title". Redlands Daily Facts. p. B3 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. Rod Platt (December 6, 1976). "Titans NAIA Division II champs again". New Castle News. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. Rod Platt (November 8, 1976). "'Turtle' unlikely hero for Titans". New Castle News. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. "Westminster In Grid Playoff". York Daily Record. December 4, 1976. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. "Westminster Lands 2nd NAIA Title, 20–13". The Pittsburgh Press. December 5, 1976. p. D2 – via Newspapers.com.
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