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American college football season
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.
Previous season
The Crusaders finished the 2017 season 6–5, 5–3 in PFL play to finish in a three-way tie for third place. The Crusaders had a winning season for the first time since 2003 and had five league wins for the first time since 1961.[1] [2]
Preseason
Preseason All-PFL team
The PFL released their preseason all-PFL team on July 30, 2018, with the Crusaders having three players selected.[3]
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.[4]
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
San Diego
81 (9)
2
Dayton
72 (1)
3
Drake
58
T–4
Butler
48
T–4
Valparaiso
48
6
Jacksonville
47
7
Marist
44
8
Morehead State
22
9
Stetson
19
10
Davidson
11
Schedule
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance September 8 11:00 a.m. at Duquesne * NECFR L 21–23943
September 15 1:00 p.m. at Youngstown State * ESPN+ L 7–4214,913
September 22 1:00 p.m. Truman State * ESPN3 L 20–341,840
September 29 1:00 p.m. Davidson Brown Field Valparaiso, IN ESPN3 L 35–404,605
October 6 12:00 p.m. at Dayton Facebook Live L 20–532,592
October 13 1:00 p.m. Butler ESPN+ W 35–171,724
October 20 1:00 p.m. at Morehead State ESPN+ L 24–318,145
October 27 1:00 p.m. Drake Brown Field Valparaiso, IN ESPN+ L 25–421,945
November 3 11:00 a.m. at Marist Red Fox Network L 24–351,227
November 10 12:00 p.m. Jacksonville Brown Field Valparaiso, IN ESPN+ W 48–301,150
November 17 12:00 p.m. at Stetson ESPN+ L 45–311,961
Game summaries
at Duquesne
1
2 3 4 Total
Crusaders
0
14 0 7
21
• Dukes
7
0 10 6
23
Date: September 8, 2018Location: Rooney Field • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Game start: 12:05 pm EDT Elapsed time: 2:28Game attendance: 943Game weather: Temperature: 60°F • Weather: Rainy, cool • Wind: ENE 13 mph[5] Television network: NEC Front Row
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
0–3
2017
DUQ, 45–40
at Youngstown State
1
2 3 4 Total
Crusaders
7
0 0 0
7
• Penguins
7
14 14 7
42
Date: September 15, 2018Location: Stambaugh Stadium • Youngstown, Ohio Game start: 2:05 pm EDT Elapsed time: 3:13Game attendance: 14,913Game weather: Temperature: 82°F • Weather: Partly cloudy • Wind: E 5-10 mph[6] Referee: Andy SpecialeTelevision network: ESPN+
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
0–2
2012
YSU, 59–0
Truman State
1
2 3 4 Total
• Bulldogs
6
0 11 7
24
Crusaders
7
0 3 10
20
Date: September 22, 2018Location: Brown Field • Valparaiso, Indiana Game start: 1:04 pm CDT Elapsed time: 2:58Game attendance: 1,840Game weather: Temperature: 65° F • Weather: Sunny • Wind: E 9 mphReferee: Aaron Adams[7] TV announcers (ESPN3): Todd Ickow, Dave Huseman
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
First meeting
Davidson
Homecoming
1
2 3 4 Total
• Wildcats
14
20 0 6
40
Crusaders
14
7 7 7
35
Date: September 29, 2018Location: Brown Field • Valparaiso, IndianaGame start: 1:04 pm CDT Game attendance: 4,605Game weather: Temperature: 62°F • Weather: Partly cloudy • Wind: NE 3 mphReferee: Marcel Kerr[8] TV announcers (ESPN3): Todd Ickow, Dave Huseman
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
4–7
2016
VALPO, 24–20
at Dayton
1
2 3 4 Total
Crusaders
7
6 0 7
20
• Flyers
14
23 16 0
53
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
3–23
2017
VALPO, 8–7
Butler
Hoosier Helmet Trophy
1
2 3 4 Total
Bulldogs
0
14 3 0
17
• Crusaders
14
0 7 14
35
Date: October 13, 2018Location: Brown Field • Valparaiso, IndianaGame start: 1:04 pm CDT Elapsed time: 2:52Game attendance: 1,724[11] Game weather: Temperature: 51°F • Weather: Sunny • Wind: SW 10 mphReferee: C. J. Jackson[12] TV announcers (ESPN+): Todd Ickow, Dave Huseman
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
26–50
2017
VALPO, 36–28
at Morehead State
1
2 3 4 Total
Crusaders
0
7 0 17
24
• Eagles
0
21 7 3
31
Date: October 20, 2018Location: Jayne Stadium • Morehead, Kentucky Game start: 1:05 pm[13] CDT Elapsed time: 3:15Game attendance: 8,145Game weather: Temperature: 55°F • Weather: Mostly rainyReferee: Lamar Gresham[14] TV announcers (ESPN+): Chuck Mraz, Jason Blanton[15]
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
4–18
2017
VALPO, 63–32
Drake
1
2 3 4 Total
• Bulldogs
7
14 0 21
42
Crusaders
3
0 7 15
25
Date: October 27, 2018Location: Brown Field • Valparaiso, IndianaGame start: 1:04 pm CDT Elapsed time: 3:18Game attendance: 1,945Game weather: Temperature: 54°F • Weather: Partly cloudy • Wind: N 10 mphReferee: Andy Speciale[16] TV announcers (ESPN+[17] ): Todd Ickow, Dave Huseman
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
3–22
2017
DRAKE, 38–13
at Marist
1
2 3 4 Total
Crusaders
3
7 7 7
24
• Red Foxes
0
28 0 7
35
Date: November 3, 2018Location: Leonidoff Field • Poughkeepsie, New York Game start: 12:05 pm EDT Elapsed time: 2:51Game attendance: 1,227Game weather: Temperature: 51°F • Weather: Mostly cloudy, windy • Wind: W 14 mphReferee: Tom Kichline[18] TV announcers (Red Fox Network): Geoff Brault, Ed Weir[19]
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
1–6
2017
VALPO, 49–15
Jacksonville
1
2 3 4 Total
Dolphins
0
10 7 13
30
• Crusaders
14
13 14 7
48
Date: November 10, 2018Location: Brown Field • Valparaiso, IndianaGame start: 12:04 pm CST Game attendance: 1,150Game weather: Temperature: 29°F • Weather: Extremely cold • Wind: W 7 mphReferee: Matt Packowski[20] TV announcers (ESPN+): Todd Ickow, Dave Huseman[21]
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
3–7
2017
JACK, 20–17
at Stetson
1
2 3 4 Total
Crusaders
7
17 0 7
31
• Hatters
7
14 21 3
45
Date: November 17, 2018Location: Spec Martin Stadium • DeLand, Florida Game start: 1:04 pm EST Elapsed time: 3:12Game attendance: 1,961Game weather: Temperature: 71°F • Weather: Sunny • Wind: NE 7 mphReferee: Terrance Lamar[22] TV announcers (ESPN+): Evan Weston, Tom James
Overall record
Last meeting
Result[23]
2–1
2017
VALPO, 27–24
References
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