Viking_Yearbook_90

Vikittgs Football team finishes year with 9·4 season, in spite of losing of 11 starters, and facing a tough schedule. T he PSU Vikings charged into the 1989 football season full of optimism, after reaching the NCAA Division II national championship game in 1987 and 1988. The team faced an uphill climb in their quest to reach the playoffs for the third straight year; the team had lost numerous starters, on both offense and defense, from the 1988 national runner-up team. It also faced a tough schedule, including three games against Division 1AA teams and a road contest against top-ranked Texas A&I. Despite the loss of 11 starters from the 1988 national runner-up team, and 1 numerous injuries, coach Pokey Allen's squad won the Western Foot– ball Conference championship, reached the second round of the play– offs, and finished the year 9-4. The Vikings ranked second in the country in passing offense and sev– enth in total offense. Junior college transfer Darren Del'Andrae, in his first year at PSU, led the nation in passing behind a veteran offensive line, and was a finalist for the Harlon Hill award, given annually to the player voted best in Division II. 94 fall short of 1 Highlights for the year included a 29-20 win over Division I-AA Idaho in front of over 13,000 fans at Portland's Civic Stadium, their third straight conference title, and a 56-50 triple-overtime win over Westch– ester, Pa. in their playoff opener. Despite being nudged from the playoffs with a 17-0 loss to Indiana, Pa., the Vikings overcame numerous obstacles on their way to another successful season, in what was con– sidered to be a rebuilding year. -J.R Rardon.