# 2018 Valparaiso Crusaders football team

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.

### 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.
| 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* | Rooney FieldPittsburgh, PA | NECFR | L 21–23 | 943 |
| September 15 | 1:00 p.m. | at Youngstown State* | Stambaugh StadiumYoungstown, OH | ESPN+ | L 7–42 | 14,913 |
| September 22 | 1:00 p.m. | Truman State* | Brown FieldValparaiso, IN | ESPN3 | L 20–34 | 1,840 |
| September 29 | 1:00 p.m. | Davidson | Brown FieldValparaiso, IN | ESPN3 | L 35–40 | 4,605 |
| October 6 | 12:00 p.m. | at Dayton | Welcome StadiumDayton, OH | Facebook Live | L 20–53 | 2,592 |
| October 13 | 1:00 p.m. | Butler | Brown FieldValparaiso, IN (Hoosier Helmet Trophy) | ESPN+ | W 35–17 | 1,724 |
| October 20 | 1:00 p.m. | at Morehead State | Jayne StadiumMorehead, KY | ESPN+ | L 24–31 | 8,145 |
| October 27 | 1:00 p.m. | Drake | Brown FieldValparaiso, IN | ESPN+ | L 25–42 | 1,945 |
| November 3 | 11:00 a.m. | at Marist | Tenney Stadium at Leonidoff FieldPoughkeepsie, NY | Red Fox Network | L 24–35 | 1,227 |
| November 10 | 12:00 p.m. | Jacksonville | Brown FieldValparaiso, IN | ESPN+ | W 48–30 | 1,150 |
| November 17 | 12:00 p.m. | at Stetson | Spec Martin StadiumDeLand, FL | ESPN+ | L 45–31 | 1,961 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time |||||||
* Source: Schedule

## Game summaries
### At Duquesne

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Crusaders | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| • Dukes | 7 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 23 |

### At Youngstown State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Crusaders | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| • Penguins | 7 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 42 |

### Truman State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Bulldogs | 6 | 0 | 11 | 7 | 24 |
| Crusaders | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 20 |

### Davidson

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Wildcats | 14 | 20 | 0 | 6 | 40 |
| Crusaders | 14 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 35 |

### At Dayton

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Crusaders | 7 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
| • Flyers | 14 | 23 | 16 | 0 | 53 |

### Butler

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bulldogs | 0 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
| • Crusaders | 14 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 35 |

### At Morehead State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Crusaders | 0 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 24 |
| • Eagles | 0 | 21 | 7 | 3 | 31 |

### Drake

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Bulldogs | 7 | 14 | 0 | 21 | 42 |
| Crusaders | 3 | 0 | 7 | 15 | 25 |

### At Marist

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Crusaders | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
| • Red Foxes | 0 | 28 | 0 | 7 | 35 |

### Jacksonville

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Dolphins | 0 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 30 |
| • Crusaders | 14 | 13 | 14 | 7 | 48 |

### At Stetson

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Crusaders | 7 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 31 |
| • Hatters | 7 | 14 | 21 | 3 | 45 |