1987 Pacific Lutheran Lutes football
NAIA Division II national co-champion
CFL champion
ConferenceColumbia Football League
Record11–1–1 (4–1–1 CFL)
Head coach
Home stadiumLakewood Stadium, Carl Sparks Stadium
Seasons
← 1986
1988 →
1987 Columbia Football League standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Northern Division
No. 8 Central Washington * x 5 – 1 – 0 7 – 3 – 0
No. 6 Pacific Lutheran ^ 4 – 1 – 1 11 – 1 – 1
No. 17 Puget Sound 4 – 2 – 0 6 – 3 – 0
Simon Fraser 4 – 2 – 0 4 – 6 – 0
Western Washington 2 – 3 – 1 4 – 3 – 2
Whitworth 1 – 5 – 0 3 – 6 – 0
Lewis & Clark 0 – 6 – 0 0 – 9 – 0
Southern Division
Oregon Tech x 5 – 1 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
No. 15 Southern Oregon * 4 – 2 – 0 7 – 4 – 0
Linfield 4 – 2 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
Pacific (OR) 3 – 2 – 1 4 – 3 – 2
Western Oregon 3 – 3 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
Willamette 1 – 4 – 1 3 – 5 – 1
Eastern Oregon 0 – 6 – 0 1 – 8 – 0
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • * – NAIA Division I playoff participant
    ^ – NAIA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA Division I poll for Central Washington, Puget Sound, and Southern Oregon and NAIA Division II poll for Pacific Lutheran

The 1987 Pacific Lutheran Lutes football team was an American football team that represented Pacific Lutheran University in the Columbia Football League (CFL) during the 1987 NAIA Division II football season. In their 16th season under head coach Frosty Westering, the Lutes compiled an 11–1–1 record and tied for the NAIA Division II national championship. The team participated in the NAIA Division II playoffs where they defeated Midland Lutheran (Nebraska) (40–21) in the first round, Carroll (Montana) (36–26) in the quarterfinal, and Baker (Kansas) (17–14) in the semifinal.[1]

In the national championship game, the Lutes played a 16–16 tie with Wisconsin–Stevens Point. Wisconsin–Stevens Point later forfeited its share of the national championship because of its use of ineligible players.[2]

Junior linebacker Keith Krassin was selected as the CFL Northern Division co-defensive player of the year.[3]

The team played its home games during the regular season at Lakewood Stadium in Lakewood, Washington. For the playoffs, the team switched to Carl Sparks Stadium in Puyallup, Washington.

Coach Westering won four national championships at Pacific Lutheran (1980, 1987, 1993, and 1999) and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005.[4]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 19vs. Puget Sound
L 7–24
September 26Oregon Tech
W 27–20
October 3at Whitworth
W 28–13
October 10at Southern OregonAshland, ORW 31–21
October 17Linfield
  • Lakewood Stadium
  • Lakewood, WA
W 44–20
October 24at Central WashingtonEllensburg, WAW 42–16
October 31Simon Fraser
  • Lakewood Stadium
  • Lakewood, WA
W 42–131,850
November 7Lewis & Clark
  • Lakewood Stadium
  • Lakewood, WA
W 55–222,500
November 14at Western WashingtonBellingham, WAT 13–13
November 21Midland Lutheran*
  • Sparks Stadium
  • Puyallup, WA (NAIA Division II first round)
W 40–21
November 28at Carroll (MT)*Helena, MT (NAIA Division II quarterfinal)W 36–262,500
December 5Baker*
  • Sparks Stadium
  • Puyallup, WA (NAIA Division II semifinal)
W 17–14 OT
December 13vs. Wisconsin–Stevens Point*
  • Tacoma Dome
  • Tacoma, WA (NAIA Division II National Championship Game)
T 16–164,453
  • *Non-conference game

References

  1. ^ "1987 Results". Pacific Lutheran University. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  2. ^ "Surprise: Lutes are champs after all". The News Tribune. Tacoma, Washington. May 10, 1988. p. C1. Retrieved November 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Whitworth has trio on North first team". The Spokesman-Review. November 20, 1987. p. 34 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Frosty Westering". National Football Foundation. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
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