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1981 Elon Fightin' Christians football team

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American college football season

1981 Elon Fightin' Christians football
NAIA Division I national champion
SAC champion
NAIA Division I Championship Game, W 3–0 vs. Pittsburg State
ConferenceSouth Atlantic Conference
Record11–1–1 (6–1 SAC)
Head coach
Seasons← 19801982 →
1981 South Atlantic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 2 Elon $^ 6 – 1 – 0 12 – 1 – 1
Presbyterian 5 – 2 – 0 6 – 5 – 0
Carson–Newman 4 – 3 – 0 7 – 4 – 0
Catawba 3 – 4 – 0 5 – 5 – 0
Gardner–Webb 3 – 4 – 0 5 – 5 – 0
Mars Hill 3 – 4 – 0 5 – 5 – 0
Newberry 2 – 5 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
Lenoir–Rhyne 2 – 5 – 0 2 – 9 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NAIA Division I playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA Division I poll

The 1981 Elon Fightin' Christians football team was an American football team that represented Elon University of Elon, North Carolina, as a member of the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) during the 1981 NAIA Division I football season. In their fifth and final year under head coach Jerry Tolley, the Christians compiled an 11–1–1 record (6–1 against SAC opponents) and won the SAC championship.

The team lost to Catawba and tied with Norfolk State. The team advanced to the NAIA Division I playoffs, defeating Concord (38–8) in the quarterfinals, Hillsdale (41–13) in the semifinals, and Pittsburg State (3–0) in the national championship game.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 12Mars HillW 8–0
September 19at Guilford*Greensboro, NCW 38–0
October 3Lenoir–Rhyne
  • Burlington Memorial Football Stadium
  • Burlington, NC
W 12–3
October 10at Norfolk State*Norfolk, VAT 20–2015,500
October 17at PresbyterianClinton, SCW 16–10
October 24Catawba
  • Burlington Memorial Football Stadium
  • Burlington, NC
L 30–17
October 31Gardner–Webb
  • Burlington Memorial Football Stadium
  • Burlington, NC
W 56–10
November 7at NewberryNewberry, SCW 27–213,000
November 14Winston-Salem State*
  • Burlington Memorial Football Stadium
  • Burlington, NC
W 30–206,500
November 21at Carson–NewmanJefferson City, TNW 23–14
December 5at Concord*Bluefield, WV (NAIA Division I quarterfinal)W 37–81,500
December 12Hillsdale*
  • Burlington Memorial Football Stadium
  • Burlington, NC (NAIA Division I semifinal)
W 41–134,500
December 19Pittsburg State*
  • Burlington Memorial Football Stadium
  • Burlington, NC (NAIA Division I National Championship Game)
W 3–03,705
  • *Non-conference game

References

  1. ^ "Elon Year-by-Year vs. Opponents". Elon University. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  2. "Norfolk State 20, Elon 20". The Charlotte Observer. October 11, 1981. p. 3C – via Newspapers.com.
  3. Richard Chesley (October 18, 1981). "Unbeaten Elon Trips Presbyterian 16-10". The State. p. 5D – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Elon captures Pettus, holds off Indians". The Greenville News. November 8, 1981. p. 4C – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Elon 30, Winston-Salem State 20". The Charlotte Observer. November 15, 1981. p. 6D – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Elon clinches a tie". The Greenville News. November 22, 1981. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Bangley, defense lead Elon to 38-7 victory". The News and Observer. December 6, 1981. p. 9-II – via Newspapers.com.
  8. David Scott (December 13, 1981). "Elon Marches To NAIA Title Game". The Charlotte Observer. p. 9D – via Newspapers.com.
  9. Bill Woodward (December 20, 1981). "Elon captures NAIA crown (part 1)". The News and Observer. pp. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. Bill Woodward (December 20, 1981). "Elon captures NAIA crown (part 2)". The News and Observer. pp. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.

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