1981 Elon Fightin' Christians football team

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
← 1980
1982 →
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.[1]

The team lost to Catawba and tied with Norfolk State.[1] 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[edit]

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 12Mars Hill
W 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[2]
October 17at PresbyterianClinton, SCW 16–10[3]
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[4]
November 14Winston-Salem State*
  • Burlington Memorial Football Stadium
  • Burlington, NC
W 30–206,500[5]
November 21at Carson–NewmanJefferson City, TNW 23–14[6]
December 5at Concord*Bluefield, WV (NAIA Division I quarterfinal)W 37–81,500[7]
December 12Hillsdale*
  • Burlington Memorial Football Stadium
  • Burlington, NC (NAIA Division I semifinal)
W 41–134,500[8]
December 19Pittsburg State*
  • Burlington Memorial Football Stadium
  • Burlington, NC (NAIA Division I National Championship Game)
W 3–03,705[9][10]
  • *Non-conference game

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "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.

External links[edit]

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