1981 BYU Cougars football team
The 1981 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University (BYU) in the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Cougars offense scored 503 points while the defense allowed 256 points. Led by head coach LaVell Edwards, the Cougars won in the 1981 Holiday Bowl.
Regular season
Season schedule
[1]
Game notes
Air Force
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
Air Force |
0 |
7 | 7 | 7 |
21 |
• BYU |
10 |
14 | 7 | 14 |
45 |
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
Q1 |
| BYU | Hudson 10 yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick) | BYU 7–0 |
|
Q1 |
| BYU | Gunther 32 yard field goal | BYU 10–0 |
|
Q2 |
| BYU | Hamilton 1 yard run (Gunther kick) | BYU 17–0 |
|
Q2 |
| AFA | Kirby 75 yard punt return (Pavlich kick) | BYU 17–7 |
|
Q2 |
| BYU | Kozlowski 12 yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick) | BYU 24–7 |
|
Q3 |
| BYU | Hamilton 4 yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick) | BYU 31–7 |
|
Q3 |
| AFA | Sundquist 1 yard run (Pavlich kick) | BYU 31–14 |
|
Q4 |
| AFA | James 13 yard run (Pavlich kick) | BYU 31–21 |
|
Q4 |
| BYU | Hamilton 12 yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick) | BYU 38–21 |
|
Q4 |
| BYU | Sikahema 8 yard run (Gunther kick) | BYU 45–21 |
|
[2]
Colorado
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
• BYU |
14 |
3 | 14 | 10 |
41 |
Colorado |
0 |
0 | 6 | 14 |
20 |
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
1 |
| BYU | Plater 44-yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick) | BYU 7-0 |
|
1 |
| BYU | Pettis 7-yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick) | BYU 14-0 |
|
2 |
| BYU | Gunther 40-yard field goal | BYU 17-0 |
|
3 |
| BYU | Kozlowski 3-yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick) | BYU 24-0 |
|
3 |
| COL | James 33-yard pass from Essington (pass failed) | BYU 24-6 |
|
3 |
| BYU | Hudson 11-yard pass from Young (Gunther kick) | BYU 31-6 |
|
4 |
| COL | Rouson 7-yard run (pass failed) | BYU 31-12 |
|
4 |
| BYU | Plater 22-yard pass from Young (Gunther kick) | BYU 38-12 |
|
4 |
| BYU | Gunther 32-yard field goal | BYU 41-12 |
|
4 |
| COL | Beebe 1-yard pass from Essington (Johnson pass from Essington) | BYU 41-20 |
|
[3]
Utah State
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
Utah St |
0 |
7 | 7 | 12 |
26 |
• BYU |
0 |
7 | 6 | 19 |
32 |
- Date: October 2
- Location: Cougar Stadium • Provo, Utah
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
2 |
| USU | Jones 8-yard pass from Canales (Money kick) | Utah St 7-0 |
|
2 |
| BYU | Pettis 6-yard run (Gunther kick) | Tie 7-7 |
|
3 |
| USU | McPherson 4-yard pass from Canales (Money kick) | Utah St 14-7 |
|
3 |
| BYU | Hamilton 1-yard run (kick failed) | Utah St 14-13 |
|
4 |
| USU | McPherson 5-yard pass from Canales (kick failed) | Utah St 20-13 |
|
4 |
| BYU | Collie 8-yard pass from Young (Gunther kick) | Tie 20-20 |
|
4 |
| USU | Turner 6-yard run (kick failed) | Utah St 26-20 |
|
4 |
| BYU | Hamilton 42-yard run (kick failed) | Tie 26-26 |
|
4 |
| BYU | Shell 19-yard interception return (kick failed) | BYU 32-26 |
|
[4]
Hawaii
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
• BYU |
0 |
6 | 7 | 0 |
13 |
Hawaii |
0 |
0 | 0 | 3 |
3 |
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
2 |
| BYU | Gunther 19-yard field goal | BYU 3-0 |
|
2 |
| BYU | Gunther 45-yard field goal | BYU 6-0 |
|
3 |
| BYU | Balholm recovered fumble in end zone (Gunther kick) | BYU 13-0 |
|
4 |
| HAW | Larsen 40-yard field goal | BYU 13-3 |
|
[5]
Utah
Utah at #18 BYU
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
Utah |
10 |
11 | 7 | 0 |
28 |
• BYU |
14 |
21 | 14 | 7 |
56 |
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
1 |
| UTAH | Rodgers 87-yard run (Alvarez kick) | Utah 7-0 |
|
1 |
| BYU | Pettis 6-yard run (Gunther kick) | Tied 7-7 |
|
1 |
| UTAH | Alvarez 43-yard field goal | Utah 10-7 |
|
1 |
| BYU | Hudson 8-yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick) | BYU 14-10 |
|
2 |
| UTAH | Alvarez 27-yard field goal | BYU 14-13 |
|
2 |
| BYU | Hamilton 1-yard run (Gunther kick) | BYU 21-13 |
|
2 |
| BYU | Mills 6-yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick) | BYU 28-13 |
|
2 |
| BYU | McKee 18-yard interception return (Gunther kick) | BYU 35-13 |
|
2 |
| UTAH | Rodgers 1-yard run (Ferguson to Rodgers pass) | BYU 35-21 |
|
3 |
| UTAH | Rodgers 8-yard run (Alvarez kick) | BYU 35-28 |
|
3 |
| BYU | Hamilton 1-yard run (Gunther kick) | BYU 42-28 |
|
3 |
| BYU | Plater 27-yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick) | BYU 49-28 |
|
4 |
| BYU | Hudson 37-yard pass from McMahon (Gunther kick) | BYU 56-28 |
|
Jim McMahon passes for 565 yards and becomes the NCAA's career leader in the category.
Team players in the NFL
The following were selected in the 1982 NFL Draft.
[6]
Awards and honors
References
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National championship seasons in bold |
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National championships in bold |