1961 Susquehanna Crusaders football team

American college football season February 2026 January 2025 1961 Susquehanna Crusaders football Middle Atlantic Conference Northern College Division MAC 8–0–1 6–0 Jim Garrett 2nd Ben DiFrancesco University Field MAC Northern College Division champion The 1961 Susquehanna Crusaders football team was an American football team that represented Susquehanna University as a member of the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) during the 1961 college football season. In their second season under head coach Jim Garrett, the Crusaders compiled an 8–0–1 record (6–0 in conference games), won the MAC Northern College Division championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 224 to 71. The season was part of a 22-game unbeaten streak that began on October 22, 1960, and ended on September 21, 1963.Susquehanna Yearly Results College Football Data Warehouse May 15, 2023 http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/s/susquehanna/1960-1964_yearly_results.php https://web.archive.org/web/20150906203445/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/s/susquehanna/1960-1964_yearly_results.php 2015-09-06 Two Susquehanna players received first-team honors on the 1961 MAC Southern College Division all-star team. The honorees were senior guard and team captain Ben DiFrancesco and sophomore fullback Larry Kerstetter.S.U. Stars Get All-Star Berths Sunbury Daily Item December 14, 1961 28 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-item-su-stars-get-all-star-b/152801370/ Newspapers.com Di Francesco was also selected by the Associated Press as a second-team player on the 1961 All-Pennsylvania football team.Vignali First Team Repeater The Evening Standard December 11, 1961 19 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-evening-standard-vignali-first-team/152800785/ Newspapers.com Schedule y y September 23 vs 1961 Lycoming Warriors Lycoming Sunbury HS field Sunbury, PA W 7-0 September 30 at 1961 Ursinus Bears Ursinus Collegeville, PA W 28-6 October 7 Swarthmore University Field Selinsgrove, PA W 34-12 4,000 Crusaders Triumph, Remain Undefeated The Selinsgrove Times-Tribune October 12, 1961 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-selinsgrove-times-tribune-crusaders/152550545/ Newspapers.com October 14 at Wagner Staten Island, NY W 28-24 2,500 Unbeaten S. U. Wins 4th In Row: S. U. Edges Wagner, 28-24 Subury Daily Item October 16, 1961 10 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-item-unbeaten-s-u-wins-4th-i/152599445/ Newspapers.com October 21 Western Maryland<hc> University Field Selinsgrove, PA W 34-8 3,000 9th Win in a Row for Susquehanna Eleven The Selinsgrove Times-Tribune October 26, 1961 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-selinsgrove-times-tribune-9th-win-in/152550731/ Newspapers.com October 28 at Delaware Valley<ncg> Alumni Field Doylestown, PA W 30-0 2,200 Crusaders Stay Unbeaten: Crusaders (6-0) Shellack Delaware Valley Foe, 30-0 Sunbury Daily Item October 30, 1961 10 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-item-crusaders-stay-unbeaten/152324625/ Newspapers.com November 4 Oberlin<ncg> University Field Selinsgrove, PA T 7-7 3,000 S.U., Oberlin Battle To 7-7 Tie On Muddy Terrain The Daily Item November 6, 1961 19 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-item-su-oberlin-battle-to-7/151858513/ Newspapers.com November 11 1961 Hobart Statesmen Hobart<ncg> University Field Selinsgrove, PA W 35-6 Unbeaten SU Plays Here vs. Wilkes On Saturday Night The Selinsgrove Times-Tribune November 16, 1961 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-selinsgrove-times-tribune-unbeaten-s/152550955/ Newspapers.com November 18 1961 Wilkes Colonels Wilkes Selingrove HS Field Selinsgrove, PA W 21-8 Susquehanna Winds Up Undefeated Season with 8th Win; Gridders Relax with Remote Possibility of Bowl Bid The Selinsgrove Times-Tribune November 23, 1961 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-selinsgrove-times-tribune-susquehann/152551113/ Newspapers.com Statistics Susquehanna tallied 2,781 yards of total offense (309 yards per game), consisting of 2,376 rushing yards (264 yards per game) and 405 passing yards (45 yards per game). On defense, the team gave up 1,363 yards by opponents (151.4 yards per game) with 726 rushing yards (80.7 yards per game) and 637 passing yards (70.8 yards per game).Brief Summary of Cumulative Football Statistics (1961 Susquehanna) August 4, 2024 https://stats.ncaa.org/team/685/stats/12865 The team's individual statistical leaders included fullback Larry Kerstetter with 610 rushing yards and 62 points scored (nine touchdowns and four catches for two-point conversions); quarterback Don Green with 915 yards of total offense and 395 passing yards; end Ken Hauser with 11 receptions for 135 yards. References Susquehanna Category:Susquehanna River Hawks football seasons Category:College football undefeated seasons Susquehanna River Hawks football