1986 Playoffs

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Stagg Bowl XIV
Augustana 31, Salisbury State 3
Dec. 13, 1986, in Phenix City, Ala.

Augustana extended its unbeaten streak to 50 consecutive games and won its fourth consecutive NCAA Division III football title. Thirteen seniors, 10 of whom started for Augustana (12-0-1) did not lose a game in their college career.

Salisbury State (13-1), averaging 40 points per game in its previous six contests, had just 10 first downs and hit on six of 24 pass attempts, throwing four interceptions. Augustana defensive back Mike Gray got three of the four picks. Brad Price led the offense with 32 carries for 169 yards and three touchdowns, a Stagg Bowl record at the time.

After a scoreless first quarter Price started the scoring with a 3-yard run early in the second. Erik Burgwald made it 14-0 with 5:17 left before halftime when he powered over from 3 yards away. Salisbury scored its only points of the game on a 26-yard field goal from Frank Maurer just :31 in front of intermission. Price scored on a 4-yard run with 3:39 left in the third quarter to bump the advantage to 21-3. A Matt Krull field goal of 31 yards made it 24-3 with 6:08 to play in the game and Price finished things off with a 3-yard touchdown run with 4:25 remaining. The Augustana defense held Salisbury’s Mike Coppa, who came into the game with more than 1,600 yards rushing, to 48 yards on13 attempts.

In four playoff games, Augustana allowed a total of just 27 points.

Playoff results
First Round

Ithaca 24, Union 17 (OT)
Montclair State 24, Hofstra 21
Susquehanna 28, Washington and Jefferson 20
Salisbury State 34, Emory and Henry 20
Mount Union 42, Dayton 36
Augustana 34, Hope 10
Central 37, Buena Vista 0
Concordia-Moorhead 24, UW-Stevens Point 15

Quarterfinals
Ithaca 29, Montclair State 15
Salisbury State 31, Susquehanna 17
Augustana 16, Mount Union 7
Concordia-Moorhead 17, Central 14

Semifinals
Salisbury State 44, Ithaca 40
Augustana 41, Concordia-Moorhead 7

Stagg Bowl XIV
Augustana 31, Salisbury State 3, at Phenix City, Ala.