GREENSBORO – In their final game of the 2024 season, the Elon Phoenix used a balanced offensive attack and capitalized on North Carolina A&T's miscues to secure a 31-21 victory over the Aggies on Saturday afternoon at Truist Stadium.
The win helped Elon (6-6, 5-3) finish their season at .500, while NC A&T (1-11, 0-8) concluded a difficult campaign with their second-straight winless conference slate.
Quarterback Matthew Downing led the charge for the Phoenix, completing 16 of 21 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns. His primary target, Chandler Brayboy, had a stellar performance with 12 receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown, consistently moving the chains for Elon's offense.
The Phoenix established control early, taking a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when Downing connected with Jamarien Dalton for a 30-yard touchdown strike. While the Aggies responded with an impressive 99-yard drive, culminating in Shimique Blizzard's 39-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 7-7, Elon pulled away with 24 unanswered points spanning the second and third quarters.
Elon's ground game complemented their aerial attack, with Rushawn Baker grinding out 106 yards on 23 carries. The Phoenix dominated time of possession, controlling the ball for over 35 minutes while amassing 345 yards of total offense.
The Aggies showed resilience late in the game, sparked by Cortez Lane's electrifying 97-yard kickoff return touchdown in the third quarter. Quarterback Justin Fomby, who finished 16-of-27 for 190 yards, added a late touchdown pass to Daniel Coles, but the comeback effort fell short.
Turnovers proved costly for NC A&T, as they lost three of their five fumbles, with Elon converting these mistakes into crucial points. The Phoenix defense, led by Khalil Baker's five tackles, consistently pressured Fomby, recording three sacks and limiting the Aggies to just 56 rushing yards.
Despite the loss, Blizzard showed promise for the Aggies, rushing for 97 yards on 18 carries with a touchdown. The team also displayed their special teams prowess, with Lane's return touchdown providing a momentary spark of hope.
For Elon, the victory provides momentum heading into the offseason, while NC A&T will look to rebuild after a challenging two seasons in CAA play.
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