ELON – Landen Clark accounted for six touchdowns and Elon finished its 2025 season at .500 with a 55-17 victory over North Carolina A&T on Saturday afternoon at Rhodes Stadium. The Phoenix improved to 6-6 overall and 4-4 in the CAA while the Aggies fell to 2-10 and 2-6.

Clark threw for 231 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 105 yards and two more scores. His second rushing touchdown broke Elon's single-season record with 11, surpassing the mark previously shared by John Taylor in 2004 and Jalen Hampton in 2022. The redshirt freshman capped his record-breaking performance with an 86-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Elon's offense produced 468 total yards and scored on eight of its first nine possessions. The defense forced three turnovers, recorded nine sacks and registered 13 tackles for loss.

The Phoenix needed just six seconds to take the lead on their opening drive. DJ James-Hamilton returned the opening kickoff 66 yards to the North Carolina A&T 29-yard line, and Clark connected with Landyn Backey on a 29-yard touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage for a 7-0 advantage.

Elon extended its lead to 14-0 when Clark scored on a two-yard run with 11:21 remaining in the first quarter. The drive covered 16 yards in four plays after Hart III recovered a fumble at the A&T 16-yard line. Luke Barnes added a 27-yard field goal at the 4:00 mark, capping a 12-play, 43-yard drive that consumed more than five minutes.

North Carolina A&T got on the scoreboard early in the second quarter when Andrew Brown connected on a 34-yard field goal, finishing a seven-play, 62-yard drive. The Aggies cut the deficit to 3-17 at the 14:56 mark.

Clark and the Phoenix offense responded immediately. On the second play of Elon's ensuing possession, Clark hit Isaiah Fuhrmann in stride for a 76-yard touchdown pass. The score came at 13:50 and extended the lead to 24-3.

The Aggies answered with their lone touchdown of the first half. Nelson Layne connected with Michael Carlock-Williams on a 29-yard scoring strike, finishing an eight-play, 88-yard drive at the 4:26 mark. The touchdown brought North Carolina A&T within 10-24.

Elon closed the half with 10 unanswered points. Barnes added his second field goal of the game, a 27-yarder at 1:07, and Dan Frederick scored on a 19-yard run with 52 seconds remaining. The Phoenix took a 34-10 lead into halftime after scoring on two-play drives covering 28 and 8 yards.

North Carolina A&T opened the second half with another scoring drive. Layne found Carlock-Williams again, this time for a 31-yard touchdown with 11:18 left in the third quarter. The two-play, 36-yard drive trimmed Elon's advantage to 17-34.

The Phoenix responded with a methodical 14-play, 70-yard drive that consumed nearly six minutes. Clark capped the march with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Fuhrmann at 5:32, pushing the lead to 41-17.

Clark connected with Zimere Winston for a 54-yard touchdown with 1:08 remaining in the third quarter. The single-play scoring drive followed a failed fourth-down conversion by the Aggies and extended Elon's lead to 48-17.

Clark added his record-breaking touchdown in the fourth quarter. On third-and-one from the Elon 14-yard line, he broke through the line and raced 86 yards to the end zone at 8:30. The three-play, 95-yard drive put the Phoenix ahead 55-17.

Fuhrmann finished with five receptions for 111 yards and two touchdowns, recording his fourth 100-yard receiving game of the season. The sophomore ended the campaign with 46 catches for 907 yards and nine touchdowns.

Frederick rushed for 101 yards and one touchdown on 17 carries, establishing a career high. It marked the first time since 2009 that two Elon players rushed for 100 yards in the same game, when Jamal Shuman and AJ Harris accomplished the feat against Presbyterian.

Backey caught three passes for 50 yards and one touchdown while Winston added one reception for 54 yards and a score.

The Elon defense held North Carolina A&T to 217 total yards. Kahmari Brown led the unit with eight tackles, three tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. The sophomore is now tied for Elon's career sacks record with 16.5 after just 23 games.

Brodie Carroll recorded a team-high 10 tackles while Asher Cunningham added seven stops. Hart III registered an interception and fumble recovery while Jake Louro contributed two sacks.

Barnes finished 2-for-2 on field goal attempts and converted all seven extra point attempts. The junior improved to 11-for-11 on field goals from inside 40 yards this season.

Layne completed 11 of 20 passes for 160 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for North Carolina A&T. He rushed 21 times for 33 yards but was sacked nine times for 78 yards in losses. Carlock-Williams caught two passes for 60 yards and both Aggies touchdowns.

North Carolina A&T managed just 57 net rushing yards on 35 attempts. The Aggies converted four of 14 third-down attempts and went 0-for-1 on fourth down.

Elon's 55 points were its most against a CAA opponent since joining the league in 2014 and matched its season high set against Davidson on September 6. The total tied for the Phoenix's highest output in a game since defeating Davidson 56-0 on September 5, 2009.

Top Performers

Landen Clark, Elon QB

- 10-of-24 passing, 231 yards, 4 TDs

- 14 rushes, 105 yards, 2 TDs

- Set single-season rushing TD record (11)

Isaiah Fuhrmann, Elon WR

- 5 receptions, 111 yards, 2 TDs

- Fourth 100-yard receiving game of season

Dan Frederick, Elon RB

- 17 rushes, 101 yards, 1 TD

- Career-high rushing yards

Kahmari Brown, Elon DL

- 8 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 2.5 sacks

- 2 forced fumbles

- Tied school career sacks record (16.5)

Michael Carlock-Williams, N.C. A&T WR

- 2 receptions, 60 yards, 2 TDs

DURHAM – Duke turned a competitive game into a rout with 21 fourth-quarter points, defeating Elon 45-17 Thursday night at Wallace Wade Stadium in both teams' season opener.

The contest remained close through three quarters, with Elon trailing just 24-17 entering the final period. But the Blue Devils (1-0) scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to pull away from the Phoenix (0-1), who had kept pace for most of the evening.

The Phoenix entered halftime tied 10-10 and remained within striking distance until the game's final 14 minutes. Elon quarterback Landen Clark rushed for a 2-yard touchdown with 14:12 remaining in the fourth quarter, capping a 12-play, 75-yard drive that pulled the Phoenix within seven points at 24-17.

That would be as close as Elon would get.

Duke responded immediately with a five-play scoring drive aided by a 63-yard run from Anderson Castle that set up the Blue Devils at the Elon 8-yard line. Quarterback Darian Mensah found Sahmir Hagans for a 6-yard touchdown pass to push the lead to 31-17 with 11:28 remaining.

The floodgates opened from there. Que'Sean Brown returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown just over two minutes later, and Peyton Jones added a 5-yard rushing score with 1:55 left to cap the scoring.

Mensah, making his Duke debut after transferring from Tulane, completed 27 of 34 passes for 389 yards and three touchdowns. The redshirt sophomore spread the ball effectively, with five different receivers catching at least three passes.

Hagans led Duke's receiving corps with five catches for 54 yards and two touchdowns, while Cooper Barkate added five receptions for 117 yards in his Blue Devils debut. Brown contributed six catches for 93 yards and finished with 175 all-purpose yards thanks to his punt return touchdown.

For much of the evening, Elon matched Duke's offensive output. The Phoenix gained 275 total yards, including 163 rushing yards on 44 carries. Clark led the ground attack with 61 yards on 18 carries while adding 101 passing yards on 10-of-16 completion.

TJ Thomas Jr., returning from a season-ending injury suffered last October, provided a spark for Elon with 95 all-purpose yards. His 44-yard run on the final play of the first quarter set up a 35-yard field goal by Luke Barnes that tied the game 3-3.

The Phoenix kept the game interesting with timely defensive plays. Brodie Carroll forced a fumble late in the second quarter that Dillon Pardue recovered, helping Elon maintain its halftime tie. Carroll finished with seven tackles in his Phoenix debut.

Darren James-Hamilton led all defenders with 11 tackles, including seven solo stops. The performance marked his second strong showing against Duke, following nine tackles in last year's season opener.

Duke's defense applied consistent pressure throughout the night, recording three sacks and 10 tackles for loss. The Blue Devils held Elon to just 11 yards on the Phoenix's first three possessions, setting an early tone.

The turning point came in the third quarter when Duke scored touchdowns on consecutive possessions to take control. Mensah connected with Hagans for a 15-yard score at 10:59 of the third quarter, capping an 83-yard drive that gave Duke a 17-10 lead.

Three minutes later, Mensah found Andrel Anthony for a 27-yard touchdown that extended the advantage to 24-10. The scoring pass came on the eighth play of an 88-yard drive that showcased Duke's offensive balance.

Duke's ground game produced 159 yards on 25 carries, with four different players recording rushing touchdowns. Castle led the way with 69 yards on just three carries, while Jones and Jaquez Moore each found the end zone.

The Blue Devils controlled the tempo despite being outpossessed 32:53 to 27:07, making their opportunities count with explosive plays. Duke averaged 9.3 yards per play compared to 4.4 for Elon.

Special teams played a significant role in the final outcome. Brown's 78-yard punt return touchdown broke the game open, while Jeff Yurk kept Elon competitive with strong punting. Yurk averaged 49.8 yards on five punts, placing two inside the Duke 20-yard line.

The early stages of the game suggested a much different outcome. Duke missed a 45-yard field goal on its opening drive, while Elon managed just 11 total yards on its first three offensive possessions. The Phoenix offense came alive midway through the first quarter when Thomas broke free for his 44-yard run.

That play sparked an Elon drive that resulted in Barnes' 35-yard field goal, knotting the score at 3-3 with 9:50 remaining in the second quarter. The Phoenix had driven 58 yards in 13 plays, showing the persistence that would keep them competitive.

Duke regained the lead with 8:01 left in the second quarter when Moore broke through for a 32-yard touchdown run. The score came on a four-play, 75-yard drive that began with explosive completions to Nate Sheppard and Hagans.

Elon answered immediately with perhaps its most impressive drive of the night. Clark found Zimere Winston for 29 yards to move into Duke territory, then capped the nine-play march with his 2-yard scoring run to tie the game 10-10 at halftime.

The second half belonged to Duke's passing attack. Mensah threw for 167 yards and two touchdowns in the third quarter alone, connecting with Hagans and Anthony for scores that established control.

Barkate emerged as a key weapon for the Blue Devils, hauling in catches of 17, 46 and 10 yards during Duke's first touchdown drive of the second half. His 46-yard reception moved Duke into the red zone and set up Hagans' first scoring catch.

Dylan Magazu provided Elon's most consistent offensive threat, catching three passes for 61 yards during the Phoenix's fourth-quarter touchdown drive. All three receptions came on the 12-play march that temporarily kept Elon's hopes alive.

The victory marked Duke's fourth consecutive season-opening win and produced the program's highest point total in an opener since 2017. For Elon, the loss dropped the Phoenix to 0-1 but showed they could compete with Atlantic Coast Conference opposition for extended periods.

Thomas finished his return from injury with 46 rushing yards and a 46-yard kickoff return, while Clark's 61 rushing yards marked the first time an Elon quarterback led the team in rushing since 2022. The Phoenix won the turnover battle 1-0 thanks to Carroll's forced fumble.

Duke will face a significant test next week when No. 12 Illinois visits Wallace Wade Stadium. Elon returns home to face Davidson at Rhodes Stadium, seeking its first victory of the season in front of the home crowd.

ELON – Elon's explosive offense and balanced attack led them to a commanding 50-27 victory over Campbell at Rhodes Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Phoenix (4-6, 3-3) controlled the game from the opening drive, building a 26-13 halftime lead and never looking back.

Elon quarterback Matthew Downing threw for 251 yards and three touchdowns, with Chandler Brayboy being his primary target. Brayboy finished with eight receptions for 183 yards and two touchdowns, including a 66-yard scoring strike on Elon's first offensive play of the game.

Running back Rushawn Baker powered the Phoenix ground game, rushing for 154 yards on 23 carries and finding the end zone three times. His performance helped Elon control the clock, as they held possession for over 32 minutes.

Despite the loss, Campbell (3-7, 1-5) showed offensive firepower of their own. Quarterback Mike Chandler II passed for 355 yards and four touchdowns, connecting with Randall King and Sincere Brown seven times each. King finished with 145 yards and two touchdowns, while Brown added 135 yards and two scores of his own, including a 70-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.

Elon's defense, led by Caleb Curtain's game-high 12 tackles, forced Campbell to be one-dimensional. The Fighting Camels managed just 124 yards rushing, while Elon racked up 203 yards on the ground.

The Phoenix struck quickly, taking just nine seconds to score on their opening drive with Brayboy's 66-yard touchdown reception. They extended their lead to 14-0 on Baker's first touchdown run. Campbell responded with a touchdown pass from Chandler to King, but Elon's Ishmel Atkins returned the failed conversion attempt to push the lead to 16-6.

Elon's offensive efficiency showed in the red zone, where they scored on all six trips, including four touchdowns. The Phoenix put the game away in the third quarter, outscoring Campbell 17-7 to build a 43-20 lead.

The victory marks Elon's second consecutive win in conference play, while Campbell has now dropped three straight CAA contests.

ELON – In a thrilling FCS matchup, the Western Carolina Catamounts overcame a 14-3 deficit to upset the 22nd-ranked Elon Phoenix 24-17 on Saturday at Rhodes Stadium. The game was marked by a dramatic fourth-quarter surge from the Catamounts, featuring a go-ahead touchdown and a game-sealing blocked field goal return.

Game-Changing Moments

The pivotal play came with just 3:48 left in the game. Western Carolina quarterback Cole Gonzales capped a nine-play, 54-yard drive with a leaping 6-yard touchdown run, vaulting over Elon defenders to give the Catamounts their first lead at 17-14.

Elon's hopes for a comeback were dashed in the final minutes. Attempting to tie the game with a 44-yard field goal, the Phoenix instead saw their kick blocked by Western Carolina's Ken Moore Jr. The Catamounts' Jordy Lowry scooped up the loose ball and returned it for a touchdown, extending the lead to 24-14 with only 1:15 remaining.

Early Phoenix Dominance

Elon seemed in control for much of the game. They struck first when Matthew Downing connected with Chandler Brayboy for a 58-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. The Phoenix extended their lead to 14-3 early in the third quarter when TJ Thomas Jr. broke free for a spectacular 60-yard touchdown run.

Catamounts' Comeback

Western Carolina's rally began midway through the third quarter. Branson Adams punched in a 1-yard touchdown run, narrowing the gap to 14-10. This set the stage for Gonzales' heroics in the fourth quarter.

Key Performers

- Cole Gonzales (Western Carolina): 23/36, 254 passing yards

- Branson Adams (Western Carolina): 14 carries, 81 rushing yards, 1 TD

- Calvin Jones (Western Carolina): 6 receptions, 98 yards

- Matthew Downing (Elon): 19/30, 285 passing yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

- TJ Thomas Jr. (Elon): 14 carries, 101 rushing yards, 1 TD

Game Statistics

Western Carolina narrowly outgained Elon in total yards (370-424) but won the turnover battle 2-0. The Catamounts also showed resilience on third down, converting 7 of 17 attempts compared to Elon's 2 of 11.

Up Next

Elon hosts a potent East Tennessee squad next week while Western Carolina travels out west to take on Montana.

Curtain, a junior safety and former Grimsley standout, was named the preseason defensive player of the year. After an impressive sophomore season where the Greensboro native led the Phoenix with eighty tackles and four interceptions, including a pick-six against Wake Forest in the season opener, Curtain is poised to lead a defense that gave up less than two hundred yards passing a game last season. Curtain was joined by his teammate, wide receiver and electric kick returner Chandler Brayboy, on the all-conference team. Other North Carolina-based players on the preseason all-conference team include Campbell’s CJ Tillman, North Carolina A&T’s Karon Prunty, and Mountain Island’s Elijah Burris, who plays running back for Hampton.

Villanova, which earned a share of the 2023 CAA Championship and reached the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs last season, was voted as the 2024 preseason favorite by the league’s head coaches. The Wildcats received nine of the available 16 first-place votes and totaled 217 points, while Richmond took second with one first-place tally and 189 points.

UAlbany garnered three first-place votes and finished third with 179 points, followed by William & Mary (175 points) and Delaware (163), which also picked up three first-place nods. Elon (157) was chosen sixth, followed by New Hampshire (150), Rhode Island (142), Towson (114), Monmouth (95), Campbell (83), Hampton (62), Maine (57), North Carolina A&T (49), Bryant (46) and Stony Brook (42).

2024 CAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

(Selected by a vote of Head Coaches)

OFFENSE

Connor Watkins, Villanova | Gr. | QB | Williamsport, Pa.

Elijah Burris, Hampton | Sr. | RB | Gastonia, N.C.

Griffin Woodell, UAlbany | So. | RB | Glens Falls, N.Y.

Marcus Yarns, Delaware | Gr. | RB | Salisbury, Md.

Bronson Yoder, William & Mary | Sr. | RB | Nappanee, Ind.

Trey McDonald, William & Mary | Jr. | FB/HB | Kinnelon, N.J.

Carter Runyon, Towson | Sr. | TE | Fairfax, Va.

Chandler Brayboy, Elon | Sr. | WR | Pembroke, N.C.

Nick DeGennaro, Richmond | Sr. | WR | Old Bridge, N.J.

Anthony Johnson, Stony Brook | So. | WR | Burlington, N.J.

Temi Ajirotutu, Villanova | Gr. | OL | Queens, N.Y.

Fintan Brose, Delaware | Gr. | OL | Irwin, Pa.

Charles Grant, William & Mary | Sr. | OL | Portsmouth, Va.

Ozzie Hutchinson, UAlbany | Gr. | OL | Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Will Marotta, UAlbany | Gr. | OL | Collegeville, Pa.

Ralph Paige, Jr., Towson | Sr. | OL | Washington, D.C.

DEFENSE

Jeremiah Grant, Richmond | Sr. | DL | South Orange, N.J.

Westley Neal, Jr., Rhode Island | Sr. | DL | Miami, Fla.

Michael Otty, Bryant | Sr. | DL | Brooklyn, N.Y.

Dylan Ruiz, New Hampshire | Sr. | DL | Orlando, Fla.

Josiah Silver, New Hampshire | Sr. | DL | Hampton, Va.

Brendan Bell, Villanova | Gr. | LB | Basking Ridge, N.J.

Shane Hartzell, Villanova | Jr. | LB | Perkasie, Pa.

A.J. Pena, Rhode Island | Jr. | LB | Branchburg, N.J.

CJ Tillman, Campbell | Sr. | LB | Rockingham, N.C.

Karon Prunty, North Carolina A&T | Jr. | CB | Portsmouth, Va.

Isas Waxter, Villanova | Gr. | CB | Newark, N.J.

Caleb Curtain, Elon | Jr. | S | Greensboro, N.C.

Ty Trinh, Villanova | Gr. | S | Owings Mills, Md.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Chandler Brayboy, Elon | Sr. | KR | Pembroke, N.C.

Gabe Sloat, Rhode Island | Sr. | PR | North Kingstown, R.I.

Keegan Vaughan, Towson | Sr. | PK | Richmond, Va.

Aaron Trusler, Richmond | Gr. | P | Melbourne, Australia

Jabril Hayes, Richmond | Sr. | SPEC | Stephens City, Va.

CAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Connor Watkins, QB, Villanova

CAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Caleb Curtain, S, Elon

HONORABLE MENTION: Matthew Downing, QB, Elon; Derek Robertson, QB, Monmouth; Malachi Imoh, RB, William & Mary; Marquis Buchanan, WR, Rhode Island; Joe Gillette, WR, Maine; Jaylan Sanchez, WR, Villanova; Logan Tomlinson, WR, New Hampshire; Cooper Heisey, TE, Maine; Ryan McKenna, OL, William & Mary; Dion Crews-Harris, DL, Towson; Cazeem Moore, DL, Elon; Wayne Galloway, LB, Richmond; Ryan Toscano, LB, New Hampshire; Tyron Herring, CB, Delaware; Marcus Barnes, S, William & Mary; JoJo Bermudez, KR, Delaware; TJ Speight, KR, Monmouth; VJ Wilkins, KR, Campbell; John Opalko, PK, UAlbany; Josh Cupitt, P, Delaware; Bobby Cleary, SPEC, Campbell

2024 CAA FOOTBALL PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

(Selected by a vote of Head Coaches)

1. Villanova (9 first-place votes) 217

2. Richmond (1) 189

3. UAlbany (3) 179

4. William & Mary 175

5. Delaware (3) 163

6. Elon 157

7. New Hampshire 150

8. Rhode Island 142

9. Towson 114

10. Monmouth 95

11. Campbell 83

12. Hampton 62

13. Maine 57

14. North Carolina A&T 49

15. Bryant 46

16. Stony Brook 42

CAA Football has rolled out its much-anticipated schedule for the 2024 season. For the first time since 2019, the season will span 13 weeks and include 12 games. Adding to the excitement, the CAA is expanding to include 16 teams, marking a first in the conference’s history. The latest addition to the roster is Bryant University.

The conference schedule is designed to include four home games and four away games for each team. Teams were paired with a preferred partner based on regional proximity, which played a crucial role in determining the remaining opponents. In an effort to cut costs, air travel has been limited, with most teams not having more than one flight during conference play.

The 2024 conference action is set to kick off with four games on Saturday, September 14. The opening day will see Maine hosting Monmouth, Campbell visiting Rhode Island, North Carolina A&T entertaining Delaware, and Towson traveling to Villanova. The following Saturday, September 21, will mark Bryant’s CAA debut at New Hampshire.

The non-conference schedule is equally thrilling, featuring 12 games against FBS opponents. This includes three games against the ACC, two against the Big Ten, two against the Big 12, and one against the SEC. Nine of these 12 teams participated in bowl games in 2023. It’s worth noting that CAA Football teams have secured 19 victories over FBS opponents since 2009.

The schedule also includes nine non-conference games against teams that reached the FCS playoffs in 2023. Among these are two playoff rematches, with Villanova hosting Youngstown State and UAlbany returning to Idaho. In the previous season, CAA teams held a strong 20-10 record against non-conference competition.

CAA Football’s impressive performance in the 2023 NCAA FCS playoffs saw four teams - UAlbany, Delaware, Richmond, and Villanova - receiving berths. This marked the 13th instance of at least four CAA teams being chosen for the playoffs. The conference has consistently had at least one team reach the quarterfinals every year since 1995 and has seen a team advance to the semifinals in 10 of the past 11 seasons.

Thursday, August 29
Bryant at Delaware (non-conference game)
Youngstown State at Villanova
North Carolina A&T at Wake Forest
New Hampshire at UCF
Monmouth at Eastern Washington
 
Friday, August 30
Elon at Duke
 
Saturday, August 31
LIU at UAlbany
Campbell at Liberty
Hampton vs. TBA
Colgate at Maine
Holy Cross at Rhode Island
Richmond at Virginia
Stony Brook at Marshall
Towson at Cincinnati
VMI at William & Mary
 
Saturday, September 7
UAlbany at West Virginia
Campbell at Western Carolina
Elon at North Carolina Central
Lafayette at Monmouth
Maine at Montana State
New Hampshire at Holy Cross
Rhode Island at Minnesota
Wofford at Richmond
Stonehill at Stony Brook
Morgan State at Towson
Villanova at Colgate
William & Mary at Coastal Carolina
Franklin Pierce at Bryant
Virginia Union at Hampton
Winston-Salem State at North Carolina A&T
 
Saturday, September 14
*Monmouth at Maine
*Campbell at Rhode Island
*Delaware at North Carolina A&T
*Towson at Villanova
William & Mary at Wofford
Western Carolina at Elon
Hampton at Norfolk State
Stonehill at New Hampshire
Charleston Southern at Richmond
Stony Brook at Fordham
UAlbany at Idaho
Holy Cross at Bryant
 
Saturday, September 21
*Bryant at New Hampshire
*Stony Brook at Campbell
Penn at Delaware
ETSU at Elon
Howard at Hampton
Maine at Merrimack
Monmouth at FIU
North Carolina A&T at North Carolina Central
Rhode Island at LIU
Richmond at Delaware State
Towson at North Dakota State
Villanova at Maryland
Furman at William & Mary
 
Saturday, September 28
*Maine at UAlbany
*Richmond at Elon
*Hampton at William & Mary
Delaware State at Campbell
Sacred Heart at Delaware
Fordham at Monmouth
North Carolina A&T at South Carolina State
Morgan State at Stony Brook
LIU at Villanova
 
Saturday, October 5
*Delaware at Monmouth
*Rhode Island at Hampton
*North Carolina A&T at Richmond
*Villanova at Stony Brook
*William & Mary at Towson
UAlbany at Cornell
Bryant at Brown
North Carolina Central at Campbell
New Hampshire at Harvard
 
Saturday, October 12
*UAlbany at Bryant
*Maine at Delaware
*New Hampshire at Elon
Towson at Norfolk State
Brown at Rhode Island
 
Saturday, October 19
*Campbell at William & Mary
*Villanova at Maine
*Hampton at North Carolina A&T
*Stony Brook at Towson
*Delaware at Richmond
*Rhode Island at New Hampshire
*Bryant at Monmouth
*Elon at UAlbany
 
Saturday, October 26
*UAlbany at Delaware
*Richmond at Bryant
*North Carolina A&T at Campbell
*Elon at Hampton
*Maine at Rhode Island
*Towson at Monmouth
*New Hampshire at Villanova
*William & Mary at Stony Brook
 
Saturday, November 2
*William & Mary at North Carolina A&T
*Villanova at Hampton
*Towson at Richmond
*Stony Brook at Bryant
*Monmouth at Rhode Island
*New Hampshire at UAlbany
*Campbell at Elon
Maine at Oklahoma
 
Saturday, November 9
*UAlbany at Stony Brook
*Bryant at Maine
*Richmond at Campbell
*Rhode Island at Delaware
*Elon at William & Mary
*Hampton at Towson
*Monmouth at New Hampshire
*North Carolina A&T at Villanova
 
Saturday, November 16
*Richmond at Hampton
*Villanova at Monmouth
*Maine at Elon
*North Carolina A&T at Towson
*UAlbany at Rhode Island
*Bryant at William & Mary
*Campbell at Delaware
*Stony Brook at New Hampshire

Saturday, November 23
*New Hampshire at Maine
*Delaware at Villanova
*William & Mary at Richmond
*Elon at North Carolina A&T
*Monmouth at Stony Brook
*Hampton at UAlbany
*Rhode Island at Bryant
*Towson at Campbell
 
*Denotes CAA Football game

ELON – In a commanding performance, the Elon football team showcased their offensive prowess and defensive prowess, securing a decisive victory over Hampton in a game marked by explosive plays and defensive turnovers.

The first quarter set the tone for Elon's dominance as quarterback Matthew Downing orchestrated two impressive touchdown passes. The first, a 33-yard connection to Jamarien Dalton, occurred just 19 seconds into the game, with Jack Berkowitz converting the extra point. Elon quickly followed up with another Downing pass, this time a 60-yard bomb to Chandler Brayboy, extending their lead to 14-0.

Hampton responded with a scoring drive of their own, as Chris Zellous connected with Paul Woods for a 43-yard touchdown pass, narrowing the gap to 14-7 by the end of the opening quarter.

The second quarter witnessed Elon's continued offensive onslaught. Downing, displaying precision in his passes, linked up with Christian Da-Silva for a 33-yard touchdown, further extending the lead to 21-7. The Elon defense then made a significant impact, with Bo Sanders intercepting a pass and returning it 34 yards for a touchdown. Marco Patierno added to the defensive heroics with a 23-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown, pushing Elon's lead to a commanding 34-7.

As the second quarter unfolded, Elon continued to capitalize on Hampton's defensive lapses, with Jack Berkowitz adding three more points to the board through a 39-yard field goal. The offensive onslaught continued just before halftime, as Downing connected with Johncarlos Miller II for a 53-yard touchdown, concluding the first half with Elon leading 44-7.

Despite Hampton's efforts to mount a comeback in the third quarter, Chris Zellous's 2-yard rushing touchdown brought the score to 44-14. However, Elon remained in control, ensuring a substantial lead heading into the final quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Elon sealed their dominant performance with Wayne Dixie III's 27-yard touchdown run, capping a 51-14 victory. The play was part of a seven-play, 89-yard drive that showcased Elon's offensive versatility.

Elon finishes the season with a 6-5 overall record and 6-2 in the CAA.

ELON – On Saturday afternoon in Rhodes Stadium, the Elon University Football team put on a defensive masterclass, leaving the previously undefeated William & Mary Tribe scratching their heads as they failed to find the end zone. The Phoenix pulled off an astonishing victory, beating The Tribe 14-6 in a nail-biting game that had fans on the edge of their seats. With this win, Elon now stands alone at the top of the CAA Football standings, boasting a perfect 3-0 record within the conference (3-2 overall), while William & Mary drops to 4-1 on the season with a 2-1 conference record.

The game was an absolute thriller, played in front of a raucous crowd of 12,705 fans, making it the third-highest attendance in the history of Rhodes Stadium. Elon's home game-winning streak now stands at an impressive eight, going back to the 2021 season. It's worth noting that the Elon community has shown immense support, contributing to two of the biggest attendances in stadium history during the first two home games of 2023, with 11,275 fans turning up for the North Carolina A&T game just two weeks ago.

This victory is a milestone for Elon, marking their second win against a top-5 ranked program in school history. The last time they achieved this feat was in 2018 when they triumphed over No. 2 James Madison on the road.

How It All Went Down

The game got underway with William & Mary punting on their first possession, but a surprise turnover by Elon gave The Tribe a golden opportunity to take the lead early. William & Mary pushed hard and managed to get to the Elon 1-yard line, but Caleb Curtain's fantastic tackle kept running back Malachi Imoh just inches away from the goal line, keeping the game scoreless.

The second quarter saw William & Mary take a 6-0 lead with a couple of well-executed field goals. Elon did have a chance in the third quarter, but a missed field goal was the closest they came to scoring in the second half.

Then came the turning point. Jaidyn Denis intercepted a pass from Darius Wilson with just 1:49 left in the third quarter and ran it back 21 yards, putting Elon in a prime position at the William & Mary 30-yard line. As the fourth quarter began, Elon's offense started to click. On a crucial third-and-9 play from the 16-yard line, Matthew Downing found Chandler Brayboy for a touchdown, putting the Phoenix ahead 7-6 with 13:33 left in the game.

William & Mary tried to mount a comeback but ended up punting on their next drive, pinning Elon at the 6-yard line. Facing a challenging third-and-two from the 14-yard line, Downing connected with Brayboy again, this time for an incredible 76-yard gain. Elon sealed the deal three plays later as Downing hooked up with Jamarien Dalton for an 8-yard touchdown pass. William & Mary had one last shot, driving into the Elon red zone, but they fell short on fourth-and-three from the 12-yard line, with Cazeem Moore and Denis making a crucial tackle. Elon ran out the clock with two kneel-downs to secure the win.

Impressive Performances and Stats

Matthew Downing had a stellar day, completing 14 of 20 passes for 187 yards and tossing two crucial fourth-quarter touchdowns. Jalen Hampton led Elon's rushing attack with 13 carries for 74 yards, averaging an impressive 5.7 yards per carry. Chandler Brayboy was the standout receiver, becoming the first Elon player this season to break the 100-yard mark with four catches for 109 yards.

On the defensive side, Caleb Curtain and Marco Patierno had standout performances, each racking up a career-high 11 tackles. Curtain also added a sack, while Patierno had 1.5 tackles for loss. Marvin Pearson was a force to be reckoned with, tallying six tackles, a sack, and putting constant pressure on the quarterback with three hurries. Arthur Nwandu contributed 1.5 tackles for loss, and Brandon Tyson forced a critical fumble.

In the punting game, Kyle Romenick averaged a whopping 47.0 yards on four punts, including one inside the 20-yard line. William & Mary dominated on the ground, amassing 307 rushing yards but struggled through the air, managing just 36 passing yards. Elon, on the other hand, balanced their attack, accumulating 115 rushing yards and 187 passing yards. William & Mary's 36 passing yards marked the lowest yardage by an Elon opponent since November 24, 2018.

Elon's head coach, Tony Trisciani, celebrated a significant milestone, improving his record to 23-22 as a head coach. The win marks Elon's seventh consecutive CAA victory, dating back to 2022. Furthermore, Elon boasts an impressive record of 14-5 in their last 19 CAA games and has the most conference wins in the CAA since the start of the 2021 season.

What's Next?

Elon is now gearing up for another exciting matchup as they return home to face another formidable opponent. Next Saturday, the Phoenix will welcome No. 15/13 NC Central to Rhodes Stadium for a 2 p.m. kick-off. It promises to be another thrilling showdown as Elon continues its impressive journey through the 2023 season.

Both teams’ offenses came out with to good plays to get to midfield but had miscues that ended their opening drives. Campbell got a brief jolt of energy when VJ Wilkins’s great catch and run to get the Camels into Elon territory, but the drive fizzled out and the Camels were forced to settle for a 32-yard Caleb Dowden field goal to get on the scoreboard for the first time for the evening and the lone score of the first quarter. The bright spot was quickly overshadowed when Campbell linebacker Antoine Sampah was carted off the field with an apparent leg injury. The Camels' defense certainly missed his presence as the Phoenix were able to drive deep into Campbell territory and take the lead on a ten-yard rushing touchdown by Jalen Hampton.

Campbell had stopped Elon and was about to force a long FG try, but a personal foul penalty extended the drive and gave the Phoenix a fresh set of downs. Two plays later, Jalen Hampton dragged several Campbell defenders into the end zone for his second touchdown of the night. The next Elon drive was a repeat as another unnecessary roughness penalty gave Elon a first down in Campbell territory and Elon was able to score two plays after the penalty. Christian Da Silva took a ball around the left side of the line and was brought down at the one-yard-line and Jalen Hampton punched it in on the next play for his third score of the quarter.

Elon came out of the half determined to extend their lead and even gambled on a fourth down at the Campbell thirty-yard line to keep the momentum going, but a pass missed its mark and was picked off by Campbell’s Monchovia Gaffney. The Camels took over and went to work and a catch and run by Chaney Fitzgerald got the Camels into the red zone. After an intentional grounding call and sack pushed the Camels back, Hajj-Malik Williams looked to make up for his miscues on the previous two plays and scooted twenty-two yards for Campbell’s first touchdown of the evening. The celebration was short-lived, however, as the Camels found themselves in the same position as earlier drives with a personal foul penalty extending an Elon drive that was capped off with a Jalen Hampton rushing touchdown two plays later. Hampton’s fourth touchdown of the game gave the Phoenix a 28-10 lead heading into the final quarter.

The Camels refused to give up in the final quarter and CJ Tillman’s forced fumble was recovered by Cam Booker, giving the home team a sign of life. When Hajj-Malik Williams hit VJ Wilkins in the endzone, the Camels faithful erupted. The ensuing two-point conversion was good and the Camels, desperate for the comeback, found themselves down ten with eight minutes left. The Campbell defense stepped up on the next drive, forcing an Elon punt. The Camels offense was quick on the draw on the ensuing possession, moving eighty-seven yards in six plays. Brandon Fitez’s spectacular grab gave the ball to the Camels deep in Elon territory and a pass interference call in the end zone set the Camels up at the two-yard line with six-and-a-half minutes left in the game. NaQuari Rogers’s two-yard touchdown on the next play made it a one-score game, but a missed PAT attempt kept it a four-point affair. Although the Campbell defense was able to give the ball back to the offense for one last chance at victory, the clock was not on the Camels’ side as time ran out before the Camels could find the end zone one last time.

Standout Players

Jalen Hampton led all rushers with 169 yards while rushing for four touchdowns. Hajj-Malik Williams was 33 of 44 for 367 yards and a touchdown. VJ Wilkins led all receivers with ten receptions and 114 receiving yards. Defensively, Bo Sanders and Monchovia Gaffney each had an interception for their respective squads while leading their squads with ten tackles apiece.

What They Said

Elon Coach Tony Trisciani on how his team played offensively: “I was real happy with how came we out of the gate and played. We knew we had to assert ourselves upfront. We knew that that's where we needed to win, especially with weather like this, it would be important wanted to run the football.” On defense, “I thought we did a good job getting to the quarterback position to force him to make some decisions and the get ball the perimeter.”

Campbell Coach Mike Minter on his team’s penalties: “You basically have all your penalties are personal fouls. And all of their points come off of those penalties. And so that's the one thing that sticks out to me in that ball game, you know, third and long and we’ll get a personal foul, third and long, we get a personal foul, third down, we get a personal foul. That's just sickening when you look at it. So we gotta learn from that and understand you know who refereeing the game and understand what type of game is gonna be.” On his team’s finish to the game: “We look at, you know you got a chance for the five-minute drill and we had the five-minute drill going on again. They were able to convert a couple of first downs and kind of ran the clock down a little bit and we just didn't have enough time on the clock. But you just can't start the way we started. We spot them twenty-one points and it's 21-3 and then now you decide to play football, you can't do that.”

Up Next

Both teams face tough matchups next week with ranked teams as Elon (2-2, 2-0) hosts #5 William and Mary while Campbell (2-2, 1-1) heads to Durham to face 18th-ranked North Carolina Central for another in-state contest. 

The Elon Phoenix and the Campbell Fighting Camels are set to face off in an exciting CAA matchup today at Barker-Lane Stadium in Buies Creek. This match-up promises to be a thrilling encounter as both teams have shown great potential in their previous games and are looking to move up the CAA standings. Kickoff is set for 6 pm and will be broadcast on FloSport.

Elon has had a mixed start to their season, falling in close matchups to FBS Wake Forest and a strong NC FCS Gardner-Webb squad before winning their CAA opener against North Carolina A&T last Saturday. Defensively, the Phoenix are coming off of a strong effort where they held the Aggies to an impressive 140 yards of total offense. The Phoenix defense, led by defensive back, and former Grimsley High standout, Caleb Curtain along with Asheville’s Marvin Pearson is going to need another strong effort to take down a Campbell team that is averaging over forty points a game.

Campbell’s Hajj-Malik Williams is averaging over 250 yards passing per game over the first three weeks of the season and has thrown for five touchdowns without any interceptions. The senior signal-caller has also rushed for three touchdowns as part of a three-headed running game alongside running backs NaQuari Rogers and former Charlotte Catholic star Lamagea McDowell who have each also rushed for three touchdowns.

This game is crucial for both teams. For the Phoenix, a win could help turn their season around and boost their morale as they head into a stretch of games against ranked FCS teams. For the Camels, another win would solidify their strong start to the season and keep their momentum going in their first season in the CAA.

Mars Hill Hosts Barton in Battle of Unbeatens

Barton travels to take on Mars Hill in a South Atlantic battle of unbeatens with important divisional implications this early in the season. Kickoff is set for 1 pm and will be broadcast on FloSports. Former Eastern Randolph star Jordan Terrell, who was named the national offensive player of the week and leads all rushers in the country with 194 yards per game, leads a Barton offense that has averaged over thirty points a game and knocked off Division 1 Davidson two weeks ago. Mars Hill is coming off a resounding 35-20 victory over Catawba, powered by standout performances from North Carolina products Jon Gullette (Reagan) and Simeon Thompson (Erwin).

ECU Looks For First Win of Season Against Gardner-Webb

Gardner-Webb travels to Greenville to take on their second FBS foe in a month in an East Carolina squad looking to avoid an 0-4 start to the season. The Runnin’ Bulldogs lost a close two-point matchup on the road at Tennessee State last week after knocking off in-state FCS rival Elon the previous week. The Pirates had a lead on the road at Appalachian State last week before faltering in the second half. Both teams are featuring strong running games with Narii Gaither leading a ground-focused Gardner-Webb offense and Rahjai Harris pacing a balanced Pirates offense. Kickoff is set for 6 pm and will be broadcast on ESPN+.

ELON — Under the bright lights of Rhodes Stadium and in front of a roaring crowd of 11,257, the fifth-largest ever at the venue, the Elon University football team showcased an awe-inspiring ground game to secure a commanding 27-3 victory over in-state rival North Carolina A&T during its home opener on Saturday.

Elon's Ground Game Reigns Supreme

Elon (1-2, 1-0 CAA) unleashed an offensive onslaught on the ground, accumulating a staggering 260 rushing yards—a feat not matched since 2017 when they ran for 368 yards against Richmond. This impressive triumph marked the Phoenix's first win of the season and inaugurated their CAA campaign with a bang. On the flip side, North Carolina A&T (0-3 overall, 0-1 CAA) was left grappling with their third straight loss, unable to withstand Elon's ground assault.

Photo Credit: Peyton Williams/Tim Cowie Photography

Game Highlights

The Phoenix set the tone early, engineering a 10-play, 73-yard drive, culminating in a 26-yard touchdown connection from Matthew Downing to Jordan Bonner. It marked Bonner's second touchdown in as many games, showcasing his early-season prowess.

Elon's dominance continued late in the second quarter, with a lightning-fast three-play sequence. Jalen Hampton's remarkable 45-yard run set the stage for Wayne Dixie III to score his first career touchdown, putting the Phoenix ahead 17-0. Jack Berkowitz added a career-best 43-yard field goal just before halftime, pushing the lead to 17.

Elon's defense played a pivotal role in the opening half, forcing North Carolina A&T to punt on all six of its possessions, five of which were three-and-outs.

Berkowitz's reliable leg added another field goal in the third quarter, extending Elon's lead to 20-0. However, North Carolina A&T responded with a field goal of its own from Owen Daffer to break Elon's shutout bid.

A game-changing moment arrived courtesy of Elon's special teams late in the third quarter, as Kyle Romenick connected with true freshman DJ Hamilton on a fake punt, resulting in a spectacular 35-yard touchdown and a 27-3 advantage for the Phoenix.

Elon's defense maintained its dominance in the fourth quarter, shutting down North Carolina A&T's attempts to mount a comeback with a pair of turnover-on-downs situations.

BJ Turner led the Aggies with eleven tackles, giving the graduate transfer thirty-five so far through three weeks. Avarion Cole had an interception for the visiting team, but it was not enough to slow down an Elon offense that was 3-3 on fourth downs on the evening.

What's Next

Elon will embark on a short trip to Buies Creek for a Saturday night showdown with Campbell. Campbell, currently 2-1 on the season and 1-1 in CAA play, will host Elon in what promises to be an exciting matchup. North Carolina A&T is off next week before traveling to historic William "Dick" Price Stadium in Norfolk to take on Norfolk State on September 30.

Three North Carolina teams have qualified for the 2022 NCAA FCS Championship Playoffs.

Eleven teams automatically qualify for this year's playoffs via conference affiliation. An additional thirteen teams earned at-large bids selected by the FCS Playoff Committee. The complete 24-team bracket was announced at 12:30 on Sunday, November 20, on ESPNU. The FCS Playoffs will conclude with the national championship in Frisco, Texas on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023.

Gardner-Webb (6-5) secured their first-ever berth in the playoffs with a win over North Carolina A&T on Saturday afternoon, finishing a perfect 5-0 in conference play and securing their first Big South Conference title since 2003. The Runnin’ Bulldogs and head coach Tre Lamb will travel to take on Eastern Kentucky (7-4), representing the ASUN-WAC partnership.

Davidson (8-3) represents the Pioneer League after St. Thomas was declared ineligible for the playoffs. The Wildcats are making their third straight appearance in the FCS playoffs under coach Scott Abell. The Wildcats and Abell are looking for their first postseason tournament victory and will travel to take on Richmond (8-3) from the Colonial Athletic Association.

Elon (8-3), also from the Colonial Athletic Association, earned an at-large bid in this year’s playoff. The Phoenix, led by Tony Trisciani, are making their fourth overall appearance in the FCS playoffs and first since 2018. Coach Trisciani and the Elon squad will look to secure their first-ever FCS playoff win on the road at Furman from the Southern Conference.

Schedule – All games will take place on Saturday, November 26, and are televised on ESPN+.

Elon at Furman – 12pm

Davidson at Richmond – 2pm

Gardner-Webb at Eastern Kentucky – 5pm

A full bracket can be found here: https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/football/fcs/2022.

BOONE — A rainbow descended toward Kidd Brewer Stadium's new north end zone facility Saturday evening.

With an above-capacity crowd of 30,224 gathered for App State's first Boone-based home game with no crowd-size restrictions in 651 days, a 44-10 victory against Elon included a rich mix of gold and black at the end of The Rock's rainbow — along with a throwback white logo.

T.D. Roof's 90-yard interception return set up a third-quarter touchdown that gave the Mountaineers (2-1) a 27-3 lead on a day they honored Hall of Fame coach Jerry Moore by unveiling a statue and dedicating a plaza bearing his name. Black helmets with colorful stripes and white 'A' logos even paid tribute to Moore's first team in 1989.

Thirty-two years later, Moore was on hand as one of his mid-90s standouts, Shawn Clark, coached App State in a full Kidd Brewer Stadium for the first time.

"We have the best fans in college football who are very passionate," Clark said. "It was exciting to come back to The Rock in our new $50 million complex with a sold-out crowd. Our fans were here, they were behind us, and we appreciate that, and now we need our fans on Thursday night."

D'Marco Jackson delivered a career-high three sacks among his 4.5 tackles for loss and 13 stops to lead a stout defense that limited Elon (1-2) to 291 yards of offense. On special teams, Chandler Staton converted all three of his field-goal tries, including a 45-yarder late in the first half.

Offensively, quarterback Chase Brice had a rushing touchdown to go along with a 19-of-25 passing effort for 293 yards and one more touchdown. Malik Williams produced the first score with a 47-yard touchdown on his way to a career-high 123 receiving yards on four catches, and Corey Sutton caught seven passes for 128 yards as the Mountaineers had two receivers eclipse the century mark.

Roof's end-zone interception return off a tipped pass set up the first of two touchdown runs from Camerun Peoples, who finished with 80 yards on 11 rushes, and Nate Noel contributed 73 yards on 17 carries. Local product Anderson Castle's first career touchdown came on an 8-yard run in the final minute.

"We've been waiting a long time for this, and we wanted to put a good show on just for them," Williams said of the fans. "Having them out there felt amazing. A couple of the receivers, we were nervous starting out seeing all the fans, but it felt good."

Jackson's career day included sacks in the first, second and fourth quarters. He joined Jordan Fehr (2018 vs. Coastal Carolina) and Eric Boggs (2015 vs. Louisiana) as the only App State players in the FBS era with three sacks in a single game.

Perhaps his biggest hit came right before a sack, as he leveled a pass-catching running back for a 5-yard loss in a one-on-one showdown out in space. His 4.5 tackles for loss are the most by an App State player in the FBS era.

"On defense, we were having trouble trying to communicate because it was so loud, but on defense we fed off that energy by our supporters," Jackson said. "It was awesome."

App State nearly scored on its opening possession but lost a fumble into the end zone. The next series began with a 26-yard completion to Sutton and ended with a 47-yard strike to a streaking Williams.

Only a few plays into the second quarter, Brice had thrown for 179 yards with an 8-for-8 start.

"When you're seeing the defense and seeing rotation, you can kind of anticipate where your guys are going to be," Brice said. "It also helps when they're wide open, and it's about giving my guys a chance. I think I did a better job of that today — putting the ball out there and letting them go make a play. Letting them catch and run, and kudos to 'The Bulls' up front. They did a great job of protecting me today. I only got hit one time, and that's on me for holding the ball too much."

The game remained relatively close into the third quarter, as Staton made a 44-yard field goal early in the second quarter and drilled a 45-yarder right before halftime to help the Mountaineers take a 13-3 lead into their new locker room.

A 27-yard pass to Jalen Virgil kickstarted App State's second possession of the third quarter, and Noel's 5-yard run on a fourth-and-4 play from the Elon 8 extended the series. Three plays later, Brice scored from the 1.

The Phoenix reached App State's 9 on the next possession, and Roof was trailing a receiver when the ball bounced off the Elon's players hands in the end zone. The ball went right to Roof, who sprinted down the left sideline and was finally brought down at the Phoenix 10.

"Every blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while," Roof said. "Just kind of right spot, right time. I obviously got hawked (down) and was pretty gassed, but we can work on that."

The Mountaineers closed the game by forcing another turnover, thanks to a Logan Doublin hit that led to a recovery by safety Ronald Clarke, and there's a quick turnaround as App State prepares for its next game.

On Thursday, Marshall comes to Boone to face the Mountaineers in a nationally televised game at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.

"I'm very proud of our football team," Clark said. "Winning in college football is hard, and it doesn't matter if it's 1-0 or 100-0, a win is a win. There's an old saying in football that there's no such thing as a bad win. We have a lot of things to get cleaned up and a lot of things to learn from coming back on a short week."

BOILING SPRINGS – The Runnin’ Bulldogs were victorious in their first game under new head coach Tre Lamb on Saturday afternoon. Gardner-Webb outscored #24 Elon 35-0 in the second half on their way to a 42-20 win over the visiting Phoenix.

Gardner-Webb running back Narii Gaither led the Runnin’ Bulldogs with 119 yards on 19 carries, hitting paydirt twice on the afternoon. Quarterback Carlton Aiken added another two scores on the ground for the home team. Devron Harper also returned a punt to the house for Gardner-Webb to take the lead for good on the afternoon. Elon was paced by quarterback Joey Baughman who scored on a quarterback sneak early in the first quarter. Skyler Davis was 2 of 2 on the afternoon on field goals.

Both teams are in action next Saturday as Gardner-Webb (1-0) hosts Presbyterian for their second straight game at Spangler Stadium while Elon (1-1) returns to the friendly confines of Rhodes Stadium, hosting CAA rival James Madison. 

Notable North Carolinians

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