Despite the proximity, this will be the first football meeting between the two schools. Although the two programs have not played before, Elon does regularly play opponents from the Big South, the league Campbell plays in. The Phoenix most recently faced Gardner-Webb during the 2021 spring season as well as North Carolina A&T in 2019.
Both teams will be looking for their first victory of the season. Elon lost a tight affair with Wofford in the season opener, 24-22, while Campbell lost to FBS opponent Liberty 48-7.
Both Campbell and Elon return 20 starters. The Camels interestingly have played five consecutive games against FBS opponents, playing a four-game 2020 fall slate against only FBS schools. Campbell has not played an FCS team since a 41-31 loss to Charleston Southern on Nov. 23, 2019.
FULL GAME NOTES
TONY TRISCIANI IN YEAR THREE LEADING THE PHOENIX
• On Dec. 17, 2018, Tony Trisciani was named the 23rd head football coach in Elon history. In the fall of 2021, he will be in his third season at the helm.
• While it will be his third season as head coach, he begins his sixth year overall with the Phoenix, serving as the defensive coordinator in 2017 and 2018 before his elevation to the lead chair. In 2006, Trisciani coached the defensive backs and ran the special teams for Elon.
BUILDING STAFF CONSISTENCY
• While Tony Trisciani is in his third year leading the Elon football program, he is building consistency in the staff surrounding him.
• Associate Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator Drew Folmar begins his fifth consecutive season at Elon in the fall of 2021. Recruiting Coordinator/Running Backs Coach Clay Browning and Special Teams Coordinator/Outside Linebackers Coach Dillon Lucas also start their fifth seasons at Elon.
• Defensive Coordinator Billy Crocker, Offensive Line Coach Andy Marino and Defensive Line Coach Seth Payne have all been on Trisciani's staff throughout his head coaching tenure, beginning their third seasons. Wide Receivers Coach Chris Young and Special Teams Assistant Mike Nall are doing the same.
• The newest member of the coaching staff is former Elon All-American Warren Messer, who was hired just prior to the start of the season and will coach the cornerbacks.Tight Ends Coach Arketa Banks and Defensive Pass Game Coordinator/Safeties Coach Dovonte Edwards were hired during the summer following the 2021 spring campaign. Banks is a 2003 Elon graduate.
THE WEEK GONE BY: WOFFORD SQUEAKS PAST ELON
• Elon rallied from a 21-10 second quarter deficit to lead Wofford 22-21 after three quarters, but the Terriers came away with a 24-22 victory in the season opener Sept. 4.
• Davis Cheek threw for 312 yards for Elon and Chandler Brayboy had career-highs with eight receptions for 112 yards.
• Defensively, Omar Rogers picked off two passes and the Elon defense held Wofford to just three points and 138 yards of offense in the second half.
• Elon outgained Wofford, had more first downs than the Terriers, won the turnover battle, had the time of possession advantage, and scored points on each trip into the red zone. Wofford, though, used some big strikes to capitalize and come away with the win.
REVISITING 2020 (OR SPRING 2021)
• Elon went 1-5 during a unique spring 2021 season that was pushed back from the fall due to COVID-19.
• The Phoenix opened the year with a 26-23 victory over Davidson before losing to Gardner-Webb 42-20.
• In week three, Elon had then-No. 1 James Madison on the ropes, leading 17-3 at the half. But injuries began to pile up in the 20-17 James Madison comeback and the Phoenix were never able to recover.
• As an example, preseason starting quarterback Davis Cheek never took a snap and injuries forced coach Tony Trisciani to use three more QBs throughout the year, each of whom got two starts.
CHEEK RETURNS FOR BIG GAME
• After missing the 2020 season (spring of 2021), senior quarterback Davis Cheek returned to the starting lineup Saturday against Wofford.
• Cheek recorded his fourth career 300-yard passing game with 312 yards in the season opener. It was the first time he passed 300 yards since his freshman season in 2017. His 29 completions and 51 attempts were career highs.
• Cheek now has 30 career starts, helped the Phoenix to FCS Playoff appearances in 2017 and 2018, and entered 2021 ranked 10th among returning FCS quarterbacks with 5,624 career passing yards.
• Following the effort against Wofford, Cheek has 5,936 career passing yards, needing 714 more to pass Thomas Wilson (2009-12) for second most in program history. He is also third in career touchdown passes (36), fourth in career passing attempts (803) and fourth in career completions (477). Cheek's 59.4 career completion percentage ranks third as well, as does his 132.1 career passing efficiency.
ALL HE DOES IS WIN, WIN, WIN
• Since stepping foot on campus in time for the 2017 season, quarterback Davis Cheek has made a huge impact on the Elon program.
• Elon went 2-9 in 2016 and immediately turned things around with an 8-4 season in 2017 that included a trip to the FCS Playoffs. Cheek started all 12 games during that freshman campaign.
• Starting with that 2017 season, Elon is 17-13 when Cheek is in the starting lineup but just 3-8 when he is not.
CHEEK EARNING PRESEASON HONORS
• Davis Cheek was named one of 26 quarterbacks in the country, at all levels, to begin the year on the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl preseason Big Board. He is one of just three non-FBS quarterbacks to join the elite group.
• Cheek is also a nominee for the William V. Campbell Trophy, given annually to one football player that combines academics, community service and on-field performance.
YOU WANT OFFENSE? YOU GOT IT
• In the season opener against Wofford, Elon posted 426 yards of offense, the most in a single game since 2019.
• The last time Elon posted a higher total offense came in a 42-7 win over Delaware in 2019 as the Phoenix posted 435 yards of offense.
• The 426 yards is the best offensive output for Elon in a season opener since a 56-0 win over Davidson to kick off the 2009 campaign.
PLAYIN' JAYLAN
• Junior running back Jaylan Thomas is working his way into Elon's record books.
• Thomas ranks seventh in Elon's FCS history with 1,539 career rushing yards, needing six more to pass Tracey Coppedge (2012-15) for sixth place. He is also eighth in career carries with 317.
• Thomas also has a penchant for finding paydirt, posting nine career rushing touchdowns. He needs just one more to move into the top ten in the school's FCS history.
FOUR IS THE MAGIC NUMBER
• Elon average 4.1 yards per carry Saturday against Wofford, going over the 4.0 yard average for the first time since the team's 26-23 win over Davidson in the 2021 spring opener.
• Elon averaged 6.9 yards per carry in that win a season ago (222 yards on 32 carries) and the squad has only won twice since 2018 when averaging less than 4.0 yards per rush.
• In total, Elon averaged 4.0 yards per carry or better in 11 of the team's last 13 wins.
NO WEEKS OFF
• Senior Kortez Weeks played in just three of Elon's six spring games but he has been impactful since being named third team All-CAA as a freshman in 2017.
• In the season opener, Weeks was targeted six times, catching all six passes for 68 yards and a touchdown. He was also tied for the team lead with 29 yards after the catch.
• Weeks led the Phoenix with 60 catches for 709 yards as a freshman in 2017 and followed that up with 36 catches for 484 yards in 2018.
• In 2019, he again led the team with 43 receptions, totalling 412 yards. He had eight more catches in limited action in the spring.
• With 1,739 career receiving yards, Weeks has moved into seventh in school history, needing 86 yards to pass Sean Jeffcoat (2007-10) for sixth.
• Weeks' eight career receiving touchdowns ranks tied for eighth in Elon's FCS history as well.
HE'S GOT A KNACK FOR THE BALL
• Redshirt freshman Omar Rogers is quickly making a name for himself as someone to know in the defensive backfield. He had two interceptions Saturday against Wofford
• In just seven career games, Rogers already has four interceptions, picking off two during the 2021 spring season (a year which did not count eligibility-wise, leaving Rogers as a redshirt freshman).
• Not only did Rogers pick off two passes against Wofford, but he also had 34 return yards, all on the second interception
• With Elon trailing 21-13, he picked off the Wofford quarterback at the Elon 49 and returned it to the red zone at the Wofford 17, setting up a Phoenix field goal.
THREE-CEIVERS
• As noted above, senior Kortez Weeks got off to a strong start in the season-opener. But his fellow starting wide receivers were productive as well.
• Chandler Brayboy had career-highs with eight catches for 112 yards, adding a touchdown reception, while Jackson Parham recorded seven catches for 99 yards.
• In total, that trio finished with 21 catches for 279 yards and both Elon touchdowns on the day.
• Only seven teams had three different players catch at least six passes in week one -- Elon, McNeese State, Presbyterian, Houston Baptist, UT Martin, Eastern Washington and Gardner-Webb.
THE 'SKY'LER IS THE LIMIT
• Junior kicker Skyler Davis has been one of the most consistent and reliable kickers in FCS football since starting his career at Elon in 2018.
• In the season opener, Davis made three field goals -- from distances of 39, 41 and 23 yards.
• Davis has made 37-of-50 field goals attempts in his career, connecting on his last 13 attempts inside of 40 yards (as well as 17 of his last 18) dating back to the William & Mary game on Nov. 2, 2019.
• With 186 career points scored, Davis ranks sixth in Elon's FCS history in scoring.
YURK FILLING BIG SHOES
• True freshman Jeff Yurk is trying to replace one of the top punters in program history in Hunter Stephenson. Stephenson ranked second in program history with a 40.9 career punting average.
• In six punts against Wofford, Yurk made the most of his debut with a 42.2 yard per punt average, a mark that has him among the top 25 nationally, as well as second in CAA Football.
• Yurk had four fair catches and landed one punt inside the 20. He had a long punt of 49 yards.
VELOZ GETS THE CALL
• With 20 starters returning from the spring campaign, it was a virtual certainty that most of Elon's starting 22 would be veterans. In fact, freshman Nick Veloz was the only first-time starter Saturday against Wofford
• After playing in all six games during the spring campaign, Veloz earned his first start at linebacker. He had five tackles, including 0.5 for loss in the contest.
• It should be noted that freshman Jeff Yurk served as the team's primary punter, averaging 42.2 yards on six punts. Since only 11 players on offense and 11 on defense technically get starting nods, Yurk does not go down in the book as a first-time starter.
RESTING THE DEFENSE
• Elon won the time of possession battle in the season opener against Wofford, holding onto the ball for 30:42. That was especially impressive considering Wofford ran the ball 44 times and threw it just 18.
• The Phoenix overcame that gameplan by running 17 more plays than Wofford, 79-62.
• Elon held the time of possession advantage just one time in the abbreviated six-game spring campaign.
TO BE THE BEST, YOU'VE GOT TO BEAT THE BEST
• Elon's schedule is littered with teams recognized in the Stats Perform top 25 poll.
• No. 25 Richmond is the first team on the Phoenix schedule as Elon will head on the road to face the Spiders Oct. 2. New Hampshire, a squad receiving votes, will be in Rhodes Stadium Oct. 23, just a week before Elon plays at No. 3 James Madison.
• No. 12 Villanova visits Rhodes Stadium for Homecoming on Nov. 6 and Elon finishes the season by hosting Rhode Island, another team earning votes, for Senior Day.
• Not to be overlooked, Appalachian State earned four votes in the FBS preseason coaches poll and is off to a 1-0 start. Elon plays the Mountaineers in Boone Sept. 18.
VERSATILE ATTACK
• Elon is the only team in FCS that returned a player in 2021 with 5,000 career passing yards, a player with 1,600 career receiving yards, and a player with 1,400 career rushing yards.
• Quarterback Davis Cheek entered the season with 5,624 career passing yards, wide receiver Kortez Weeks has 1,671 career receiving yards, and running back Jaylan Thomas has 1,483 career rushing yards.
TURNING THEM OVER
• Elon continues to be one of the best teams in the country in forcing turnovers, dating back to the start of the 2019 season.
• In the season opener against Wofford, Elon picked up two interceptions and a fumble. The three turnovers forced are tied for the third most in the CAA in week one and the +1 turnover margin is tied for fourth.
• In 2019, Crocker's defense forced 21 turnovers and Elon was a CAA best +9 during the regular season.
• In 2020 (spring 2021), the defense again caused havoc, ranking in the top 10 nationally in fumbles recovered (7) and top 30 in total turnovers forced (11).
• Since Crocker began at Elon (since 2019 seasons together), the Phoenix are tied for third in the CAA in turnover margin (+11, tied with Villanova and trailing only Delaware at +13 and James Madison at +15), and are third in turnovers forced (35, behind only James Madison at 43 and Delaware at 36).
BACK TO ONE DIVISION
• CAA Football returns to a one divisional lineup for the fall 2021 season.
• Due to COVID-19, the CAA had split the league into two divisions for the 2020 (spring 2021) season. Elon played in the four-team South Division in the spring, along with James Madison, Richmond, and William & Mary.
HOME COOKING
• Although Elon plays two road games in the month of September, the Phoenix will not leave the state of North Carolina until October.
• Elon's September road trips will be to Campbell (Buies Creek, N.C.) and Appalachian State (Boone, N.C.).
• The first time Elon will venture outside of the state will be when the Phoenix play at Richmond (Richmond, Va.) on Oct. 2. Elon will then follow that up with the longest road trip of the season, playing at Maine (Orono, Maine) on Oct. 9. Games at James Madison (Harrisonburg, Va.) and Towson (Towson, Md.) will conclude the regular season road slate.
LEADING THE CHARGE
• Head coach Tony Trisciani announced that senior quarterback Davis Cheek, senior defensive lineman Tristen Cox, junior linebacker Devonte Chandler and graduate tight end Donovan Williams have been named captains for the Phoenix.
• The team captains are identical to the spring 2021 campaign.
GETTING THAT DEGREE
• Nine current players on the Elon football team already have their degrees.
• Joey Baughman, Davis Cheek, Tristen Cox, Skyler Davis, Jalen Greene, Michael Purcell, Kortez Weeks, Donovan Williams, and Torrence Williams are all Elon graduates.
THREE NAMED PRESEASON ALL-CAA
• Sophomore Tre'Von Jones was named to the 2021 CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Team as a punt returner, while senior quarterback Davis Cheek and junior defensive back Cole Coleman earned honorable mention honors.
• Jones averaged 7.3 yards per punt return and 18.3 yards per kick return during the spring, following a 2019 season that saw him named a Phil Steele Freshman All-American.
• Cheek missed the entire 2021 spring season but has started 29 games at quarterback for the Phoenix and was the CAA Football Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2017.
• Coleman only played in two games in the spring but was CAA Defensive Player of the Week after earning 17 tackles against Davidson. He has 175 career tackles and 5.5 for loss.
'MULTI-SPORT' ATHLETES
• During the summer, the Elon football team took on the challenge of competing in sports other than football.
• Freshman Chase Speicher won the team's softball home run derby.
• Redshirt freshman Justin Allen won the team's free-throw competition, while sophomore Bo Sanders won the squad's three-point competition.
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September 08, 2021 at 03:12AM
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Elon, Campbell Set For First Ever Contest On The Gridiron - Elon University Athletics
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