BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- In a battle of two of the country's top-15 defenses, it was the Elon offense which was able to put points on the board to lead the 10th-ranked Phoenix to a 27-7 Southern Conference football victory over the home-standing Samford Bulldogs in the regular-season finale for both squads. The win improved Elon to 9-2 overall and 7-1 in the SoCon and improved the Phoenix's chances for a playoff berth. The nine-win season was the first for the program since 1999.
Samford ends its season at 5-6 overall and 3-5 in the league.
Elon will learn its playoff fate when ESPNews televises the FCS selection show at 3 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. If the Phoenix receives a bid, it would be the first for the program since the move to NCAA Division I play in 1999.
Terrell Hudgins became the NCAA Division I all-time leader with his 27th career 100-yard receiving game, eclipsing the century mark late in the first half. Also during the first half, the senior wide receiver became the FCS career leader in games with a touchdown reception when he hauled in a TD grab for the 33rd game of his career.
"I felt like our offense just kept hammering and fighting," said Elon coach
Pete Lembo. "If you just keep fighting, good things are going to happen."
Elon's second drive of the contest began at its own one yard line after Bob Hooper's punt pinned the Phoenix deep.
Brandon Newsome gave Elon some room with a 17-yard carry on the first play of the drive. Completions to Hudgins and
Lance Camp picked up another 19 yards on the next two plays as Elon moved out to its own 37. On second and 11
Scott Riddle found Newsome for another 14 yard pickup to move to midfield. After back-to-back grabs from Camp gained 24 yards, Hudgins added another 11 yards on a grab as the Phoenix moved to the Samford 16. Newsome gave Elon another first down at the four with a nine-yard gain and the Phoenix moved to the one thanks to a holding penalty on the Bulldogs. A 15-yard penalty moved the ball back to the Samford 16 and Elon faced a third and goal. Unable to get in the end zone, the Phoenix moved on top 3-0 with a 33-yard
Adam Shreiner field goal with 1:35 to go in the first quarter.
Facing a third and nine from its own 38, Riddle found Hudgins for a 10-yard catch to keep the chains moving with just 41 seconds remaining in the first half. On the next play, the duo teamed up for a 29-yard play which moved the ball to the Samford 23. During the play, the Bulldogs were called for roughing the passer and the ball was moved to the 11. On third and nine, Riddle found Hudgins for a 10-yard TD strike. Shreiner added the PAT and the Phoenix led 10-0 at the break.
Riddle passed for 209 yards in the first half to tie the Southern Conference record with his 29th career 200-yard passing game. He completed 18 of his 26 attempts in the first 30 minutes of play.
The Phoenix defense held the Bulldog offense to just 65 yards in the first half, including 51 from the SoCon's leading rusher Chris Evans.
Elon extended its advantage with 4:56 to play in the third quarter on a one-yard plunge by Newsome to cap a 12-play, 65-yard drive that took 5:55 off the clock. With the TD and point after, the Phoenix led 17-0.
On the ensuing Samford possession, Taliaferro looked to hit Jonathan Lowery downfield, but Elon's
Terell Wilson picked off the pass and brought it back 13 yards to the Bulldog 37. The interception was the first of the year for Wilson and 10th of the season for the squad.
Unable to score after the turnover, the Phoenix punted the ball, but forced the Bulldogs to punt and saw
Karlos Sullivan return the kick 22 yards to the Samford 39. On the Elon drive,
A.J. Harris rushed for 28 yards, including a 14-yard burst into the end zone as the Phoenix built a 24-0 lead with 30 seconds left in the third quarter.
Samford erased the shutout with 10:13 to play when Taliaferro found Richie Fordham in the back of the end zone for a six-yard touchdown as the Bulldogs moved within 24-7. The drive went 79 yards on 14 plays and included 34 rushing yards from Evans.
Following an interception by Sullivan, Elon took over at the Samford 33. The Phoenix moved down and added three to its total with a 22-yard Shreiner field goal with 3:20 to play to provide the final margin.
Riddle finished the day completing 27 of his 41 attempts. The Phoenix rushing attack was led by Harris who carried 13 times for 75 yards. Newsome ended the contest with 52 yards rushing. Hudgins snared 11 balls for 144 yards and is just nine receptions shy of tying the FCS record for catches in a season at 120.
Samford's Bryce Smith led all players with 14 tackles.
Taliaferro threw for 126 yards and a score, but was picked off twice and sacked four times. The Phoenix held Evans to 99 yards. He had been averaging over 105 yards per game on the ground.
-- ELON --