JOHNSON CITY, TN -- Jatavis Sanders connected with Cecil Moore for four touchdowns in a 31-15 East Tennessee State homecoming victory over Elon at Memorial Center Saturday afternoon.
The Buccaneers (4-4) opened up the scoring on a one-handed catch in the corner of the end zone from Sanders to Moore with 2:16 left in the first quarter. The two connected again for a six-yard touchdown on the next ETSU drive to make the score 14-0 with 13:36 left in the second quarter. The big play of that drive was a 50-yard completion from Sanders to Andrew Nuckolls.
Sanders and Moore struck again with 32 seconds left in the stanza on an 18-yard touchdown strike. That drive started after an interception by Montreal Harkley.
ETSU followed the same strategy in the second half as Moore hauled in his fourth touchdown on a 21-yard pass from Sanders to make the score 28-0 with 3:30 remaining in the third quarter.
Elon (2-5) defensive end Maurice Locklin got a piece of an Aaron Bass punt early in the fourth quarter, giving the Phoenix possession on its own 25-yard line. Elon responded immediately, as Arketa Banks hauled in a 75-yard touchdown pass from Larry Burney on the first play of the drive to make the score 28-7 with 13:33 left in the game.
The Bucs put their final points on the board with an 11-play, 43-yard drive that ended in a 25-yard field goal by Jon Godfrey.
Late in the fourth quarter, Elon linebacker Calvin Sutton scooped up a fumble by ETSU back-up quarterback Dashannon Gamble and returned it 57 yards to the Buccaneer 28, setting up Elon’s second touchdown. Phoenix running back Rashaud Palmer scored on a two-yard run and back-up quarterback James Murdaugh connected with Banks on a two-point conversion, providing the game with its final margin.
Sanders finished the day 17-of-29 passing, in addition to his touchdown and yardage totals. Moore led the Bucs with eight receptions for 95 yards, his second-best totals in both categories this season. Gaven Varner paced ETSU on the ground, totaling 78 yards on 19 carries while also catching three passes for 55 yards.
Burney led the Elon passing attack, tallying 86 yards in the air on 4-of-6 passing and a touchdown. Palmer had a team-high 34 yards rushing on eight carries for Elon. Banks and Marcus Johnson tied for the team lead with two receptions, with Banks pacing the team with 94 receiving yards.
The Buccaneer defense also played one of its best games of the season, making several big plays. Justin Reiner and Lamar Beam each had four sacks on the day. Beam led the team with 11 tackles, six for losses in addition to his sack total.
Mike Warren of Elon tied for the game-high with 11 tackles. Dwayne Ijames had an interception for the Phoenix, while Locklin and Polk Williams recorded sacks in the game.
The Phoenix will take next weekend off for its first open date since the 1997 season. On Nov. 2, Elon returns to the friendly confines of Rhodes Stadium to host Hofstra.
Game Box Score
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