SPARTANBURG, SC – When the Southern Conference announced its football players of the week Monday afternoon, Elon junior middle linebacker Mike Warren was declared its Co-defensive Player of the Week. He shared the honor with East Tennessee State cornerback Allen Davis.

The 6-1, 226-pound Warren scored the eventual game-winning touchdown in Elon’s 25-23 come-from-behind victory at perennial power Hofstra Saturday night. Warren intercepted a pass and returned it 10 yards to grant the Phoenix a 25-20 advantage in the fourth quarter.

The Linden, NC native and former Pine Forest High School star recorded a team-high 7.5 tackles versus Hofstra, including one stop for a six-yard loss. Warren (pictured right) led last year’s Phoenix squad with 82 tackles, including 14 for a loss, after transferring to Elon from North Carolina State.

This season, Warren leads Elon in total tackles (16.0) and solo tackles (12). He also has two tackles for lost yardage (minus 18 yards), one sack (minus 12 yards) and one fumble recovery. On Saturday, Warren logged not only his first college touchdown, but his first college interception as well.

For beating Hofstra, Elon was named the Southern Conference Team of the Week by the Dopke.com College Sports Report. This Saturday, the Phoenix (1-2, 0-1 SoCon) will host East Tennessee State (2-1, 0-0 SoCon) at 2 p.m., marking the first-ever Southern Conference football game to be played at Rhodes Stadium.

The Elon/East Tennessee State contest will highlight the University’s Family Weekend festivities. It will also represent the 800th game in Elon’s 82-year-old football history. Entering Saturday, the program garners an all-time 799-game record of 435-346-18 (.556).

— ELON —