CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel defense held the Elon offense to 230 total yards as the Bulldogs claimed a 21-0 Homecoming triumph over the Phoenix in Southern Conference football action Saturday afternoon at Johnson Hagood Stadium.
It was The Citadel's (3-7 overall, 2-5 Southern Conference) first shutout victory since the home finale in 2004 when it kept Western Carolina off the scoreboard in a 17-0 win. Elon (3-7, 0-6) was shut out for the first time in 14 contests. The last time that the Phoenix had been held scoreless was in a 10-0 home loss to then-No. 7 Furman on Oct. 23, 2004.
After a scoreless first period, the Bulldogs got their offense going on the first play of the second quarter when a 19-yard pass from Ben Carnell to Kinta Palmer put The Citadel at their own 34. Two plays later, another long pass play of 22 yards from Carnell to Ta'Mar Jernigan placed the Bulldogs on Elon's 31.
Carnell completed an eight play, 80-yard scoring drive with a 20-yard pass to Aaron Kelly to put the Bulldogs up 7-0 with 12:23 left in the second quarter. On their very next possession, Carnell, who was making his first career start, continued his aerial assault with a 34-yard completion to Mark Wigal at the Phoenix 32.
The Citadel added to their lead with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Carnell to Jernigan. After a five play, 70-yard scoring drive, the Bulldogs had a 14-0 lead with 6:47 left in the first half. The Bulldogs caught a break late in the third quarter as a punt by Mark Kaspar bounded off Elon's Dwayne Ijames, and Nick Fender recovered for The Citadel at the Phoenix four-yard line.
On the first play of the final period, Nuru Goodrum, who finished with 97 yards rushing on the day, took advantage of the good field position as he plowed to pay dirt from two yards out to increase the Bulldog advantage to 21-0 with 14:56 left in the contest.
In what turned out to be its best scoring opportunity of the game, Elon took a gamble on their first offensive possession. After advancing the ball to the Citadel 28, the Phoenix elected to go for it on fourth-and-four. The Bulldogs' defense held, however, as Kye Hamilton's pass that was intended for Casey Hall fell incomplete.
Carnell went 14-20 for 152 yards with two touchdowns and an interception on the day. Palmer and Jernigan were his favorite targets as they each caught three passes apiece.
Hamilton connected on 19 of 35 tosses with an interception for 154 aerial yards, becoming Elon's ninth all-time leading passer. He now has completed 265 of 476 passes (.557) with 21 interceptions and 15 touchdowns in 21 contests (20 starts) for 2,432 career yards.
Michael Mayers snagged seven catches for 49 yards for the Phoenix. He has now hauled in 59 receptions for 929 career yards – 15.7 yards per catch – and six touchdowns. Mayers needs just 71 more yards to become just the 11th Elon player to reach 1,000 career receiving yards.
Elon's Reggie Hall rushed for 77 net yards on 27 carries, boosting his career tally to 811 rushing yards on 187 attempts – 4.3 yards per carry. He has inched within 189 yards of the 1,000-yard career rushing plateau.
On the final weekend of the regular season, The Citadel plays at VMI on Saturday in Lexington, Va., for the Military Classic of the South while Elon hosts No. 8 Appalachian State.
– ELON – Game Box Score
