ELON, N.C. – Reggie Hall rushed for a career-high 180 yards and a touchdown as Elon turned back North Carolina A&T 12-9 – for its third consecutive victory – to highlight 2005 Phoenix Hall of Fame/E Club Weekend festivities Saturday evening at Rhodes Stadium.
On 32 carries, Hall gained 183 yards while only losing three to average 5.6 yards per carry as the Phoenix (3-1) defeated the Aggies (1-3) for the first time in five years. North Carolina A&T leads the seven-year series four games to three, but has been outscored in those games by Elon 123-121.
The Aggies struck first when Quante Speight turned a 16-yard run into a 7-0 advantage with 8:34 to play in the opening quarter, capping a 12-play, 81-yard drive that consumed 6:21.
The Phoenix, off to its best start in six seasons and its first three-game winning streak in five years, pulled within 7-3 on an Andrew Wilcox 41-yard field goal with 3:47 left in the first period after an 11-play, 49-yard drive that lasted 4:40.
Elon inched within 7-6 after a 30-yard field goal by Wilcox with 26 ticks to play in the second quarter, eventually deciding the halftime margin. That field goal concluded an 11-play, 53-yard drive that only took 2:06.
With 8:21 remaining in the third stanza, Hall punched in a one-yard touchdown run, giving the Phoenix its first lead of the contest at 12-7. Hall’s touchdown capped a five-play, 47-yard drive that lasted only 1:54.
With the remaining time on the clock dwindling no further, Thomas Theron returned an Elon fumble of the extra-point attempt the length of field to bring the Aggies within 12-9. However, they would inch no closer as neither team would go on to score in the fourth quarter.
For North Carolina A&T, Marshall Glenn completed 10 of 20 passes with one interception for 114 yards while Speight rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.
The Aggie defense held Elon’s Kye Hamilton, the Southern Conference’s leader in passing efficiency, to 48 aerial yards on 7-for-17 passing.
Phoenix all-league linebacker Chad Nkang led all defenders, amassing 15 tackles. He also tallied three stops for loss, one pass break-up, one sack and one quarterback hurry.
Elon edged North Carolina A&T in first downs (15-13), rushing yards (202-117), total offensive yards (250-231) and penalties (4-9).
The Phoenix entered the contest ranked 15th in the country in rushing defense, 20th in scoring defense, 27th in passing efficiency defense and 28th in total defense.
In next week’s action, Elon enters Southern Conference competition when Georgia Southern visits Rhodes Stadium for a 2 p.m. contest Saturday to highlight 2005 Phoenix Family Weekend activities. The Aggies will host Tennessee State at 5 p.m. Saturday.
– ELON –
Game Box Score
