PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – After fending off The Citadel for a 27-23 Southern Conference road win Saturday afternoon, Elon moved up from No. 6 last week to No. 3 this week – its highest ranking ever and first top-five appearance – in The Sports Network’s weekly NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision national poll Monday afternoon.
Fresh off its third victory over a top-25 opponent this season and first triumph ever at The Citadel’s Johnson Hagood Stadium, the Phoenix (6-1 overall, 4-0 Southern Conference) is joined in the poll by six of its 2008 opponents – No. 2 Appalachian State, No. 4 Wofford, No. 9 Richmond, No. 14 Liberty, No. 19 Furman and No. 24 The Citadel. Fellow Southern Conference member Georgia Southern is listed among others receiving votes for top-25 consideration.
Off to its best start in nine seasons and garnering its longest winning streak in 22 years at six consecutive victories, Elon also moved up from No. 6 last week to No. 3 this week in the Sports Media Entertainment Network Broadcasters’ poll, from No. 10 to No. 6 – with a first-place vote – in the AnyGivenSaturday.com poll and from No. 12 to No. 8 in the FCS Coaches poll.
Elon currently leads the Southern Conference and ranks 14th in the FCS in scoring defense, allowing 18.6 points per game. The Phoenix also paces the league and ranks 20th nationally in passing offense, averaging 267.3 aerial yards per outing. At 413.4 net yards per game, third-year Elon coach Pete Lembo's squad ranks third in the conference and 22nd in the country in total offense.
Via the unprecedented 4-0 SoCon start, the Phoenix leads the league standings, followed by Wofford (2-0, 4-1), three-time defending national champion Appalachian State (2-0, 4-2), Furman (2-1, 5-2), The Citadel (1-2, 3-3), Georgia Southern (1-2, 3-3), Samford (1-2, 3-3), Western Carolina (0-3, 2-5) and Chattanooga (0-3, 1-6). Elon now heads to Chattanooga for a 2 p.m. visit next Saturday.
–ELON–
