Box Score

BOONE, N.C. – Despite pulling within a field goal of the nation’s top-ranked team late in the fourth quarter, the No. 19 ranked Elon University football team suffered a 34-31 setback to the No. 1 ranked Mountaineers from Appalachian State on Saturday afternoon at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

 

Down 10 points late in the fourth quarter, the Phoenix (2-4, 1-2 Southern Conference) drove down the field to make it a three-point game, as senior quarterback Scott Riddle found receiver Sean Jeffcoat in the corner of the end zone by the pylon for the score, pulling the Phoenix within a field goal, 34-31, with 3:50 remaining in the game.

 

However, the Mountaineers managed several first downs in the game’s waning minutes to run out the clock and secure the win to avoid the potential upset.

 

“It was a great college football game,” said Elon head coach Pete Lembo. “The kids really played hard for four quarters and played a pretty clean game, but big plays hurt us in the end. The only thing that I would have liked to see us do a little better of a job of is make tackles on some of those big plays and just make them 20-yard gains instead of a 40- or 50-yard gain.”

 

Riddle had another outstanding passing day for the Phoenix, completing 31-of-43 throws for 394 yards and four touchdowns. With his performance, Riddle surpassed 12,000 career passing yards.

 

Sophomore wide receiver Aaron Mellette had a stellar performance, catching nine passes for 127 yards and a career-high three touchdowns. Mellette is the first player to catch three touchdown passes in a game versus Appalachian State since 2003. Jeffcoat recorded eight grabs for 102 yards and a touchdown.

 

The Mountaineers wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the first quarter, as an eight-play 75-yard opening drive, capped off by a touchdown run by Devon Moore, put Elon behind, 7-0, with 10:15 remaining.

 

After a roughing the kicker penalty gave Elon new life on its opening drive, Riddle capitalized to make it a 7-7 game after finding Mellette in the middle of the field for a seven-yard touchdown pass. Elon finished the first quarter knotted at seven-apiece with the Mountaineers.

 

Elon took its first lead of the game with 9:14 remaining in the second quarter, as a 29-yard field goal by sophomore Adam Schreiner gave the Phoenix a 10-7 edge.

 

But the Mountaineers responded, as a 36-yard touchdown run by Cedric Baker with 7:31 left in the half made it a 13-10 game. Appalachian State kicker Jason Vitaris missed the point after following Baker’s scamper, ending a streak of 82-consecutive PAT makes.

 

Following an Elon turnover-on-downs that gave ASU possession at its own 25-yardline, the Mountaineers responded with a career-long 53-yard touchdown run by DeAndre Presley to take a 20-10 advantage with 2:37 remaining in the half. Presley’s 53-yard run is longest run given up by the Elon defense this season, as he rushed for 102 net yards in the first half and threw for 110 yards on 8-of-10 passing.

 

Riddle and Mellette helped limit ASU’s lead just before halftime, as a six-yard touchdown pass made it a 20-17 game following an eight-play 75-yard drive. Riddle completed 15-of-21 passes for 176 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the first half.

 

Penalties made the difference in the first 30 minutes, as Elon committed just one for five yards, while the Mountaineers committed seven for a total of 85 yards.

 

Elon’s high-octane offense continued to shine coming out of the locker room to start the second half, as the Phoenix marched 82-yards down the field to the ASU six yard line. However, it would be for naught, as Elon turned the ball over on downs for the second time in the game to give the Mountaineers possession deep in their own territory.

 

Presley used his legs once again to extend ASU’s lead, scampering for a 44-yard touchdown run with 5:05 remaining in the third quarter put the finishing touches on an eight-play 87-yard drive to put Elon behind, 26-17. Presley rushed for a career-high 170 net yards in the game.

 

But Riddle and Mellette connected for the third time in the end zone to limit ASU’s lead to three after a 43-yard touchdown pass made it a 27-24 game with 3:37 left in the third quarter.

 

The Mountaineers marched down the field and extended their lead to 10 points early in the fourth quarter, as a nine-play 67-yard drive ended with a Presley 13-yard touchdown pass to give Appalachian State a 34-24 advantage with 13:37 remaining in the game.

 

Elon had the chance to limit the Mountaineers’ lead to a touchdown with 9:36 left in the game, but a missed 45-yard field goal by Schreiner kept ASU’s 10-point lead intact.

 

The Phoenix managed to pull within three points late with the Riddle-to-Jeffcoat touchdown catch, but it was not enough, as the Phoenix just missed upsetting the Mountaineers.

 

Following a bye week next weekend, the Elon football team is back in action on Saturday, Oct. 23, when it hosts Wofford for a Homecoming matchup at Rhodes Stadium at 1:30 p.m.