Box Score

STATESBORO, Ga. -- Lee Banks rushed for 121 yards while Jaybo Shaw carried for two touchdowns as 24th-rated Georgia Southern snapped a three-game losing streak to the 10th-ranked Elon Phoenix with a 38-21 victory in the Southern Conference football opener for both sides on Saturday night.

After both teams turned the ball over on their first possessions, Elon (1-3, 0-1 SoCon) went 63 yards in just five plays to grab a 7-0 lead with 7:20 to play in the first quarter. The drive began with a 19-yard connection from Scott Riddle to Sean Jeffcoat that moved the ball to the Georgia Southern 44. Following a four-yard reception by Andre Labinowicz, Riddle found Jeremy Peterson for another 12 yards to the 28-yard line. Riddle then hit Aaron Mellette for 13 yards to the 15 before a shovel pass to Peterson went for the score.

The Eagles (3-1, 1-0) responded by marching 86 yards to knot the score at seven. The drive ate up 7:51 off the clock and carried into the second quarter. Back-to-back four-yard gains by Banks got the drive going for the Eagles. Darries Robinson followed that with two nine-yard pickups as GSU moved to their own 40. On the next two plays, Banks picked up a total of 18 yards to get to the Elon 42. Jerick McKinnon then got in on the act, rushing twice for 12 yards to the Elon 30. Georgia Southern would move to the Elon five before the first quarter came to a close. The first play of the second period gained four yards before Shaw plunged in from a yard out with the Eagle score.

Georgia Southern got the ball back and marched 80 yards on 12 plays to take the lead. The key play was a fourth down conversion from the Elon 31 when Shaw completed an 18-yard pass to Tray Butler that put the ball at the Phoenix 13. Three plays later, Shaw rushed in from two yards out to put the Eagles on top 14-7 with 6:37 to play in the first half.

The Phoenix would start its next drive at its own 30-yard line. On second-and-seven, Riddle hit Mellette on a screen pass for a gain of 46 yards all the way down the GSU 21. Peterson gained 12 on the next play to give Elon a first-and-goal from the nine. A second-down run by Harris got the ball to the three before Riddle found Mellette who leaped over defenders at the goal line for the score with 4:32 remaining in the second quarter. Adam Shreiner’s PAT knotted the score back up at 14 apiece.

A 31-yard pass from Shaw to J.J. Wilcox on third-and-two got Georgia Southern in Elon territory at the 29 with just over two minutes to play in the second quarter. On third-and-five, Shaw dropped back to pass and was drilled by Travis Greene from behind and fumbled. Elon’s Khiry Mullins recovered the fumble and returned it to the Elon 48-yard line, but the Phoenix was unable to turn the turnover into points.

On its second possession of the second half, Georgia Southern went back on top after chewing up 5:49 and covering 65 yards on 11 plays. The first three Eagle plays all gained six yards as GSU moved to the Elon 47. On third-and-two from the Elon 42, Darreion Robinson picked up 11 yards on a pitch play. After picking up four yards on first down, Wilcox took a pitch and picked up 14 yards down to the Elon 13 for an Eagle first down. GSU would face a second-and-14 from the 17 when Shaw completed a 13-yard pass to Mitch Willford. Robinson would take it in on the next play with 3:16 left in the third quarter as the Eagles took a 21-14 lead.

After Elon was forced to punt, Georgia Southern was able to pad its lead, taking a 28-14 lead after Tobi Akinnirayne capped a 56-yard drive with a four-yard run up the middle. The score came with 14:33 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Eagles added another touchdown when Laron Scott intercepted a Riddle pass and returned it 36 yards for the score during Elon’s next possession.

Elon cut its deficit to a two-score game when the Riddle completed a 19-yard pass to Mellette for a touchdown. The play finished off a 13-play, 85-yard drive. Riddle completed passes to five different receivers on the drive with Mellette catching the last two for a total of 25 yards.

The Phoenix attempted an on-side kick, but Georgia Southern was able to cover it at the Elon 47 with 8:49 left to play. The Eagles would move the ball down to the Elon five before kicking a 23-yard field goal that provided the final margin.

For Elon, Riddle eclipsed the 300-yard passing mark for the 19th time of his career, throwing for 322 yards and three touchdowns. Mellette posted his third consecutive 100-yard outing, grabbing six balls for 121 yards and two touchdowns. Peterson’s six catches for 56 yards were career-bests.

Shaw rushed for two of GSU’s scores and also threw for 129 yards.

On defense, Jordan Jones and Brandon Wiggins both totaled 11 tackles. Jones also forced two fumbles while Wiggins recovered one GSU fumble.