Box Score
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Elon fell behind early and twice rallied from double-digit deficits, but could not overcome six turnovers and a career-high 191 rushing yard by Fabian Truss as the Phoenix fell by a 43-31 margin at Samford on Saturday afternoon. 

Elon fell to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the SoCon while the Bulldogs improved to 4-2, 2-2 and won their first game against the Phoenix in four league meetings.

The Elon defense allowed its opponent to score in its opening drive for the first time all season as Samford marched 62 yards on nine plays to take a 3-0 lead on a Cameron Yaw 21-yard field goal.  The Bulldogs lead stretched to 10-0 with 5:13 left in the first quarter when Jonathan Sillers ran it in from two yards out.

Elon responded with a 15-play, 80-yard drive of its own that ended when Thomas Wilson threw to Aaron Mellette in the front left corner of the end zone to make it a 10-7 game just two plays into the second quarter.  The Phoenix had a third-and-six from its own 24 when Wilson picked up nine yards with a pass to Christian Dennis.  Later, Elon converted a third-and-one from its own 42 as Mellette gained seven yards on a catch.  On third-and-10 at its own 49 Wilson hit a streaking #A.J. Harris# down the Samford sideline for a 20-yard pick-up and a first down at the Bulldog 31.  The Phoenix converted yet another third down when Wilson found Dennis for an 18-yard gain down to the Samford 12.  After moving to the three-yard line, Wilson tossed his TD to Mellette, giving the wide out a touchdown grab in eight consecutive games.

Starting at its own 14 after an Elon punt, Samford moved to its own 36 before Truss took a handoff and raced 64 yards for a touchdown that put the Bulldogs ahead 17-7 with 10:15 left on the first half clock.  The Bulldogs pushed their lead to 24-7 with just under four minutes to play in the second quarter when Kelsey Pope ran a reverse in from 14 yards out.

On the ensuing Elon possession that began at its own 25, the Phoenix went 75 yards on nine plays to close its deficit to 10 points, 24-14.  The first play of the drive moved the ball out to the Elon 46 thanks to a six-yard completion to Mellette and a Bulldog penalty.  On third-and-eight at its own 48, Wilson found Mellette again, this time for a gain of 20 yards to the Samford 32.  Back-to-back completions to Harris moved Elon another 20 yards downfield.  On second-and-goal at the five, Wilson drilled a pass into the back of the end zone where Dennis made a grab while absorbing a blow from a Bulldog defender.

Elon got the ball back at its own 29 after Blake Thompson recovered a Bulldog fumble.  The Phoenix moved to the Samford 33 before Adam Shreiner came on to bang a career-best 50-yard field goal between the uprights to make it a 24-17 game at the break.  The 50-yarder was the longest for the program since Paul Mullen’s 52-yarder in 1986 against Presbyterian.  He is the fourth player in Elon history to hit from 50+ yards, joining Mullen, Phil Renn and Mitch Rippy who all connected from 52 yards out.

The Phoenix received the kick to start the second half, but fumbled the ball away to the Bulldogs who recovered at the Elon 35.  Truss scored from three-yards out to up the Bulldog lead to 31-17.  All 35 yards came on the ground, including 25 from Truss.

Keith Shoulders picked off a pass that was tipped by multiple players on Elon’s next drive, giving the Bulldogs the ball at the Elon 31.  Samford would end up adding three points on Yaw’s 29-yard field goal that made it 34-17.

The third Elon turnover of the half came on the kickoff as the ball was fumbled away again and recovered by Samford at the one.  The defense held and forced a 20-yard field goal from Yaw which made it 37-17 with 8:20 left in the third quarter.

With Samford set to punt from its own 22, Gary Coates knifed through the punt team to block his third punt in the last two weeks.  Harris scooped the ball up at the 16-yard line and dashed in for the score to make it a 37-24 game with just under three minutes to play in the third quarter.

Elon got the ball back when Thompson picked off a Dustin Taliaferro pass and brought it back to the Samford 33.  The Phoenix gained 16 yards on a Dontay Taylor first-down carry before a completion to Mellette went for another 13 yards to the four.  Taylor took it in from two yards out for his fifth rushing score of the season with just 16.7 seconds left in the third as the Phoenix clawed back to make it 37-31.

The fourth Bulldog interception of the game led to another Samford touchdown.  Starting at the Elon 17, a reverse to Riley Hawkins looked like it would go for a loss before he broke back and carried it to the one.  Truss scored his third touchdown of the day on the next play.  The two-point conversion failed and the Phoenix trailed 43-31 with 8:15 showing on the clock.

Elon had three more possessions, but could not add any points to its total.

Wilson completed 35 of his Elon single-game record 60 pass attempts for 312 yards and two touchdowns.  Mellette accounted for 171 yards and a score on 15 grabs.  Defensively for Elon, Joshua Jones made 11 total tackles, 10 of which were solo stops.

Truss carried the ball 26 times for 196 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Bulldogs.  Taliaferro was efficient, completing 16-of-21 passes for 115 yards.

After two weeks away from Rhodes Stadium, the Phoenix returns home next Saturday to take on the Chattanooga Mocs at 3 p.m. in Elon’s annual Homecoming contest.