Box Score
Radio Highlights
Aaron Mellette TD #1
Aaron Mellette TD #2
Aaron Mellette TD #3
Kierre Brown 3rd Down Catch
Jason Swepson Postgame Interview

BOONE, N.C. – Elon’s Thomas Wilson and Aaron Mellette both had career days, but the Elon Phoenix fell short of pulling off the upset of 14th-ranked Appalachian State as the Mountaineers claimed a 35-23 victory at Kidd Brewer Stadium on Saturday.

Wilson completed 25 of his 41 pass attempts for a personal-best 419 yards and three touchdowns and moved into third place in program history with 5,081 career passing yards. 

Mellette matched his career-high with 237 receiving yards on 13 catches.  He also evened a career-best with three TD receptions.  Mellette now sits alone in second place in Southern Conference history with 18 career 100-yard receiving games and moved past Appalachian State’s Brian Quick into fifth place on the league’s all-time receiving chart.  Mellette now has 3,516 receiving yards.

Elon (2-4, 0-3 SoCon) piled up 515 yards of offense while the defense had three players tally double-digit tackle totals - Blake Thompson (13 tackles), Jonathan Spain (12) and Chandler Wrightenberry (10).

"We're 2-4 at the break, it is what it is," said Elon head coach Jason Swepson.  "We'll be home for the next two weeks and have a chance to get to 2-3 in the conference and make a run.  The defense, we subbed maybe two or three guys.  Right now we don't have any depth.  We have 10 seniors and we want to send them out the right way.  They're doing a great job leading and they deserve to go out winners."

With Elon leading 17-14, a Kenton Beal punt pinned ASU (4-2, 2-1) at its own seven, but the Mountaineers hit a 48-yard pass from Jamal Jackson to Steven Miller on third-and-four to get the Elon 25.  On the next play, Jackson found Andrew Peacock for a 25-yard touchdown and ASU went on top, 21-17 with under four minutes left in the third quarter.

After ASU built a 28-17 lead, Elon went 75 yards on just four plays to pull within five, 28-23, as Mellette hauled in touchdown catch number three on the day.  The big receiver caught passes of 24, 11 and 35 yards on the drive.  The Phoenix tried to trim its deficit to just three, but the two-point conversion failed and Elon would inch no closer.

The Phoenix got the ball to start the game and marched 75 yards on eight plays to grab an early 7-0 lead when Wilson stepped up in the pocket to buy time on third-and-seven before hitting Mellette for an 11-yard TD strike.  Wilson completed four of his five passes on the drive, including a 34-yard hook-up with Jeremy Peterson on the first play from scrimmage.

Following an Elon punt, the Mountaineers took possession of the ball at its own 19 with just over 5:30 left on the first quarter clock.  ASU picked up its first first down of the game on a Miller one-yard run on second-and-one.  Two consecutive third-down conversions kept the Mountaineer drive alive, but the Phoenix defense forced a fourth-and-six from its 39 before Jackson connected with Sean Price for 16 yards and a first down at the Elon 23.  After moving to the Phoenix five, Jackson lofted a pass to the corner of the end zone while being hauled to the ground that was grabbed by Miller for the tying score just seconds into the second quarter.

Elon answered with a seven-play, 63-yard drive of its own that concluded with a 29-yard field goal off the foot of Adam Shreiner to put the maroon and gold back in front, 10-7 with 10:59 to play in the first half.

Trailing 14-10, the Phoenix moved back in front, 17-14, on its first possession of the second half.  After moving the ball to the Elon 41, Wilson went deep down the Phoenix sideline where Mellette hauled in the toss, after being forced out of bounds and re-establishing himself inbounds, and took it 59 yards for his second TD of the game.

Elon will take next Saturday off before returning to Rhodes Stadium to host Western Carolina in 3 p.m. Homecoming tilt.

-- ELON --