Box Score Photo Gallery

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- A highly-anticipated season opener for the Elon Phoenix ended on a down note as the maroon and gold dropped a 62-0 contest to the home-standing North Carolina Tar Heels.

"I'm proud of my kids," said Elon head coach Jason Swepson.  "They kept fighting and played hard.  There was no quit in this team.  We have a good football team."

After both teams traded punts on their first possessions of the season, the Tar Heels (1-0) struck quickly as Giovani Bernard took a pitch and raced 59 yards down the UNC sideline for a touchdown on the first play of the drive.  Casey Barth's extra point gave UNC a 7-0 lead with 9:34 to go in the first period.

Carolina extended its lead to 14-0 when Bryn Renner hit Bernard for a six-yard strike with 4:45 to go in the first.  The play capped a nine-play, 55-yard drive.

Bernard found the end zone for the third time on the day when he returned a booming Kenton Beal punt 70 yards for a score to make it a 24-0 game with 12:16 on the clock in the second quarter. 

The Heels built a 41-0 lead at the break behind Bernard's big first half.

The Phoenix (0-1) defense forced two turnovers - an Edward Burns interception and a fumble forced by Chandler Wrightenberry and recovered by Jordan Jones.

Thomas Wilson completed 13 of his 27 passes for 99 yards for Elon.  Kierre Brown was the Phoenix's leading receiver, snaring four balls for 31 yards.

Bernard ended the day with nine carries for 93 yards, two receptions for 10 yards and two punt returns for 100 yards.  Renner was 14-of-21 for 236 yards and three touchdowns through the air.

The Phoenix will open its home portion of the schedule next weekend when North Carolina Central visits Rhodes Stadium for a 7 p.m. game.  Elon will recognize the five newest members of its Sports Hall of Fame class at halftime.