ELON, N.C. -- The month of October will come to a close for the Elon football team this weekend as the Phoenix travels to Cullowhee, N.C., for a 3:30 p.m. kick with the Western Carolina Catamounts.

The game will air live on WPCM 95.1 FM and 920 AM beginning with the pregame show at 2:30 p.m. Fans can also listen live on elonphoenix.com.

Fans can also watch the game live via Western Carolina's video portal for a  fee this week.

A Numbers Game
• 6 - Turnovers forced by the Phoenix in the last four weeks (2 fumble recoveries, 4 INTs)
• 92 - Seasons, including 2013, that Elon has played intercollegiate football
• 171 - Consecutive passing attempts by Mike Quinn without an interception

Elon - Western Carolina Connections
• Elon WR Ricky Brown and WCU DL Pete Balthrop, Jr. both graduated from West Forsyth High.
• Both Elon WR Justin Osborne and WCU DB Terrence Green attended First Coast High (Fla.).
• Graduates of Independence High include Elon WR Kierre Brown and WCU LB Courtland Carson.
• Elon P David Petroni was teammates with WCU LB Bryson Jordan at Buford High (Ga.).
• Graduates of Ardrey Kell High include Elon LB Jake Elliott and WCU QB Jonah Duggan.
• Elon DL Chris Jones attended Douglas Byrd High along with WCU RB Garry Lewis.
• Two members of the Catamount coaching staff spent time in the maroon and gold. Head coach Mark Speir was at Elon from 2000-2002, serving time as the running backs and defensive line coach while also acting as the recruiting coordinator. Offensive coordinator Brad Glenn was Elon's tight ends coach in 2001.

Series Notes
Elon and Western Carolina have faced off 42 times in a series that dates to Nov. 4, 1933. Elon is 24-16-2 against the Catamounts. The Phoenix has won the last seven in the series, including a 42-31 win at Elon's Rhodes Stadium last season. The teams last met in Cullowhee on Oct. 8, 2011 with the maroon and gold claiming a 38-31 victory. In that first meeting, Elon earned a 46-6 win at home.

Tackling Machines
Linebacker Jonathan Spain recently eclipsed the 200-tackle mark for his career. Spain, who currently leads the team with 52 tackles, has 209 career stops. That number ranks ninth in program history during Elon's FCS tenure.

Also closing in on 200 career tackles is defensive back Chandler Wrightenberry. The senior has 43 tackles in 2013 and 199 in his four seasons in the maroon and gold. He is six stops shy of entering Elon's FCS top 10.

Got the Ground Game Going
Against Appalachian State, Elon ran for 193 yards – the most against a Division I opponent for the program since Nov. 7, 2009 when the squad amassed 237 yard on the ground in a 42-17 victory at Western Carolina. In the game against ASU, Elon lost just four yards on the ground all night, and the first lost yard on a rush did not come until less than five minutes remained in the third quarter.

The following week, the Phoenix rushed for 231 yards against #11 Coastal Carolina. The consecutive rushing totals were the best back-to-back running marks by the maroon and gold since Sept. 13 and 20, 2008 when Elon put up 246 yards vs. Presbyterian and 201 yards at Georgia Southern.

Elon then ran for 134 yards in a win at Furman. The Phoenix followed that up by rushing for 123 yards at #12 Wofford. It marked the first time that the maroon and gold had four consecutive games of 100+ rushing yards since Oct. 30-Nov. 20, 2010.

Keeping it Clean
Mike Quinn is in his first season as the starting quarterback for the Phoenix. So far, the junior has completed 191 of his 292 passes (65.4%) and thrown 11 touchdowns to just four interceptions.  In fact, Quinn has tossed 171 consecutive passes without a pick entering the game against Chattanooga. His last interception came in the first quarter against Appalachian State on Sept. 21.

Fourth Down Success
When faced with fourth down situations this season, Elon has not been shy about attempting to move the chains instead of punting or attempting a field goal. The Phoenix has gone for it on fourth down 12 times so far in 2013. The maroon and gold has converted on nine of those 12 attempts, a success rate of 75.0 percent.

Elon has attempted at least one fourth down conversion in six of its eight games this year. The most attempts was four at Wofford (three conversions).

Williams Named to Good Works Team
Junior defensive back Miles Williams has been named to the 22-player roster for the 2013 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. William is involved in numerous community service projects in the Elon and Burlington communities. The junior has mentored and tutored at-risk youth through the Positive Attitudes Youth Center as well as a tutoring program at Elon First Baptist Church. He was named the 2012 Counselor of the Summer while serving with the Alamance County Community YMCA. Williams has also been involved with Special Olympics, Elonthon and Phoenix Field Day. In January, Williams will travel to Africa as a part of the Friends of Ghana program. While in Ghana, he will assist the city of Sokode with construction of a middle school and raising scholarship funds. The group will also aid in a Heifer International livestock improvement project and provide school supplies for a number of Ghanaian children.

Recognizing the "good works" of a select group of college football players from across the country, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team is one of the most prestigious off-the-field honors in college sports.  The award pays tribute to the positive impact these young athletes have had on their communities and the lives of others.

From Elon to the NFL
The maroon and gold will be represented on two NFL rosters this fall. Former wide receiver Aaron Mellette has earned a 53-man roster spot with the Baltimore Ravens after being selected in the seventh round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Former Elon offensive lineman Rodney Austin, an undrafted free agent in 2012, has been placed on the practice squad with the Detroit Lions.

You Have Aged Well
Elon University will be celebrating its quasquicentennial (125th) year of operation this academic year. Elon was chartered on March 11, 1889 and the university has committed to a year-long celebration of this milestone.

-- ELON --