ELON, N.C. -- Despite being less than 20 miles apart, Elon and North Carolina A&T have not faced off on the gridiron since 2006.  That will change this Saturday night as the Phoenix will make the short trek down Interstate 40 to face the Aggies in Greensboro.

The game can be heard live on WPCM 95.1 FM and 920 AM with the pregame show beginning at 5 p.m. and kickoff slated for 6 p.m. at Aggie Stadium.

A Numbers Game
• 5 - Consecutive home openers won by the maroon and gold
• 87 - Plays run by Elon in its win over West Virginia Wesleyan, the most by the Phoenix since running 87 plays at North Carolina Central on Sept. 17, 2011
• 92 - Seasons, including 2013, that Elon has played intercollegiate football

Elon - North Carolina A&T Connections
• Elon offensive lineman Dakota DeYent and North Carolina A&T defensive back both graduated from Lincoln High in Tallahassee, Fla.
• Elon DB Jerrell Armstrong attended New Bern High along with A&T DB Daishawn Styron
• Both Elon WR Andre Davis and A&T RB Tarik Cohen graduated from Bunn High
• Graduates of Eastern Alamance include both Elon LB Alexander Dawson and A&T DB Donald Mattocks
• Two Elon players hail from Greensboro - linebacker Jonathan Spain and running back Thuc Phan who both attended Page High

Series Notes
Elon and North Carolina A&T have evenly split their previous eight meetings in this series that dates to 1999. Elon won the first two games, including a 13-0 victory over the 13th-ranked Aggies in Greensboro in 2000. The last match-up between the two came on Nov. 11, 2006 with Elon blanking A&T 45-0 in Greensboro. The maroon and gold has won the last two in the series.

Elon vs. the MEAC
Over the course of its 90+ football seasons, the maroon and gold has faced off with five current members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, posting a record of 22-91-. Elon has matched up against Delaware State (4-0), Norfolk State (2-1-1), North Carolina A&T (4-4), North Carolina Central (9-3) and Savannah State (3-1). Elon has won five straight over MEAC opponents.

Getting Off on the Right Foot at Home
With its 49-7 win over West Virginia Wesleyan, Elon has now won five consecutive home openers at Rhodes Stadium. Its the longest such streak since the program posted wins in each of its home openers from 1980-87.

Bennett Claims SoCon Honors
Elon red-shirt freshman running back B.J. Bennett was selected as the SoCon Freshman of the Week for games played on Sept. 7.

Bennett found the end zone three times in Elon's 49-7 victory over West Virginia Wesleyan.  He toted the ball nine times for 44 yards and two scores, while also hauling in four passes for 24 yards and another touchdown. 

Bennett is the first Phoenix player to earn SoCon Freshman of the Week accolades since defensive lineman Brandon Brant did so in November of 2010.

TD Runs
In its win over West Virginia Wesleyan, Elon ran for four touchdowns, matching the total rushing touchdowns the Phoenix posted in the 2012 season. The last time that an Elon team ran for four touchdowns in one game was Oct. 8, 2011 in a 38-31 victory at Western Carolina.

Watch This
Junior wide receiver Kierre Brown was selected to the watch list for the CFPA Wide Receiver Award. Last season, Brown was second on the team with 45 receptions, 642 receiving yards and for receiving touchdowns.

Scout Team Player of the Week
Each week over the course of the season, the coaching staff will select an offensive and defensive scout team player of the week. Those players will then lead the Phoenix onto the field by carrying the North Carolina and American flags.

at Georgia Tech
OL Haris Cesko and DB Javaris Seastrunk
vs. West Virginia Wesleyan
OL John Libretti and DL Dondre Howell

Oh Captain, My Captain
Selected as team captains for 2013 were senior defensive linemen Jordan Jones and Tony Thompson and senior offensive lineman Clay Johnson. The Phoenix also selects one other captain for each game week.

at Georgia Tech – Akeem Langham
vs. W.Va. Wesleyan – Jay Brown
at North Carolina A&T – Julius Moore

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 --