NEWARK, Del. – Fifth-ranked Elon University football led heading to the fourth quarter, but Delaware answered with a 14-point final frame to win 28-16 on Saturday, Oct. 13, at Delaware Stadium.

"It was a hard-fought game," said Elon head coach Curt Cignetti. "We had a lot of adversity, but I thought the people that came in really stepped up and played well. We just couldn't sustain drives offensively and put too much pressure on the defense. They made the plays at the end and we didn't. They're a good football team and they're going to win a lot of games."
  
THE RUNDOWN
With Elon (4-2, 2-1 CAA) leading 16-14 going to the fourth, Delaware (4-2, 2-1 CAA) scored two touchdowns in a span of 3:59 to pull ahead 21-16 with 7:01 to play and 28-16 with 4:02 to go.
 
Looking at a scoreless first quarter, Elon got the ball back with 48 seconds left and found pay dirt with a two-play, 61-yard drive that was capped by Jaylan Thomas running in from nine yards out with 31 seconds left. The play was setup by Jalen Greene hitting Cole Taylor for 52 yards down the sideline for the longest passing play of the season for the Phoenix.
 
Midway through the second quarter, Daniel Reid-Bennett forced his second fumble of the day and Tristen Cox fell on his second in the game to set Elon up with first down on the Delaware 23. Six plays later, Skyler Davis connected from 25 yards out to make it 10-0.
 
After Delaware forced a three-and-out late in the first half, the Blue Hens drove 53 yards to cut the Elon lead to three at 10-7 with 11 seconds to go before halftime. Out of the break, UD drove 69 yards in four minutes to take a 14-10 lead.
 
Looking for another second-half comeback, Davis cut the Blue Hen lead to one at 14-13 with his second 25-yard field goal of the day with 7:20 to go in the third. With 58 seconds left in the third, Davis put Elon back on top 16-14 with a 38-yard field goal.
 
STATISTICS
Rushing
Elon: Jaylan Thomas – 12 carries, 49 yards, 1 touchdown
UD: Kani Kane – 19 carries, 124 yards, 1 touchdown
 
Passing
Elon: Jalen Greene – 11-26, 140 yards
UD: Pat Kehoe – 16-30, 144 yards, 3 touchdowns
 
Receiving
Elon: Cole Taylor – 3 receptions, 91 yards
UD: Charles Scarff – 5 receptions, 43 yards, 2 touchdowns
 
Defense
Elon: Daniel Reid-Bennett – 10 tackles, 1.0 sacks, 1.0 TFL, 2 forced fumbles
UD: Troy Reeder – 15 tackles, 8 solo, 1.0 sacks, 5.0 TFL
 
NOTEWORTHY
-Elon has now trailed in the second half in each of its last nine road games. It has won six of those contests. 
-Daniel Reid-Bennett's 10 tackles are one short of his career high set last year against Richmond.
-Elon was held to one sack defensively after notching five in back-to-back games against New Hampshire and James Madison.
-With Delaware's 12-point win, it marks the largest win in the series. Delaware remains the only CAA team Elon has yet to beat since it joined the conference in 2014. The two teams have only played three times in those five seasons.  
-Davis Cheek completed 3-of-5 passes for 36 yards in the first quarter before leaving the game with a left knee injury.
 
UP NEXT
After a stretch in which Elon has played four of its first six away from home, the Phoenix will head back to Rhodes Stadium to start a three-game homestand and will open the run Saturday, Oct. 20, with a 1:30 p.m. kickoff against Richmond.