ELON, N.C. – Twenty-eight first-quarter points for Maine proved too much to overcome as Elon University football fell 31-17 in the 2019 home finale at Rhodes Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9.
 
THE RUNDOWN
With Elon deferring to the second half at the onset, Maine opened the afternoon with a 60-yard touchdown pass from Joe Fagnano to Devin Young on third-and-nine to get on the board less than two minutes into the game. On the ensuing kickoff return, a big hit by Jonathan Smith-Cobb jarred the ball loose and Maine took over on the Elon 21 on the way to making it 14-0 four plays later with a three-yard rushing touchdown from Joe Fitzpatrick.
 
Hunter Stephenson pinned the Black Bears deep on the 12-yard line after Elon's first drive of the afternoon couldn't build any forward momentum, and Maine answered with Earnest Edwards breaking an 88-yard touchdown reception to put the Black Bears up 21-0 with 8:50 to go in the opening quarter. With Maine's Jaquan Blair returning a punt 39 yards to the Elon 20 to setup its fourth drive of the day, Edwards took a pitch and hit his receiver on the trick play to put Maine up 28-0 with 4:42 to go in the opening quarter.  
 
After the early 28-0 run, Elon scored 17 of the game's final 20 points with Skyler Davis hitting a second-quarter field from 39 yards out, Brelynd Cyphers carrying in from 12 yards out and De'Sean McNair catching a six-yard touchdown pass from Davis Cheek to come within the final margin of 14. Elon's defense settled in with Daniel Reid-Bennett intercepting a Fagnano pass to end Maine's drive that had reached the end zone 17 seconds before halftime.

Trying to come all the way back, Elon pulled out the trickery in the second half. Down 28-10 early in the fourth, Marcus Willoughby took a direct snap on fourth-and-four and posted the longest rush of the day with a 36-yard scamper to put the Phoenix in Maine territory. One play later, though, Maine's defensive unit stripped the ball for the takeaway. Later on late in the fourth trailing 31-17, the Phoenix recovered an onside kick and took it to the house but Elon was called for being a half step offsides.  
 
STATISTICS
Passing
Elon: Davis Cheek – 18/37, 203 yards, 1 touchdown
Maine: Joe Fagnano – 20/29, 320 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception

Rushing
Elon: De'Sean McNair – 5 carries, 26 yards
Maine: Emmanuel Reed – 13 carries, 55 yards

Receiving
Elon: Chandler Brayboy – 3 receptions, 60 yards
Maine: Earnest Edwards – 5 receptions, 153 yards, 1 touchdown

Defense
Elon: Cole Coleman – 9 tackles, 5 solo, 2.0 TFL
Maine: Adrian Otero – 11 tackles, 9 solo, 2.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks, 1 PBU, 1 QBH
 
UP NEXT
Elon will visit the Towson Tigers on Saturday, Nov. 23, for its 2019 season finale in Towson, Md. Kickoff on FloSports is set for 2 p.m. The game comes after Elon completes its second open date on the schedule on Nov. 16.