ELON, N.C. – Thanks to an efficient and dazzling offensive display and a dominant defensive performance, the Elon football team won its third straight game, defeating New Hampshire 24-10. The victory was the first home one of the season for the Phoenix.
 
With the win, Elon improves to 4-3 on the season and 3-1 in CAA play. New Hampshire falls to 3-4 and 2-2 in conference. The Phoenix remains in a logjam near the top of the CAA standings after six teams entered the day with just one loss. Villanova was the lone unbeaten team at 3-0 in conference.
 
Davis Cheek led the way for Elon's offense, completing an eye-popping 27-of-31 passes for 328 yards and throwing two touchdowns. This was Cheek's fourth game of the season with over 300 yards passing. He is 56-of-68 for 660 yards and seven total touchdowns (five passing, two rushing) in the last two contests.
 
The Phoenix defense held the Wildcats offense to 214 yards of total offense and just 71 yards in the second half. Elon compiled 11 tackles for loss and held New Hampshire to just 3-of-14 on third down attempts. Bo Sanders led the Phoenix in tackles with seven, while Devonte Chandler posted three tackles for loss.  
 


HOW IT HAPPENED

• On the second play of the game, Davis Cheek connected with Bryson Daughtry for a 58-yard touchdown to put Elon up 7-0.
• Cheek was intercepted on the next Phoenix drive, giving the Wildcats the ball at the Phoenix 43-yard line. On the ensuing drive, New Hampshire converted a fourth and 11 after a pass interference penalty. Four plays later, the Wildcats scored a touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 with 6:16 left in the first quarter.
• New Hampshire took a 10-7 lead with 14:09 remaining in the second quarter by way of a 36-yard field goal.
• The Phoenix retook the lead before the half when Cheek scored on a three-yard rush to cap off a 10-play, 86-yard touchdown drive. Elon took a 14-10 lead into the half.
• After Elon's defense forced a punt to begin the third quarter, the Phoenix marched on a five play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Cheek found Chandler Brayboy for an 18-yard touchdown to give Elon a 21-10 lead with 7:24 left in the third quarter.
• Marcus Hillman grabbed his first interception of the season to set Elon's offense up at the New Hampshire 28-yard line with 4:00 remaining in the third quarter. After three offensive plays, Skyler Davis made a 45-yard field goal to give Elon a 24-10 advantage.
• Midway through the fourth, New Hampshire had one more chance to get back in the game. Needing to convert a fourth and 13 deep in Elon territory to keep a drive alive, the Wildcats picked up only 11 yards, giving the Phoenix the ball back at its own three-yard line.
• Elon's offense ran down the clock to secure the victory, finishing the game on a 13-play, 83-yard drive that took up the final 7:08 of the fourth quarter.

 
NOTES AND STATS

• Elon held New Hampshire scoreless for the final 44:09 of the game.
• Elon outgained New Hampshire in total offense 378-214 and picked up 19 first downs.
• The Phoenix threw the ball 31 times and ran it 31 times.
• Elon won the time of possession battle, holding the ball for 31:18.
• New Hampshire converted on just two of five trips to the red zone. Opponents have scored points on just 3-of-11 red zone possessions during the current three-game win streak.
• Jackson Parham caught six passes for 122 yards to lead the Phoenix pass catchers.
• Cole Coleman pitched in six tackles and delivered his first career sack.
• Marvin Pearson and Trey Alsbrooks both picked up their second sack of the season.
• Tre'Von Jones compiled five tackles and two pass breakups.
• Devonte Chandler had six tackles, three of which were for a loss, and two quarterback hurries.
• This was the seventh meeting between Elon and New Hampshire. The Phoenix now trail the series 5-2. It is Elon's first victory over New Hampshire since 2018.
• Elon is 3-1 in CAA Football play for the first time since 2018.
• Since falling behind William & Mary 21-0 to start CAA Football play, Elon has outscored CAA opponents 108-53.

FROM HEAD COACH TONY TRISCIANI
"It feels great to get a win at home, and we were purposeful. We talked about it as a team this week. I really wanted our guys to have a win at home for their families and our fans. It was big and it was important to us. We wanted to defend our turf, and so it was great to put it together today and get the home win. I think we had a great plan defensively, and the plan was to make them earn the field. They're a football team that thrives on takeaways but they also rely on explosive plays. So we felt as though if we could protect the top of our defense and keep the ball in front of us, that they wouldn't be able to sustain drives down the field."
 
UP NEXT

• Elon travels to play at No. 7/6 James Madison Saturday at 2:00 p.m.