Harrisonburg, Va. – Midway through the second quarter, the Elon University football team stood toe-to-toe with No. 5 James Madison. But with the score tied at 14-14, the JMU Dukes scored 31 consecutive points and ended Elon's three-game win streak 45-21 Saturday.
 
James Madison improved to 7-1 on the season with the win and moved into first play in CAA Football at 5-1 in league play. Elon fell to 4-4 overall and is tied with Towson for fourth in the league at 3-2. William & Mary and Villanova are each one game ahead of the Phoenix at 4-1 in conference.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Elon defense, which had held opponents scoreless in the red zone on eight of the last 11 drives inside the 20, added to that total early. James Madison drove to the 1-yard line but was stopped on fourth down when Nick Veloz forced a fumble that was recovered by Marvin Pearson.
• JMU did, however, get on the scoreboard first after Elon was forced to punt on the ensuing possession. The Dukes got the first of their five first half TD passes on the second possession to go ahead 7-0.
• Elon answered on the next possession as Davis Cheek hit Bryson Daughtry for a 52-yard score on third down to tie the game.
• After JMU scored early in the second to go ahead 14-7, Elon tied it again. Cheek hit Kortez Weeks for a three-yard scoring strike that tied it at 14-14.
• After that, though, JMU closed the half with three straight touchdowns to go up 35-14 at the break.
• In the second half, James Madison outscored Elon 10-7. The Phoenix's touchdown came on a Davis Cheek rushing touchdown with 7:48 to play, capping an 11-play, 95-yard drive.

 
NEWS AND NOTES

• Bryson Daughtry posted a career-high 112 yards receiving. It was his first career 100-yard game. He had a 52-yard touchdown among his seven receptions.
• Seven different players caught a pass as Davis Cheek ended 18-of-33 for 198 yards and two touchdowns.
• Cheek had at least two touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown for the third consecutive game. He has accounted for 10 touchdowns (seven passing and three rushing) in the last three games.
• Elon was 7-of-16 on third downs. It is the first time this year that James Madison has allowed an opponent to convert more than five third downs in a game.
• The Phoenix had just 15 yards of penalties, compared to 73 for James Madison.
• Marcus Hillman had a career-high 11 tackles.
• Torrence Williams had Elon's lone sack on the day and had 1.5 tackles for loss.
• Elon lost on the road to an FCS opponent for the first time this year, falling to 3-1. The Phoenix also lost on the road at FBS Appalachian State.
• Elon has scored 20+ points in four consecutive CAA games.
• The Elon defense has allowed just four second-half touchdowns in five conference games.
• Elon falls to 10-14 against ranked opponents since 2016.

 
UP NEXT

• Elon returns home to host No. 4 Villanova Saturday at 2:00 p.m. The game is Hall of Fame Weekend as the Athletics Department inducts six members from the 2020 and 2021 Hall of Fame classes. Elon will also celebrate and recognize the 1980 and 1981 NAIA Football National Champions.