Elon, N.C. – The Elon University football team reached a number of milestones Saturday as the Phoenix defeated No. 25 Rhode Island 43-28 to conclude the 2021 regular season.
 
With the win, Elon finishes the year with a 6-5 record, the team's first winning record since the 2018 team went 6-5. The Phoenix also went 5-3 in CAA Football play, good for sole possession of third place in the final conference standings. Elon was picked to finish 12^th in the CAA Football preseason poll but ended nine spots ahead of that prediction. It is the first five-win conference campaign for the program since 2017.
 
Elon closed the year with two consecutive wins and defeated two teams that were ranked at the time of competition. Prior to Saturday's win over No. 25 Rhode Island, Elon had also beaten then-No. #22/21 Richmond 20-7 in early October. It is the first time the Phoenix closed the season with the momentum of a two-game win streak since the 2010 team won four in a row to conclude the year.
 
Rhode Island concludes the regular season with a mark of 7-4 overall and 4-4 in CAA Football play. The Rams opened the season with five straight wins, followed with three consecutive losses, but had turned it around with two wins prior to Saturday's defeat.


 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Rhode Island opened the game quickly, driving 72 yards in nine plays on the first possession of the game to go ahead 7-0, but Elon quickly answered.
• The Phoenix scored on the ensuing possession with an equally-impressive eight-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a five-yard Kortez Weeks touchdown reception. The big play on the drive was a 55-yard Chandler Brayboy reception on the first offensive snap for the Phoenix.
• Elon took a 14-7 lead later in the first quarter when Jaylan Thomas scored the first of his two rushing touchdowns. He capped a six-play, 67-yard drive with a 15-yard scamper.
• From there, Skyler Davis began to take over. He made 5-of-5 field goals, connecting from yardage of 44, 32, 36, 43 and 46. His first kick put Elon ahead 17-7.
• Elon's mayhem defense then put a stamp on the game as Marvin Pearson forced a fumble and Dylan Tucker recovered it on the run for a 43-yard defensive touchdown.
• Davis connected on his second field goal of the day and Rhode Island answered with a late field goal but the Phoenix led 27-10 at the break.
• Davis opened the third quarter scoring with his third field goal but Rhode Island answered with a touchdown that made it 30-17.
• In the fourth quarter, Davis made back-to-back field goals that pushed the lead to 19 at 36-17 before Rhode Island made one last attempt to rally.
• The Rams scored on a 16-yard pass with 5:54 to play and added the two-point conversion to make it 36-25. After recovering an onside kick, the Rams kicked a field goal with 5:00 left that made it 36-28.
• After a stop, Rhode Island had a final chance but failed to convert on fourth down. Thomas iced the game with a 19-yard touchdown for the 43-28 victory. 

STATS AND NOTES

• Elon was +3 on turnovers, earning two interceptions and Tucker's fumble recovery for a touchdown.
• Davis Cheek concluded his career with an efficient 23-of-32 performance for 284 yards and one touchdown.
• Jaylan Thomas had the first 100-yard rushing game of the season for Elon, carrying the ball 22 times for 135 yards and two scores.
• Eight different receivers caught a pass, led by Jackson Parham with six receptions for 91 yards. Kortez Weeks also had six catches and added 78 yards and a touchdown.
• True freshman tight end Johncarlos Miller II had the first reception of his career and it came on a key fourth-and-one play on Elon's first drive that eventually tied the score at 7-7.
• Cole Coleman led Elon with nine tackles.
• Torrence Williams had arguably his finest performance of the season with six tackles, two sacks and three tackles for loss.
• Antonio White had the first interception of his career, while senior Shamari Wingard had an interception on the final play of his career.
• Elon's defense held Rhode Island to 53 rushing yards and just 2.5 yards per carry.
• Elon had the time of possession advantage 31:56-28:04. The Phoenix were also 5-of-5 in the red zone.
• The Phoenix scored on each of its first seven possessions that weren't halted by halftime.