Towson, Md. - With identical records on the season, both overall and in conference, Elon and Towson meet Saturday looking to return to .500 on the season. Both teams are 4-5 overall and 3-3 in conference play. The winner will clinch at least a .500 mark in league play, with a chance to finish the season with a winning record.

Elon and Towson meet Saturday at 2:00 p.m. in Johnny Unitas Stadium in a game that can be seen live on FloSports. The audio broadcast from Taylor Durham and Matt Krause begins at 1:00 p.m. and is available for free via The Varsity Network app.

Elon and Towson are in a five-way tie for fourth place and the Phoenix has already exceeded preseason expectations after being picked last in the conference. Towson was selected seventh in the 12-team league and has the opportunity to also exceed the guesses of the preseason prognosticators.

The Phoenix has earned three of its four wins this year away from Rhodes Stadium with wins at Campbell, Richmond and Maine. Towson has won three of its four games at home in Johnny Unitas Stadium with victories over Stony Brook, Rhode Island and UAlbany.

Elon and Towson have played nine times previously, including four times in Maryland. Elon won the most recent meeting, posting a 25-23 victory to close out the 2019 season.
 

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FULL GAME NOTES

MEDIA CENTRAL

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TONY TRISCIANI IN YEAR THREE LEADING THE PHOENIX
• On Dec. 17, 2018, Tony Trisciani was named the 23rd head football coach in Elon history. In the fall of 2021, he is in his third season at the helm.
• While it is his third season as head coach, he is in his sixth year overall with the Phoenix, serving as the defensive coordinator in 2017 and 2018 before his elevation to the lead chair. In 2006, Trisciani coached the defensive backs and ran the special teams for Elon.

LAST GAME: NO. 10/13 VILLANOVA SHUTS OUT ELON
• Elon had a pair of first half turnovers and the Phoenix never found a way to get the offense in rhythm, losing to ranked Villanova 35-0 Saturday.
• It was Elon's second consecutive game against a top ten opponent after losing to No. 5 James Madison 45-21 a week earlier.
• Villanova scored on the final play of the first half to go ahead 21-0 and iced the contest with touchdowns in both the third and fourth quarter.

RESILIENCY
• Coach Tony Trisciani's program is built on attitude, effort and discipline (#AED) but resiliency has become the overriding theme for this year's team
• Elon has trailed in eight of nine games this season, falling behind by double digits six times. Three times Elon battled back from a double-digit deficit to take the lead, winning twice.
• In the season opener, Elon trailed 21-10 late in the second quarter and 21-13 at the break against Wofford. The Phoenix eventually took a 22-21 lead before losing to Wofford 24-22.
• In week two, Elon was behind 10-7 at the half and 17-7 in the third quarter. The Phoenix, though, scored 17 straight and held on for the 24-23 victory over Campbell.
• In week four, Elon was down 21-0 early to William & Mary but scored two late first-half touchdowns to get back within a score. The Tribe built the lead back to 27-14 but Elon closed to within three points twice in the fourth quarter before eventually succumbing 34-31.
• In week five, Richmond led 7-0 after the first quarter but Elon scored the final 20 points of the contest for a 20-7 win.
• Even in the one game it did not trail, Elon faced a resilient situation. After going ahead of Maine 26-10, the Black Bears returned a kickoff for a touchdown and then added another score to get within three. But Elon answered with an 11-play, 60-yard drive that sealed the victory.
• Against New Hampshire, Davis Cheek threw an early interception and Elon trailed 10-7 early in the second quarter. But Cheek responded to the INT by completing 20 of his next 21 passing attempts, including 17 in a row during one stretch, as the Phoenix outscored UNH 17-0 the rest of the way.

SECOND HALF DEFENSE
• Elon's defense has been difficult to score against in the second half this year.
• The Phoenix defense has allowed just six second-half touchdowns in six conference games this year.
• As well, Elon gave up just two second half touchdowns in two non-conference games against FCS competition.

CHEEK AN ALL-AMERICAN CANDIDATE
• After missing the 2020 season (spring of 2021), senior quarterback Davis Cheek has returned to the starting lineup for the 2021 season and is having one of the best seasons for a quarterback in FCS Football. He continues to elevate his game as the season wears on.
• Cheek ranks among the top 25 nationally in completions per game (No. 11), passing yards per game (No. 18), total offense per game (No. 19) and completion percentage (No. 23).
• Cheek has been responsible for 10 touchdowns in the past four games, throwing for seven and rushing for three. He had at least two passing TDs and a rushing score in three straight contests prior to the Villanova game.
• In the season opener, Cheek answered any questions about whether he'd be able to return to form, recording his fourth career 300-yard passing game with 312 yards against Wofford. It was the first time he surpassed 300 yards since his freshman season in 2017. His 29 completions and 51 attempts were career highs.
• In the CAA Football opener against William & Mary, Cheek set a new career-high with 384 yards passing, tying for the 10th most in a single game in program history. He also moved into second place in career passing yards at Elon with the performance.
• Cheek had his best outing of the year in the team's recent contest against New Hampshire. He was 27-of-31 for 328 yards and three total touchdowns (two passing).
• Cheek now has 38 career starts, helped the Phoenix to FCS Playoff appearances in 2017 and 2018, and is tenth among active FCS quarterbacks with 8,012 career passing yards.
• Cheek is just the second quarterback in program history with at least 8,000 career passing yards. He is also third in career touchdown passes (49), second in career passing attempts (1,090) and second in career completions (662). Cheek's 60.7 career completion percentage ranks third as well, as does his 133.5 career passing efficiency.
• Cheek's 15 touchdown passes this year are already tied for ninth in a single season in program history and his 214 completions, as well as 338 attempts, rank 10th. In short order, he should move into the top 10 in a single season in passing yards.

ALL HE DOES IS WIN, WIN, WIN
• Since stepping foot on campus in time for the 2017 season, quarterback Davis Cheek has made a huge impact on the Elon program.
• Elon went 2-9 in 2016 and immediately turned things around with an 8-4 season in 2017 that included a trip to the FCS Playoffs. Cheek started all 12 games during that freshman campaign.
• Starting with that 2017 season, Elon is 21-17 when Cheek is in the starting lineup but just 3-8 when he is not.

CHEEK EARNS HONORS
• On Monday, Davis Cheek was named one of 34 members of the CFPA FCS Midseason Watch List. He was one of just four players from CAA Football recognized as one of the top players in the country.
• Davis Cheek was named the Stats Perform National Offensive Player of the Week after going 27-of-31 for 328 yards and three touchdowns (two passing and one rushing) in a 24-10 win over New Hampshire.
• Davis Cheek was named one of 26 quarterbacks in the country, at all levels, to begin the year on the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl preseason Big Board. He is one of just three non-FBS quarterbacks to join the elite group.
• Cheek was also a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, given annually to one football player who combines academics, community service and on-field performance.
• Following a performance in which he went 29-of-37 for 332 yards and four total touchdowns (three passing), Cheek was named CAA Football Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 11. He led Elon to a 33-23 win at Maine.

NO DOUBTING THOMAS
• Over the course of his four seasons at Elon, junior Jaylan Thomas has been a reliable and steady running back. But since CAA Football league play began, Thomas has become a versatile and dynamic piece of the passing attack as well, averaging 3.8 receptions for 37.3 yards per contest.
• In the team's three non-conference games to start the year, Thomas had five total catches for 37 yards, posting no more than 93 all-purpose yards during that stretch.
• Since the team turned to league play, Thomas has 23 catches for 228 yards and two receiving touchdowns.
• Thomas had a historic day against William & Mary. With 73 yards rushing and 70 yards receiving, he had the first 70/70 game in Elon's NCAA Division I history. He added a career-high eight catches and touchdowns both through the air and on the ground.
• Thomas ranks sixth in Elon's FCS history with 1,891 career rushing yards, needing 22 more to pass De'Sean McNair (2016-19) to break into the top five. He is also sixth in career carries with 414.
• Thomas also has a penchant for finding paydirt, posting ten career rushing touchdowns. He is tied for tenth in the school's FCS history.

ACTION JACKSON
• Junior wide receiver Jackson Parham is having a break-out season, ranking third in the CAA in both receptions and receiving yards per game.
• Parham had 147 yards receiving in 2019 and improved to 197 in six games during the spring campaign. But he has 654 yards receiving in just nine games in 2021.
• Parham had a career-best 10 receptions against William & Mary in the CAA opener and then had a career-high 122 receiving yards against New Hampshire.
• Parham's 654 yards receiving in 2021 are already the most in a single season for an Elon pass catcher since current teammate Kortez Weeks had 709 yards in 2017.

NO WEEKS OFF
• Senior Kortez Weeks played in just three of Elon's six spring games but he has been impactful since being named third team All-CAA as a freshman in 2017.
• Weeks has had at least one reception in 26 straight games played dating back to the 2018 season. This year, he has caught a season-high six passes against Wofford, William & Mary and most recently Maine.
• Weeks led the Phoenix with 60 catches for 709 yards as a freshman in 2017 and followed that up with 36 catches for 484 yards in 2018.
• In 2019, he again led the team with 43 receptions, totalling 412 yards. He had eight more catches in limited action in the spring.
• With 2,010 career receiving yards, Weeks has moved into fifth in school history.
• Weeks' ten career receiving touchdowns, most recently catching a three-yard TD against James Madison, ranks eighth in Elon's FCS history as well.
• With 183 career receptions, Weeks ranks eighth among all active receivers.

TURNING THEM OVER
• Elon has had a tale of two seasons in forcing turnovers during the 2021 season.
• The Phoenix generatedf 13 turnovers through the first five games of the season, posting at least two turnovers gained in each of those contests.
• However, Elon has forced just one turnover in the previous four games total.
• In 2019, Billy Crocker's defense forced 21 turnovers and Elon was a CAA best +9 during the regular season.
• In 2020 (spring 2021), the defense again caused havoc, ranking in the top 10 nationally in fumbles recovered (7) and top 30 in total turnovers forced (11).
• Since Crocker began at Elon (the 2019-21 seasons together), the Phoenix rank among the best in CAA Football in turnover margin (+13) and in turnovers forced (46).

CAA FOOTBALL'S BEST
• Elon has earned four CAA Football Players of the Week during the fall of 2021.
• Tre'Von Jones was named Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 13 after recording nine tackles, an interception, a fumble recovery and a quarterback sack in a 24-23 win over Campbell.
• Cole Coleman picked up Defensive Player of the Week honors on Oct. 4 as he had eight tackles, a tackle for loss, and a pass break-up in Elon's 20-7 win at No. 22 Richmond.
• Davis Cheek was named Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 11 after going 29-of-37 for 332 yards in a 33-23 win at Maine. Cheek threw for three TDs and added a rushing score as well.
• Cheek again earned the honor, as well as the National Offensive Player of the Week award from Stats Perform, after going 27-of-31 for 328 yards and three touchdowns (two passing and one rushing) in a 24-10 win over New Hampshire.

ENOUGH FOOTBALLS FOR EVERYONE?
• In Elon's game at Maine, Davis Cheek connected with nine different receivers in the contest, including one batted pass back to himself. Twelve different players have caught at least one pass through the first nine games of the season, while seven have caught at least ten passes.
• In 2021, Cheek has hit at least seven receivers in each of the nine contests, and has reached as many as nine different receivers in a game.
• Four different receivers have at least 30 catches and 300 yards receiving in 2021.

THE 'SKY'LER IS THE LIMIT
• Junior kicker Skyler Davis has been one of the most consistent and reliable kickers in FCS football since starting his career at Elon in 2018.
• In the season opener, Davis made three field goals -- from distances of 39, 41 and 23 yards. He added a season-long 48-yarder at Richmond.
• Davis has made 43-of-60 field goals attempts in his career. He ranks seventh among all active FCS kickers in career field goals made.
• Prior to an uncharacteristic day in the CAA opener against William & Mary, Davis had connected on his last 13 attempts inside of 40 yards.
• In 2021, Davis is 20-for-21 on extra points and is 94-of-96 during his career. His one miss this year was a blocked extra point against Maine.
• With 223 career points scored, Davis ranks fifth in Elon's FCS history in scoring.

YURK FILLING BIG SHOES
• True freshman Jeff Yurk is replacing one of the top punters in program history in Hunter Stephenson. Stephenson ranked second in program history with a 40.9 career punting average.
• In six punts against Wofford, Yurk made the most of his debut with a 42.2 yard per punt average.
• Yurk had a busy day at Appalachian State, punting eight times. He averaged 40.5 yards per punt and put all of his first four inside the 20 yard line. He added a career-long 52-yarder later in the game.
• For the season, Yurk is averaging 38.0 yards per punt. He has landed 14 of his 48 punts inside the 20 yard line and has generated 17 fair catches.

FIRST TIME STARTERS
• With 20 starters returning from the spring campaign, it was a virtual certainty that most of Elon's starting 22 would be veterans. However, six players have cracked the starting lineup for the first time in their careers.
• Freshman Nick Veloz earned his first career start in the season opener and also started in week two.
• Against Campbell, Elon opened in a two-running back set and freshman Malik Griffin picked up his first career start because of it.
• On the defensive line, freshman Josh Johnson picked up the first start of his young career as well.
• Against Appalachian State, true freshman offensive lineman Kevin Burkett and second-year freshman defensive back Jaidyn Denis both earned their first starts.
• During the past week against Villanova, redshirt sophomore Joey Barbera made his first career start. He replaced Tristen Cox on the defensive line, who saw his 48-game consecutive start streak snapped due to injury.
• Four of the six first-time starters are second-year freshmen, having played in the 2021 spring campaign without using a year of eligibility. Burkett is the only true freshman to get a start this year.

RESTING THE DEFENSE
• Elon has played complementary football through the first nineweeks of the season, allowing the Phoenix defense to stay fresh throughout the game.
• Elon's average time of possession is 30:23 and the Phoenix have won the time of possession battle six times, holding onto the football for a season-best 37:59 at Maine.
• Elon held the time of possession advantage just one time in the abbreviated six-game spring campaign.
• The last time Elon held the ball for more than the 37:59 it did against Maine came when the team had 39:16 in TOP against Samford on Oct. 2, 2010.

VERSATILE ATTACK
• Elon is the only team in FCS that returned a player in 2021 with 5,000 career passing yards, a player with 1,600 career receiving yards, and a player with 1,400 career rushing yards.
• Quarterback Davis Cheek entered the season with 5,624 career passing yards, wide receiver Kortez Weeks has 1,671 career receiving yards, and running back Jaylan Thomas has 1,483 career rushing yards.

LEADING THE CHARGE
• Head coach Tony Trisciani announced that senior quarterback Davis Cheek, senior defensive lineman Tristen Cox, junior linebacker Devonte Chandler and graduate tight end Donovan Williams have been named captains for the Phoenix.
• The team captains are identical to the spring 2021 campaign.

GETTING THAT DEGREE
• Nine current players on the Elon football team already have their degrees.
• Joey Baughman, Davis Cheek, Tristen Cox, Skyler Davis, Jalen Greene, Michael Purcell, Kortez Weeks, Donovan Williams, and Torrence Williams are all Elon graduates.

IN THE NFL
• Elon alumnus Olisaemeka (Oli) Udoh has made the roster of the Minnesota Vikings after being drafted in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
• Udoh is currently the starting right guard for the Vikings. The Vikings are 3-5 overall heading into the week, currently sitting in second place in the NFC North.