ELON, N.C. — Standing on the Rhodes Stadium home sideline on Nov. 25, 2017, Michael Purcell and Torrence Williams could only watch as Elon fell just short of its first FCS playoff victory, losing 28-27 to Furman in the first round.
 
Five years later, that defeat still stings. But when the Phoenix takes the field at 12 p.m. Saturday for a playoff rematch with the Paladins, this time in Greenville, S.C., Purcell and Williams will get the chance to enact some revenge.
 
"The first thing I thought of (when the matchup was revealed) was freshman year where we had to sit there and watch our team unfortunately lose that game," said Williams, who, along with Purcell, redshirted in 2017. "Now we're in a position where we're leaders, we're key players and we can actually put ourselves in a position to win, so it's just great to have that opportunity.
 
"We've always kept in the back of our mind that we had to get back to the playoffs, and now that we're here, it's time to show out."
 
Having also reached the 2018 playoffs, Purcell and Williams hold the distinction of being the only Elon players to play for three playoff teams. Both previous trips were memorable. But after going a combined 12-16 and missing out on the postseason the past three years, this year's appearance carries even greater significance for the duo.
 
"It definitely was humbling when we were getting our butts kicked, and in '17 and '18, I took (making the playoffs) for granted," Purcell said. "But that's what happens when you've got a lot of experience and talent, and that kind of comes in cycles."
 
It's certainly prevalent this year.
 
The Phoenix's experience is perhaps most noticeable along the offensive line, which, after a few down years, has been instrumental to the team's success. Boasting five players who have started all 11 games – led by Purcell at center – the unit has paved the way as Elon has rushed for 120-plus yards in 10 of 11 games. It has also excelled at protecting quarterback Matthew McKay, tying for second in the CAA in fewest sacks allowed (1.5 per game).
 
"We've had some experience in the past of being a pretty bad offensive line, so we kind of use that as the chip on our shoulder," Purcell said. "Playing 15-20 games with these guards next to me and the tackles next to them, that continuity, the experience and just kind of knowing what the guy next to you is thinking and doing means a lot."
 
On the other side of the ball, Williams has helped the Phoenix defense to one of the most dominant all-around seasons in the program's FCS history. Elon enters Saturday ranked in the top 25 nationally in sacks (ninth, 3.09 per game), scoring defense (13th, 19.9 points per game), turnovers forced (18th, 21), rushing defense (19th, 118.1 yards per game) and total defense (24th, 333.7 yards per game). It's held its opponent to 10 or fewer points four times.
 
"It's always been known in the back of our heads that we could be a great defense …" Williams said. "But our defense still isn't satisfied with what we've done. We give up three points in a game and we're mad. We give up 10 and we're mad. We believe we're a defense that can shut teams out every game."
 
Despite these strengths, the Phoenix's path to the playoffs has been anything but linear.
 
After opening the season with a hard-fought loss at Vanderbilt, Elon reeled off five straight wins to achieve a No. 14 national ranking. Just as quickly as a postseason berth started seeming like a reality, though, the Phoenix dropped back-to-back games at Rhode Island and New Hampshire in October. Suddenly, Elon found itself outside of the playoff picture, but it responded resoundingly, winning its last three regular-season games to set the stage for Saturday's showdown at Furman.
 
Purcell and Williams both point to the sense of belief that the Phoenix has exuded this season – especially amid its two-game skid – as the biggest similarity between this year's team and the '17 and '18 squads. That, Williams said, should prove crucial in the postseason.
 
"It all comes down to that love, who's putting in that extra work on their technique, who's putting the extra work in on their assignments and things like that," he said. "I think this year everyone wants to do right and be the one punching, not the one getting punched in the face."