Elon, N.C. – The No. 19/23 Elon University Football team generated 10 quarterback sacks, tying the FCS single-game high in 2022, defeating UAlbany 27-3 on Senior Day and Homecoming Saturday. Eight different players had a sack for the Phoenix in the victory.
 
Elon completed its regular season home campaign with a 5-0 record, the first time the Phoenix have ever been undefeated in a season in Rhodes Stadium. It is the team's first unbeaten home campaign since 1997 when the team played in Burlington Memorial Stadium.
 
For UAlbany, it is the first time the Great Danes have lost by more than a single-score against an FCS opponent, dropping to 2-7 overall and 1-5 in CAA Football play. Elon improves to 7-3 overall and 5-2 in league action.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Neither team scored on its opening drive but Elon took the lead on its second possession. The Phoenix had an 11-play, 72-yard drive capped by a 16-yard Jalen Hampton touchdown run.
• UAlbany forced a turnover and connected on a 26-yard field goal to make it 7-3 before the end of first quarter. The Great Danes' three-yard drive was the only thing keeping Elon from its second shutout of the year.
• Elon extended its lead early in the second quarter as Malik Griffin ran for 36 yards to paydirt for the 14-3 Phoenix advantage.
• Jamir Malone had an interception on UAlbany's next possession, setting Elon up for a five-play, 28-yard scoring drive. Hampton punched it home for his second score of the day and a 21-3 lead.
• Later in the second quarter, Skyler Davis made a 52-yard field goal for the 24-3 lead. The only scoring of the second half was a 23-yard Davis field goal midway through the fourth quarter.

 



STATS AND NOTES

• Elon's 10 sacks are the most in the program's FCS history. It ties for the most in FCS this year, joining Alcorn (9/17/22) and Rhode Island (9/10/22).
• Elon is 5-0 in 2022 when finishing with at least four sacks in a game and is 9-0 in the Tony Trisicani era with that total.
• Elon had two fumble recoveries in the game, improving to 13 on the season. The Phoenix entered the game tied for the nation's lead.
• Marcus Hillman posted his eighth career forced fumble. That is the most by an Elon player in the program's FCS tenure, moving past Mark Hatch (2002-05) and Chad Nkang (2003-06).
• Hillman's forced fumble was also his fourth this year, tying him with Kelly Forrest (199) and Daronce Daniels (2007) for most in a single-season in the FCS era.
• Elon rushed for 170 yards in the contest, led by Jalen Hampton's 81 yards on the ground. The Phoenix has rushed for 120+ in 9-of-10 games this year.
• Elon held UAlbany to just 49 yards rushing a week after holding Delaware to only 19 yards on the ground. The Phoenix is now 8-0 under Trisciani when holding an opponent below 100 yards rushing.
• Skyler Davis made his fifth field goal of 51+ yards this year. There have been only 19 such made field goals in all of FCS this year. In fact, he is the only kicker in the college football, at any level, with five made field goals of 51+ yards.
• Jackson Parham returned from an injury that kept him out of the past two games to lead Elon with seven catches for 82 yards.
• Bryson Daughtry caught a pass for the 40^th consecutive game.
• Jeff Yurk had three punts for an average of 50.7 yards. He dropped two inside the 20, including one that was downed at the one-yard line.
• Omar Rogers had 11 tackles, equaling his season-high for the third time in 2022.
• Marcus Hillman ended with eight tackles, 2.0 sacks, 4.0 tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
• True freshman Cazeem Moore had 2.0 sacks and a fumble recovery.
• Elon set a new Rhodes Stadium record by winning its sixth consecutive contest in the stadium.
• By shutting out UAlbany in the second half, Elon's defense has given up just 33 points against its nine FCS opponents in the final 30 minutes of regulation. This includes only three touchdowns allowed. Elon has shut out back-to-back opponents in the second half.
• The Phoenix has guaranteed back-to-back winning conference seasons. Villanova is the only other CAA Football team that could achieve that feat, currently sitting at 3-3 in conference play after going 7-1 a year ago.
• Head coach Tony Trisciani moved back to .500 in his four-year tenure at Elon with a 19-19 record.
• In the three all-time meetings between Elon and UAlbany, the losing team has not scored a touchdown. UAlbany won the initial meeting 27-3 in 2016 and Elon won 6-0 in 2017.

 
UP NEXT

• Elon will close the regular season Saturday at Hampton at 1:00 p.m.