Elon, N.C. – In front of 8,126 fans packed into Rhodes Stadium, the Elon football team controlled the line of scrimmage in a 30-24 win over Gardner-Webb that avenged a loss to the Runnin' Bulldogs two seasons ago. With the win, Elon improved to 2-1 on the season, while Gardner-Webb fell to 1-2.
 
Redshirt freshman Jalen Hampton ran the ball 34 times for 168 yards and the Elon defense held Gardner-Webb to just 54 yards rushing on 33 carries. The Phoenix had at least 200 yards rushing and receiving for the first time since a win over The Citadel in 2019.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Elon jumped out to a 20-3 second quarter lead behind a pair of Skyler Davis field goals and two passing touchdowns by Matthew McKay. For the second week in a row, Davis tied the school record with a 52-yard made field goal. It is his third career field goal from that distance.
• McKay found Bryson Daughtry for a 39-yard touchdown with 6:43 left in the first quarter and then connected with DJ Moyer on a 24-yard score with 11:47 left in the second. For Moyer, it was his first career touchdown.
• Gardner-Webb rallied with three straight second quarter touchdowns to take a 24-20 lead.
• In the third quarter, McKay got his third touchdown pass of the game, finding Jordan Bonner for a 27-yard touchdown that put Elon ahead 27-24. Davis added a 41-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter for a 30-24 lead.
• Gardner-Webb had four more possessions in the fourth quarter, but the Elon defense suffocated every chance the Runnin' Bulldogs had. GWU had just 22 yards of offense over those drives.

  
STATS AND NOTES

• Jalen Hampton's 34 carries were the most for an Elon running back since Malcolm Summers had 39 carries in a 6-0 win over UAlbany on Sept. 30, 2017.
• With three passing touchdowns, Matthew McKay has now been responsible for at least three touchdowns in all three games this season for Elon.
• Bryson Daughtry had his second consecutive receiving game of at least 80 yards. He had three catches for 88 and his one touchdowns.
• Jordan Bonner caught a touchdown pass for the second straight game. Prior to last week's contest against Wofford, he had never recorded a receiving touchdown.
• Tre'Von Jones entered the game ranked seventh nationally with a 14.2 punt return average. He had one return for 48 yards to improve his average to 19.9 per return.
• Skyler Davis made three field goals in the game and had six touchbacks on seven kickoffs.
• Elon had 5.0 sacks and 9.0 tackles for loss in the win. It was the second straight game in which the Phoenix had at least four sacks.
• Josh Johnson led the way with 2.5 sacks and he added a forced fumble.
• Jamir Malone and Marcus Hillman each had eight tackles. Hillman added a sack, two quarterback hurries and a pass break-up.
• Senior captain Torrence Williams was disruptive with 1.5 sacks and a batted down pass.
• Marvin Pearson and Tre'Von Jones each had a fumble recovery. For Jones, it was his fifth career fumble recovery, good for fourth in the school's FCS history.
• Elon has not allowed a second half point since the 10:02 mark of the fourth quarter at Vanderbilt in the season opener. The Phoenix has gone four second-half quarters without allowing a point.

 
UP NEXT

• Elon opens CAA league play Saturday at #15/17 William & Mary at 3:30 p.m. William & Mary enters the game at 3-0 on the season with double-digit wins over Charlotte, Campbell and Lafayette.