Nashville, Tenn. – The Elon football team posted 495 yards of offense and almost rallied back from an early deficit in a 42-31 loss to Vanderbilt Saturday night. Vanderbilt improved to 2-0 with the win, while Elon fell to 0-1.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Vanderbilt, with a game under its belt already, jumped out to an early 21-0 first-quarter lead.
• Elon got on the board as graduate transfer Matthew McKay found Chandler Brayboy for a 75-yard strike. The Phoenix followed with a 48-yard Skyler Davis field goal to make it 21-10.
• Vanderbilt, though, wrapped touchdowns around halftime, scoring late in the first half and early in the third quarter, to seemingly put the game out of reach at 35-10.
• From there, Elon went to work. McKay scored on a five-yard plunge on the ensuing drive and then he found Jackson Parham for a 22-yard touchdown on the final play of the third quarter.
• Vanderbilt scored early in the fourth to make it 42-24, but Elon again rallied. McKay had another five-yard rushing touchdown and then the Phoenix recovered an onside kick.
• Elon drove down the field but was stopped on fourth and goal from the one with a chance to make it a one-score game.

 
STATS AND NOTES

• The 11-point defeat was the closest contest for the program against an FBS team, bettering a 41-27 loss to Duke in 2010.
• Redshirt sophomore Wayne Dixie III had a 22-yard rush on his first touch since playing the 2021 spring season at Butler. He ended with 11 carries for 50 yards.
• Graduate transfer quarterback Matthew McKay was 19-of-32 passing for 333 yards and four touchdowns (two rushing and two passing). He was 16-of-25 passing in the second half.
• Redshirt sophomore Chandler Brayboy had a 75-yard receiving touchdown, the longest catch of his career. He had the second 100-yard game of his career, finishing with four catches for 105 yards.
• Jackson Parham ended the contest with eight catches for a career-best 143 yards and a touchdown.
• Elon was 0-for-7 on third downs in the first half, but improved to 4-of-8 in the second half.
• As a team, Elon rushed for 152 yards, the most since the team ran for 222 against Davidson to open the 2021 spring season.
• Tre'Von Jones had five punts returns for 71 yards, including a 34-yarder. As a team, Elon had 52 yards in punt returns for the entire 2021 season. Jones already has the most punt returns for a Phoenix player in a single season since he had 76 yards in 2019.
• Elon held a time of possession advantage of almost 10 minutes, keeping the ball for 34:29. Vanderbilt had possession for 25:31
• Elon outgained Vanderbilt 495-424, including 343-245 through the air.
• The Phoenix had 23 first downs, while Vanderbilt had just 17.
• Senior kicker Skyler Davis made a 48-yard field goal, his 10^th consecutive made field goal attempt dating back to the 2021 season. He also made all three of his extra point attempts.

 
UP NEXT

• Elon will play at Wofford Saturday at 6:00 p.m. Wofford lost to Chattanooga 31-0 in its season opener Saturday.
• The Phoenix will then host Gardner-Webb Sept. 17 at 6:00 p.m. for the team's home opener, which is also Hall of Fame Day.

 

Head coach @TonyTrisciani gives his thoughts from the field after tonight's game with Vanderbilt. #AED pic.twitter.com/nfxAJBkaUG

— Elon Football (@ElonFootball) September 4, 2022