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Elon takes on Wake Forest in non-conference football action at Allegacy Federal Credit Union STadium on Thursday, August 31, 2023 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Jeff Sochko/Tim Cowie Photograph
17
Elon ELN 0-1 , 0-0
37
Winner Wake Forest WFU 1-0 , 0-0
Elon ELN
0-1 , 0-0
17
Final
37
Wake Forest WFU
1-0 , 0-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
ELN Elon 0 0 14 3 17
WFU Wake Forest 10 14 6 7 37

Game Recap: Football | | by Jacob Kisamore, Elon Athletics Communications Assistant

Elon Falls To Wake Forest In Season Opener

Winston-Salem, N.C. The Elon University football team outscored Wake Forest in the second half of its season-opener on Thursday night in a 37-17 loss. The Phoenix fell to 0-1 on the season while Wake Forest improved to 1-0. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Wake Forest scored the game's first 27 points in the first half to take a 27-0 lead to the locker room. 
  • After a defensive stop to open the third quarter, the Phoenix found the scoreboard for the first time this season on its opening drive of the second half, as Jalen Hampton delivered a 49-yard touchdown run. 
  • On the ensuing Wake Forest drive, Caleb Curtain intercepted a pass over the middle and returned it 45 yards for an Elon touchdown, cutting the deficit to 27-14. 
  • Wake scored the next 10 points before Jack Berkowitz knocked home the first field goal of his career in the closing seconds to make the final score 37-17. 

STATS AND NOTES
  • Jalen Hampton's 49-yard touchdown run was the 11th touchdown of his career and tied his longest career run. 
  • Caleb Curtain's pick six was Elon's first since Greg Liggs, Jr. had a 42-yarder against Delaware in 2019. 
  • The Phoenix tallied four sacks, led by Cazeem Moore's 1.5. Curtain and Chazz Harley both added one sack each. 
  • Nick Veloz racked up a career-best nine tackles, including one for a loss. Bo Sanders also had nine tackles to go along with a pair of pass breakups. 
  • Brandon Tyson and Antonio White both posted career-highs with seven tackles. 
  • Justin Allen and Matthew Downing split quarterbacking duties. Allen completed 18 of 29 passes for 128 yards after entering the game in the second quarter.  
  • Jordan Bonner hauled in seven passes for 58 yards to lead the Phoenix in both categories. Both were Elon-highs for Bonner, who spent two seasons with Purdue before joining the Phoenix in 2020. 
  • Cody Hardy caught his first career pass in the first quarter. 
  • Punter Kyle Romenick had two punts of at least 50 yards and averaged 43.4 yards on eight attempts. 
  • Elon outrushed Wake Forest 106-98 and held the Demon Deacons below three yards per carry for the game (2.8). The Phoenix held Wake Forest to just 22 yards on 15 carries in the first half. This was Elon's first loss under Tony Trisciani (now 9-1) when holding an opponent under 100 yards on the ground. 
  • Elon went 3-3 on fourth down on the night. 
  • The Phoenix outscored the Demon Deacons 17-13 in the second half. 
  • This was the first time in 13 matchups against Wake Forest that Elon reached double-digit points. 

UP NEXT
  • After a 10-day break, Elon returns to the road for its next game at Gardner-Webb at 6 p.m. on Sept. 9.
  • The Phoenix will host North Carolina A&T in its home-opener at Rhodes Stadium on Sept. 17 at 6 p.m. It will also be Hall of Fame Day. 
 
–ELON–
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