Game Information
Elon (1-2, 1-0 CAA) at Campbell (2-1, 1-1 CAA)
Date: Sept. 23, 2023
Time: 6:00 p.m. ET
Streaming: FloSports (Chris Hemeyer/Mark Covert) (STREAMING LINK)
Audio Broadcast (Smart Device): The Varsity Network App (Taylor Durham/Khirey Walker) (LINK)
Audio Broadcast (Web-Based): LeanStream via ElonPhoenix.com (LINK)
Live Stats: ElonPhoenix.com (LINK)
Game Notes: Elon | Campbell
Twitter/X: @ElonFootball
Instagram: @ElonFB


SETTING THE STAGE

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• Elon and Campbell meet for the second time in program history, and the first as CAA foes, on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. in Buies Creek, N.C. The Phoenix moved to 1-0 in CAA play with a 27-3 win against North Carolina A&T Saturday, while Campbell improved to 1-1 in conference play with a 45-31 win over Monmouth.
• Saturday's game is recognized as Parent's Day on Campbell's campus.
• Elon is 0-2 on the road this year, while Campbell is 0-1 at home. The Camels did go 4-1 at home a year ago but the Phoenix has familiarity with Barker-Lane Stadium, defeating Campbell there 24-23 in 2021. Down by seven, Campbell scored a touchdown with 1:11 to play but Elon stuffed a two-point conversion attempt to earn the victory.
• For those not in attendance Saturday evening, the game can be streamed on FloSports.
• The audio broadcast, with Taylor Durham and Khirey Walker, begins with the pregame show at 5:30 p.m. and can be heard for free via The Varsity Network app on your mobile device or by visiting ElonPhoenix.com and clicking on Live Audio on the football schedule.

TONY TRISCIANI BEGINS YEAR FIVE LEADING THE PHOENIX

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• On Dec. 17, 2018, Tony Trisciani was named the 23rd head football coach in Elon history. In 2022, he led the program back to the FCS playoffs for the first time in his head coaching tenure.
• Trisciani has been a member of the Phoenix staff the last three times Elon has made the playoffs -- as head coach in 2022 and as defensive coordinator in 2018 and 2017.
• While it is his fifth season as head coach, he is in his eighth year overall with the Phoenix, serving as the defensive coordinator in 2017 and 2018 before his elevation to the lead chair. In 2006, Trisciani coached the defensive backs and ran the special teams for Elon.
• Elon has won at least five games in all three fall campaigns in which he has been the head coach. The 2020 season was competed during a shortened spring campaign due to COVID-19.
• Elon has improved in each fall season under Trisciani, going from five wins in 2019 to six wins in 2021 and then eight wins in 2022.
• Under Trisciani, Elon won 11 conference games in 2021 and 2022 and is the only program to finish in the top three of the CAA standings in both seasons. That came after being picked 12th and sixth in the preseason polls.
• The 2023 season is Trisciani's 28th year as a football coach and his 18th at a CAA Football institution. Since his return to Elon in 2017, he has helped the program defeat 13 FCS Top 25 programs. As head coach, he has notched seven wins over ranked teams.

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW

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• Head Coach Tony Trisciani has put together an assistant coaching staff that mixes familiar faces at Elon with new staff.
• Offensive Coordinator Drew Folmar has been at Elon since 2017, while Defensive Coordinator Dovonte Edwards is in his third season at Elon and in his second in his current role.
• Defensive Line Coach Seth Payne has been at Elon since 2019. Special Teams Assistant Mike Nall also rejoined the program prior to the 2019 season. Nall also coached at Elon from 2005-08.
• Special Teams Coordinator/Outside Linebackers Coach Milo Austin, Inside Linebackers Coach Casey Vance and Running Backs Coach Nate Harris all joined Elon in time for the 2022 season.
• Elon sees four new faces to the staff for 2023. Offensive Line Coach Alex Stadler, Wide Receivers Coach Kyle Perkins, Tight Ends Coach Matt Ford and Cornerbacks Coach Dominique Battle are all in their first year with the Phoenix.

SCOUTING CAMPBELL

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• Campbell enters Saturday at 2-1 on the season and two straight wins since a hard-fought 34-24 loss to No. 4 William & Mary to open the season. The Camels have scored 101 points over the last two weeks and are averaging 41.7 per game.
• Campbell ranks ninth in the country in total offense and the Camels both run and pass the ball effectively. Campbell not only averages 198.3 yards on the ground, but quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams also completes 75 percent of his passes, third-best in the country.
• On the flip side, Campbell is allowing opponents to run for 210.0 yards per game and the Camels are among the bottom 10 teams nationally in tackles for loss and quarterback sacks. Opposing teams are averaging 402.3 yards of offense.
• Along with a completion rate of 75 percent, Williams is sixth nationally in passing efficiency, 17th in passing yards and 21st in passing touchdowns.

TO BE THE BEST, YOU'VE GOT TO BEAT THE BEST

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• Heading into the 2023 season, Elon was ranked as having the third most difficult schedule in the country by FCS Analyst, based on opponent win percentage.
• Elon's 11 opponents had a .606 win percentage in 2022, going a combined 80-52. Only Harvard (.648, 68-37) and Nicholls (.610, 83-53) have more difficult schedules.
• Among CAA teams, Campbell (.583, 77-55) has the fifth-tougest schedule in the nation and Delaware (.559, 71-56) is 12th.
• So far in 2023, Elon's 11 opponents have a combined record of 19-14, a .576 win percentage. The Phoenix's final eight opponents are 15-9. That .625 opponents percentage is the second-toughest remaining schedule in FCS football.

BAM BAM ON THE MOVE

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• When watching Jalen Hampton run the ball, it's easy to see why he has earned the nickname Bam Bam. Unafraid to take on defensive players, Hampton has become one of Elon's most productive running backs in program history in less than two seasons.
• Hampton became just the third player in Elon's FCS history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, carrying the rock for 1,053 yards in 2022. He's off to an even better start in 2023.
• Through three games, Hampton has 319 yards rushing and is averaging 6.5 yards per carry, a big increase over his 4.6 yard per carry average in 2022.
• Against North Carolina A&T Saturday, Hampton ran the ball 16 times for 153 yards, an average of 9.6 yards per carry. It was his fifth career 100-yard rushing game, going over 130 yards in each of those contests.
• That performance came after Hampton carried the ball 15 times for 89 yards against Wake Forest in the season opener, scoring his 11th career touchdown on a 49-yard run in the third quarter. He added 18 carries for 77 yards against Gardner-Webb.
• According to advanced analytic data, Hampton reaching a top speed of 19.5 miles per hour on his touchdown carry against Wake Forest, his fastest clocked speed of the game.
• With 1,372 career rushing yards in just 14 games, Hampton already ranks ninth in Elon's FCS history (since 1999). He needs 86 yards to pass Derrick Moore (1999-00) for eighth place.
• Hampton rushed for at least 80 yards in eight of the 11 games he played a year ago. With two more 80-yard games in 2023, he has now reached that mark 10 times in 14 career games.
• Hampton had a career-high 177 yards against his namesake, Hampton, in 2022 tying his career-high with three rushing touchdowns.

POUNDING THE ROCK

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• Behind an improved offensive line and the emergence of Jalen Hampton, Elon has become a strong running team, rushing for at least 120 yards in 12 of the team's 15 games over the past two seasons.
• Against North Carolina A&T on Saturday, Elon ran for 260 yards, the most for the program since 2019. Hampton had 153 yards on the ground and Wayne Dixie III rushed for a career-best 85. True freshman Dan Frederick saw his first collegiate action with six carries for 26 yards as well.
• With the 260 yards against North Carolina A&T, Elon improved to 7-0 in Head Coach Tony Trisciani's tenure when rushing for 200+ yards.
• Elon topped 200 rushing yards three times last season, doing so against William & Mary (240 yards) as well as Gardner-Webb (205 yards) and Hampton (200 yards).
• In 2021, Elon rushed for 120+ yards as a team just one time, doing so with 146 yards in the season finale against Rhode Island. In fact, the 10 games of 120+ yards rushing in 2022 were the most for the program since doing so 10 times in 2017 as well.
• Elon averaged 152.3 yards per game rushing in 2022, a vast improvement over the 90.4 yards per game the team ran for in 2021. It was the team's highest rushing average in a season since going for 199.5 in 2018. So far in 2023, Elon has improved to 163.7 yards per contest on the ground.

WINNING IN THE TRENCHES

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• Under Head Coach Tony Trisciani, Elon has been nearly unbeatable when winning in the trenches on at least one side of the ball.
• Elon is 7-0 when rushing for at least 200 yards in a game under Trisciani and 9-1 when holding opponents to fewer than 100 yards rushing. Ironically, Elon's first loss in that scenario came in week one against Wake Forest, as the Demon Deacons had just 98 yards on 2.8 yards per carry.
• Elon reached both milestones against Gardner-Webb in 2022 and against North Carolina A&T last week.
• Against Gardner-Webb, Elon ran for 205 and held the Runnin' Bulldogs to 43. Against North Carolina A&T, Elon rushed for 260 and held the Aggies to 81 yards.

CURTAIN CALL

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• Redshirt sophomore Caleb Curtain had a solid season in 2022, getting his feet wet with 12 tackles, an interception and a sack. But he made his mark in the 2023 season opener.
• Curtain had four tackles, a sack, and most importantly, a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown at Wake Forest.
• Curtain's interception return was Elon's first pick-six since Greg Liggs Jr. had one in 2019. Liggs Jr. is Elon's career interception leader, with 15, and single-season interception leader, with eight in 2019.
• According to analytic tracking data, Curtain reached a top speed of 20.58 miles per hour on the interception return, his fastest reading of the game.
• Curtain added his second interception of the season against North Carolina A&T Saturday.

PEARSON IS A PROBLEM

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• Redshirt senior defensive end Marvin Pearson will have opposing offensive line coaches scratching their heads all year long. He was dominant against Wake Forest and is considered Elon's top NFL prospect this year.
• Pearson recorded seven tackles, three for loss, and a sack in week one at Wake Forest. His sack came on Wake Forest's second drive as the Demon Deacons were facing a third-and-short and forced a Wake Forest punt.
• Pearson also had a three-yard tackle for loss on another third-and-short play in the first quarter and added a fourth quarter TFL to stall out another Wake Forest drive.
• After 1.5 more sacks (and 2.0 tackles for loss) Saturday against North Carolina A&T, Pearson now has a team-best 5.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, ranking among the top 15 nationally in both categories.

CAZEEM THE DREAM

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• Starting opposite Marvin Pearson at defensive end, sophomore Cazeem Moore makes it very difficult for offensive lines to protect the quarterback.
• As a true freshman a year ago, Moore was just too talented to redshirt and he played in all 12 games, starting the final two. He was second on the team with 4.0 sacks and added four quarterback hurries.
• In the 2023 season opener at Wake Forest, Moore was again a factor, posting three tackles and a sack. His fourth quarter sack came on third down to shut down a Wake Forest drive.
• Against Gardner-Webb, he had three more stops, a TFL and a pair of quarterback hurries.

TO PUNT OR NOT TO PUNT

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• In the past two weeks, Elon has fake punted twice with both attempts resulting in a 35-yard gain.
• Against Gardner-Webb two weeks ago, Josh Johnson took a short snap and rumbled 35 yards for a first down on the first and only carry of his career, proving that defensive linemen can be versatile and add to the offensive stats as well.
• On Saturday against North Carolina A&T, Elon fake punted again in vastly different fashion. Kyle Romenick became the first punter in Elon's Division I era to throw a touchdown pass, completed a 35-yard bomb to true freshman defensive back DJ Hamilton.

DEION MAKES HEADLINES BUT SO DOES BO

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• Deion Sanders and his son Shedeur may be grabbing national headlines at Colorado, but another Sanders is leading the defense much like Deion did in his playing days.
• Senior captain Bo Sanders has a team high 19 tackles, posting nine against Wake Forest, along with two pass break-ups and a quarterback hurry.
• Deion was also a factor in the return game during his playing days and Bo does the same. He is averaging 5.4 yards on seven punt returns in 2023.

NO LINEBACKERS? NO PROBLEM

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• Elon graduated all of its starting linebackers from 2022, but redshirt sophomore Nick Veloz, redshirt freshman Brandon Tyson, and redshirt freshman Marco Patierno have filled the gap nicely.
• Veloz was set to make an impact a year ago but was limited to just four games in 2022. He had a career-best nine tackles against Wake Forest, along with a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry. He had three more tackles and a pass break-up against Gardner-Webb.
• Tyson had seven tackles against Wake Forest and then jumped on a loose ball late in the fourth quarter against Gardner-Webb for a fumble recovery that started Elon's game-tying touchdown drive.
• After recording three tackles against Wake Forest, Patierno was all over the field against Gardner-Webb, finishing with seven tackles and 0.5 tackle for loss. He earned his first career start against North Carolina A&T Saturday and then turned in a team-best seven tackles, 1.5 for loss.

FILLING BIG SHOES

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• True freshman kicker Jack Berkowitz has huge shoes to fill in replacing Skyler Davis, the best kicker in Elon history and the best kicker in all of FCS in 2022. But Berkowitz has answered the call so far, making 5-of-6 field goals and all of his extra points.
• Berkowitz stepped onto a college football field for the first time in front of a sold-out Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium at Wake Forest and went 2-for-2 on extra points and 1-for-1 on field goals. His 28-yard field goal came with just one second remaining in the game and split the uprights.
• The true freshman followed that up by making both of his field goal attempts at Gardner-Webb and all three extra points. He connected on a career-long 39-yarder late in the first quarter of that game.
• Berkowitz missed a kick for the first time all season when his 42-yard attempt sailed wide in the second quarter against North Carolina A&T. But he responded by making a 43-yarder later in the quarter and added another made field goal in the second half.

ROMENICK DOING IT ALL

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• Transfer punter Kyle Romenick has not only been consistent in the kicking game for the Phoenix, he has also proven to be a weapon in the passing game in 2023.
• While he averages 43.4 yards per punt, Romenick also showed off his arm in the win over North Carolina A&T. He rocketed a pass on a fake punt for a 35-yard touchdown to true freshman DJ Hamilton. Romenick became the first Elon punter to throw a touchdown pass in the program's NCAA Division I era (since 1999).
• Due to that play, along with a 42.2 yard per punt average, Romenick was named CAA Special Teams Player of the Week.
• At 43.4 yards per punt through the first three weeks, Romenick is threatening for one of the best punting seasons in program history. Hunter Stephenson also averaged 43.4 yards per punt during the 2020 season, ranking second in program history for a single-season.
• Romenick currently ranks No. 22 in the country in punting average. Among his 19 punts are five of at least 50 yards and four that landed inside the 20.

BONNER BREAKS OUT

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• Redshirt senior wide receiver Jordan Bonner has patiently waited for an opportunity to be featured in the Elon offense and he has made the most of his opportunity so far in 2023.
• Bonner had a team-high seven catches at Wake Forest, easily surpassing his previous career-best of four receptions. He followed that up with four more catches at Gardner-Webb and a team-best three receptions and a touchdown vs. North Carolina A&T.
• On the season, Bonner leads Elon with 14 catches and 136 receiving yards. He also has two of the team's five touchdown receptions
• After averaging 1.7 receptions per game in 2022, Bonner is having a career year with 4.7 catches per contest.

DOWNING UP THE DEPTH CHART

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• Graduate transfer Matthew Downing is projected to get his third start of the season Saturday at Campbell.
• Downing started in the season opener, but struggled at Wake Forest. He was replaced by Justin Allen, who sparked the Elon offense. Downing then replaced Allen to start the second half at Gardner-Webb, and threw for 199 yards and three TDs in the final 30 minutes.
• Downing is well-traveled, beginning his career at Georgia. As a true freshman in 2018, he played in four games for the Bulldogs.
• After transferring to TCU, Downing redshirted the 2019 season before playing in seven games over two years from 2020-21. He earned his first collegiate start in the 2020 season opener against Iowa State, going 11-of-21 for 158 yards and touchdown.
• Following his time at TCU, Downing transferred to Louisiana Tech, playing in four games in 2022, going 33-of-62 with three touchdowns and 356 yards passing. He suffered a season-ending knee injury with the Bulldogs.

THE RED ZONE IS FOR SCORING

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• Both Elon and Elon's opponents have been highly effective when reaching the red zone so far in 2023.
• Elon has been inside its opponents' 20-yard line nine times and has come away with eight scores, including four touchdowns. The Phoenix did have one interception at Wake Forest in the red zone.
• Elon's opponents are now 12-for-12 when reaching the red zone, scoring six touchdowns and knocking home six field goals. Dating back to 2022, opponents have scored in 18 straight trips to the red zone.

EXPERIENCE ON THE LINE

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• Elon returns four players on the offensive line who combined to start 48 games in 2022 (all 12 games for each of the four).
• Zane Gilbert and Jabril Williams each have 29 career starts under their belt. Gilbert has started 29 in a row and Williams 27 straight dating back to the 2021 spring season. Caleb Krings has also made every start (26) over the past three seasons and Kevin Burkett has started 24 consecutive games.
• Jack Cutler joins the quartet on the offensive line. He earned his fifth career start Saturday against North Carolina A&T.
• In total, the five members of the offensive line first unit have started 116 career games.

WHO NEEDS THIRD DOWN WHEN YOU'VE GOT FOURTH DOWN

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• Elon has struggled on third downs this year, converting just 6-of-44 in 2023 (13.6 percent). But the Phoenix have made up for some of those struggles by converting on fourth down.
• Against North Carolina A&T, Elon was 0-for-13 on third down but perfect on three fourth down attempts. In total, the Phoenix is 8-of-9 (88.9 percent) on fourth down.
• Those eight fourth down conversions rank second in all of FCS, behind only Monmouth (12-of-20).

SEEING 200/200

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• In Elon's 30-24 win over Gardner-Webb last year, the Phoenix offense totaled 205 yards rushing and 279 yards passing. Elon followed that up with 240 yards rushing and 207 passing against William & Mary.
• Those numbers have proven rare for Elon. It's the first time in the program's FCS history that the Phoenix reached 200 yards rushing and passing in back-to-back games.
• Under Head Coach Tony Trisciani, Elon has only reached 200/200 one other time. That came in a 35-28 win over The Citadel in 2019 when the team had 255 yards rushing and 226 passing.

PRESEASON ALL-CAA ANNOUNCED

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• Five members of the Elon Football team were named CAA Preseason All-Conference, as voted on by the league's head coaches. Tight end Johncarlos Miller II, safety Bo Sanders, and specialist Chandler Brayboy were named All-CAA. Running back Jalen Hampton and offensive lineman Jabril Williams earned honorable mention status.
• Among other preseason All-CAA polls, Phil Steele named seven Phoenix to his teams. Hampton, Miller II and Sanders were all named to the second team, while Marvin Pearson earned third team recognition. Kevin Burkett, Cazeem Moore and Jaidyn Denis were named fourth team.
• Bluebloods named Hampton, Miller II, Williams and Sanders to their second team preseason All-CAA list.

GENERATING TURNOVERS

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• Under the tutelage of Defensive Coordinator Dovonte Edwards, Elon has become one of the best in the country at forcing turnovers, particularly fumbles.
• With 13 fumble recoveries, Elon ended the 2022 season ranked No. 7 in the country in that category. In total, the Phoenix generated 21 turnovers with a +0.58 turnover margin, ranking No. 21 in FCS Football.
• Those turnovers proved to be critical as Elon went 7-0 in 2022 when forcing more turnovers than their opponent in a game.
• Elon has again begun forcing fumbles in 2023. The Phoenix had two fumble recoveries at Gardner-Webb. Jaidyn Denis forced both and recovered one. Brandon Tyson had the other fumble recovery.
• The Phoenix is +1 on turnover margin in 2023. Elon has forced two turnovers in both of its FCS games this season.

SACK MASTERS

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• A year ago, Elon average 2.83 sacks per contest, ranking No. 13 in FCS Football. With a veteran line that boasts just one senior on the two-deep -- Marvin Pearson -- Elon has potential to again be one of the best nationally.
• Against a Power Five offensive line in the season opener, Elon had four quarterback sacks with four different players registering at least one. Pearson was one of those and he also finished with three tackles for loss. Caleb Curtain, who added a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown, Cazeem Moore and Chazz Harley all added sacks.
• In 2023, Elon is averaging 2.67 sacks per contest and ranks No. 23 nationally.
• Elon is 9-1 in the tenure of Head Coach Tony Trisciani when recording four or more sacks in a game. Ironically, the Wake Forest game was the first time the Phoenix had lost a game while recording four sacks.

FIRST-TIME STARTERS

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• In the season opener at Wake Forest, four players made their first Elon starts -- two on offense and two on defense.
• Matthew Downing got the starting nod at quarterback. As a graduate transfer, he had earned starts at previous schools, but earned his first Elon start.
• Wide receiver Christian Da-Silva started his first game as well, while linebacker Brandon Tyson and defensive back Caleb Curtain picked up their first starting nods on defense.
• Redshirt freshmen Jesse Powell II and Senquavious Alsobrooks earned their first career starts at Gardner-Webb. Powell II started in the spur position and Alsobrooks started as cornerback.
• Redshirt freshman Marco Patierno added to the group Saturday against North Carolina A&T, earning his first career start at linebacker.

HIGH FIVE

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• Discounting the abbreviated 2021 spring campaign, Elon has recorded at least five overall wins and four conference wins in four consecutive fall seasons.
• With four straight fall seasons of at least five overall wins and four conference wins, it equals the longest such streak the program has had in FCS. Elon also accomplished that feat from 2007-10.

EARNING THAT DEGREE

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• Seventeen current players on the Elon football team already have their degrees.
• Justin Allen, Jordan Bonner, Chandler Brayboy, Carson Crisp, Jack Cutler, Wayne Dixie III, Matthew Downing, Zane Gilbert, Chazz Harley, Caleb Ogunmola, Marvin Pearson, Kyle Romenick, Bo Sanders, Trey West, Antonio White, Ryan Wilkins and Jabril Williams all have their degrees.

PHOENIX IN THE NFL

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• Former Elon offensive lineman Oli Udoh is set to begin his fifth season in the NFL in 2023. He has played in every game and started 17 over the course of the last two seasons and is currently listed as the back-up at right tackle.
• Elon saw numerous members of the 2022 team earn professional opportunities. Defensive back Cole Coleman spent time with the Indianapolis Colts, while kicker Skyler Davis was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Quarterback Matthew McKay had workouts with the Dallas Cowboys and the New England Patriots, and wide receiver Bryson Daughtry spent time with the BC Lions in the Canadian Football League.

PURA VIDA

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• As part of Elon's commitment to diversity and global engagement, members of the Elon Football team spent a week in March in Costa Rica.
• The team's trip included many once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, such as a wildlife expedition, football clinics, investing in the lives of local youth, hiking around an active volcano, swimming in waterfalls, beach cleaning, jet-ski riding, ATV adventures and snorkeling.

 

-- ELON --