Boiling Springs, N.C. - Following losses to FBS opponents in week one, Elon and Gardner-Webb will square off Saturday in Boiling Springs, N.C. for a pivotal non-conference FCS contest. Both teams are receiving votes in the top 25 polls and a victory would start building an FCS playoff resume for the winner. Elon lost at Wake Forest 37-17 and Gardner-Webb dropped a 45-24 decision to Appalachian State.
Game Information
Elon (0-1, 0-0 CAA) at Gardner-Webb (0-1, 0-0 BS-OVC)
Date: Sept. 9, 2023
Time: 6:00 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN+ (Phil Constantino/Mark Covert) (
STREAMING LINK)
Audio Broadcast (Smart Device): The Varsity Network App (Taylor Durham/Dr. Khirey Walker) (
LINK)
Audio Broadcast (Web-Based): LeanStream via ElonPhoenix.com (
LINK)
Live Stats: Courtesy GWUSports.com (
LINK)
Game Notes: Elon | Gardner-Webb
Twitter/X: @ElonFootball
Instagram: @ElonFB
SETTING THE STAGE
- Elon plays its second consecutive road game to open the 2023 season Saturday night in Boiling Springs, N.C. as the Phoenix square off with Gardner-Webb at 6:00 p.m. inside Spangler Stadium. It is also the second of six straight games inside the state of North Carolina for Elon.
- Although Elon holds a lopsided 22-11 advantage in the all-time series against Gardner-Webb, this has become a highly competitive rivalry in recent years. Elon won last year's meeting 30-24 after rallying from a 24-20 deficit. In 2021, Gardner-Webb upset the No. 24-ranked Phoenix 42-20 in the last meeting in Boiling Springs. The two programs have split the last 20 meetings, with neither program winning more than three in a row.
- For those not in attendance Thursday evening, the game can be watched on ESPN+ with Phil Constantino and Mark Covert calling the action.
- The audio broadcast begins with the pregame show at 5:30 p.m. with Taylor Durham and Dr. Khirey Walker. The audio broadcast is available 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
- 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 has won 11 conference games in the past two seasons 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
- 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 will all be in their first year with the Phoenix.
SCOUTING GARDNER-WEBB
- Gardner-Webb enters Saturday at 0-1 after a deceiving 45-24 loss at Appalachian State. The Runnin' Bulldogs led 24-21 midway through the third quarter before App State closed the game with 24 unanswered points.
- Gardner-Webb was ranked in both the StatsPerform and AFCA preseason polls but fell out of the rankings after the loss to Appalachian State. The Runnin' Bulldogs have 67 votes in the StatsPerform media poll and ?? votes in the AFCA coaches poll.
- Gardner-Webb's offensive line play against Appalachian State was stellar as the team gave up only two tackles for loss and no sacks despite throwing the ball 46 times.
- Quarterback Matthew Caldwell was 30-of-46 passing for 231 yards. The 30 completions were the most by an FCS quarterback in week one.
- Sophomore running back Jayden Brown had two rushing touchdowns and a receiving TD in the contest.
TO BE THE BEST, YOU'VE GOT TO BEAT THE BEST
- 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.
- Elon faces three FCS teams currently ranked in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 as well as another three teams receiving votes. The Phoenix also played at Wake Forest, a squad receiving votes in the preseason FBS coaches poll.
PLAYING UP
- In week one, 42 FCS teams faced an FBS program. Of the 42 games, 18 were against teams from a Power Five conference, as Elon's was against Wake Forest.
- Among those 18 games against Power Five schools, Elon played the third most-competitive contest with the 37-17 loss. FCS teams went a combined 0-18, losing by an average of 37.8 points per game.
- Elon avoided the pitfalls of teams like Portland State (81-7 loss to Oregon), Mercer (73-7 loss to Ole Miss), Colgate (65-0 loss to Syracuse), Eastern Kentucky (66-13 loss to Cincinnati) and SE Missouri (45-0 loss to Kansas State). Those were the five most lopsided scores of week one.
SECOND HALF=DEFENSE
- A year ago, Elon allowed just 88 points after halftime, an average of just 7.3 points per game. By comparison, Elon's opponents scored 168 points in the first half. In game one of the 2023 season, the Phoenix defense was at it again.
- Wake Forest scored 24 points and totaled 252 yards of offense in the first half. The Demon Deacons were held to only 13 points (one touchdown), and 175 yards of offense over the final 30 minutes.
- Four times in 2022, Elon shut out an opponent in the second half (Wofford, Gardner-Webb, Delaware, UAlbany) and on three other occasions a team scored just a field goal (William & Mary, Richmond, Towson).
- Against Gardner-Webb a year ago, Elon rallied from 24-20 halftime deficit to pitch a second-half shutout and win 30-24. The Runnin' Bulldogs had only 71 yards of offense in the second half after putting up 233 in the first half.
BAM
- When watching Jalen Hampton run the ball, it's easy to see why he has earned the nickname Bam. Unafraid to take on defensive players, Hampton has become one of Elon's most productive running backs in program history in just over one season.
- 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.
- 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.
- According to advanced analytic data, Hampton reaching a top speed of 19.5 miles per hour on that carry, his fastest clocked speed of the game.
- With 1,142 career rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns, Hampton already ranks 10th in both stats in Elon's FCS history (since 1999).
- Hampton had four 100-yard games in 2022, topping 130 yards in each of those contests. He was a consistent threat, running for at least 80 yards in eight of the 11 games he played. With 89 against Wake Forest, he now has rushed for at least 80 yards in 75 percent of the games he has played.
- Hampton had a career-high 177 yards against his namesake, Hampton, in 2022 tying his career-high with three rushing touchdowns.
POUND THE ROCK
- Behind an improved offensive line and the emergence of Jalen Hampston, Elon ran for at least 120 yards in 10 of the team's 12 games in 2022.
- Elon rushed for a season-high 240 yards on the ground against then-No. 14 William & Mary. It was the most for the team since running for 255 against The Citadel in the 2019 season.
- Elon topped 200 rushing yards three times last season, doing so against William & Mary 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 are the most for the program since doing so 10 times in 2017 as well.
- Elon averaged 152.3 yards per game rushing, 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.
- Despite playing a Power Five team in the 2023 season opener, Elon still ran for 106 yards as a team, averaging 3.7 yards per carry.
WINNING IN THE TRENCHES
- 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 6-0 when rushing for at least 200 yards in a game under Trisciani and 8-1 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, rushing for 205 yards and holding the Runnin' Bulldogs to just 43 yards on the ground.
CURTAIN CALL
- 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.
PEARSON IS A PROBLEM
- 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 considering Elon's top NFL prospect this year.
- Pearson recorded seven tackles, three for loss, and a sack Thursday night at Wake Forest. His sack game on Wake Forest's second drive as the Demon Deacons were facing a third-and-short. The sack 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.
CAZEEM THE DREAM
- 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.
DEION HAD A BIG WEEK BUT SO DID BO
- Deion Sanders (as well as his son Shedeur) may have grabbed the national headlines over the weekend as he led Colorado to an upset of TCU, but another Sanders had a big opener as well.
- Senior captain Bo Sanders led Elon with nine tackles, seven solo, two pass break-ups and a quarterback hurry at Wake Forest.
- Bo Sanders is also Elon's primary punt returner and was flawless in that area, returning one for seven yards and fielding three others via fair catch.
NO LINEBACKERS? NO PROBLEM
- Elon graduated all of its starting linebackers from 2022, but redshirt sophomore Nick Veloz and redshirt freshman Brandon Tyson stepped in nicely in the season opener.
- Veloz was set to make an impact a year ago but was limited to just four games in 2022. He returned to tie for team-high honors with a career-best nine tackles, along with a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry.
- Although he played limited snaps in three games a year ago, Tyson made a statement in the season opener with seven tackles against Wake Forest.
FILLING BIG SHOES
- 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 never blinked in the season opener, making every kick he attempted.
- 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.
ROMENICK PUTS IN A FULL DAY
- Transfer punter Kyle Romenick made the most of his first game at Elon, punting eight times Thursday night at Wake Forest, including six in the first half.
- Romenick averaged 43.4 yards per punt, dropping one inside the 20 and recording two 50-yarders. He did not have a touchback in an impressive debut performance either.
BONNER BREAKS OUT
- Redshirt senior wide receiver Jordan Bonner has patiently waited for an opportunity to be featured in the Elon offense and he made the most of his opportunity in the season opener at Wake Forest.
- Bonner had a team-high seven catches, easily surpassing his previous career-best of four receptions. He added 58 yards receiving in the contest.
- Bonner averaged just 1.7 receptions per game in 2022 but is tied for second in the CAA with seven receptions thus far.
ALLEN GETS HIS CHANCE
- Redshirt junior quarterback Justin Allen got extended opportunities during the COVID-19 spring season in 2021, but threw just four passes over the past two seasons. But he made the most of his opportunity Thursday night at Wake Forest.
- Allen was 18-of-29 passing for 130 yards against Wake Forest, completing 62 percent of his passes. He led Elon on two scoring drives during the contest.
- During that 2021 COVID-19 spring season, Allen was 29-of-51 (57 percent) passing for 290 yards and two touchdowns. A year ago, he went 4-for-4 for 65 yards passing as a back-up for the Phoenix.
EXPERIENCE ON THE LINE
- 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 27 career starts under their belt. Gilbert has started 27 in a row and Williams 25 straight dating back to the 2021 spring season. Caleb Krings has also made every start (24) over the past three seasons and Kevin Burkett has started 22 consecutive games.
- Jack Cutler joins the quartet on the offensive line. He earned his third career start in the season opener.
- In total, the five members of the offensive line first unit have started 106 career games.
SEEING 200/200
- 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
- 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
- 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 prove to be critical as Elon went 7-0 in 2022 when forcing more turnovers than their opponent in a game. In total, the Phoenix has won nine straight games when forcing more turnovers than their opponent.
SACK MASTERS
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
HIGH FIVE
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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 --
