Elon, N.C. – Chandler Brayboy had 309 all-purpose yards, Rushawn Baker rushed for 154 and Elon's special teams came up with big play after big play as the Phoenix football team beat Campbell 50-27 Saturday afternoon for Homecoming.
 
Brayboy finished with a career-high 183 receiving yards, had two kick returns for 113 yards and added a 13-yard rush for good measure. With Elon's leading rusher TJ Thomas Jr. out with an injury, Baker finished with 23 carries for a career-best 154 yards.
 
With the win, Elon improves to 3-6 on the season and 2-3 in CAA Football play, while Campbell falls to 3-6 and 1-4 in conference.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Campbell opened the game with a three-and-out and Elon took over at its own 34 after a punt. On the first play, Matthew Downing found Chandler Brayboy over the top for a 66-yard touchdown and Elon never looked back.
• The Phoenix built a 14-0 lead later in the first quarter on a more methodical 8-play, 63-yard drive, capped off by the first of three Rushawn Baker rushing touchdowns. He scored from eight yards out to extend the lead.
• Campbell answered right back later in the first with a 42-yard touchdown pass, but the Elon special teams made its first big play of the day. Ethan Grace blocked the extra point and it rebounded right back to the Campbell kicker who tossed it forwards. Ishmel Atkins picked it off and returned it 95 yards for two points and a 16-6 advantage.
• The Camels scored another touchdown early in the second quarter to get back within a field goal at 16-13 but the Phoenix scored the next 27 points to run away.
• Elon used a 12-play, 75-yard drive to take a 23-13 lead as Baker scored from four yards out for his second touchdown of the game.
• After a quick three-and-out by the Camels, Elon's special teams came up with another big play. Brennan Davis blocked the punt and Tony Hart III recovered it at the Campbell 17-yard line. That gave Luke Barnes the opportunity to make his first career field goal, a 28-yarder, for a 26-13 halftime lead.
• In the third quarter, Elon began to pour it on. Brayboy returned the opening kick 51 yards and then caught a 36-yard touchdown pass from Downing to make it 33-13.
• Barnes connected from 32 yards out for a 36-13 lead and, on the next drive, Downing threw his third touchdown of the game. After Baker ran for 42 yards, Downing connected with Dylan Magazu from six yards away and the lead was 30.
• Campbell added two more touchdowns, one in the third and another in the fourth, while Elon scored one more time. Baker's 22-yard jaunt early in the fourth quarter gave him three touchdowns and the Phoenix scored 50.

 
NOTES AND STATS

• Chandler Brayboy had 309 all-purpose yards, the most for any player in an FCS game this year.
• Brayboy entered the contest averaging an FCS-best 37.2 yards per kick return. He increased that average to 40.7 this year.
• Rushawn Baker became the second Elon running back to top 150 yards on the ground this season. With 154 yards, he bettered TJ Thomas Jr.'s 152 yard at North Carolina Central earlier this year.
• Matthew Downing had arguably his best game of 2024, going 16-of-24 passing for 251 yards and three touchdowns, without an interception.
• Jeff Yurk completed a 10-yard pass on a fake punt for a first down.
• Freshman Luke Barnes made both of his field goals and was 6-for-6 on extra point attempts.
• The Phoenix had 464 yards of offense and had 32:25 in time of possession.
• Caleb Curtain had a team-high 12 tackles, nine of which were solo.
• Cazeem Moore had the team's lone sack of the day, giving him four for the season.
• Ishmel Atkins recorded two pass break-ups.
• Elon's 50-point outburst was its highest scoring game since beating Hampton 51-14 to close the 2023 season.
• The Phoenix won at home for the first time in 2024 but did earn its third straight Homecoming win.
• Elon improved to 3-0 all-time against Campbell. This was the first of the three meetings that were not decided by less than one score.

 
UP NEXT

• Elon heads on the road to face William & Mary Saturday at 1:00 p.m. The Tribe are 6-3 on the season following a 45-7 win at North Carolina A&T Saturday.