Box Score Elon, N.C. - The Elon football team scored on its first drive of the game and never trailed, defeating in-state rival North Carolina Central 41-19 on the road Saturday night. The Phoenix weathered a second-half power outage to avenge a loss to the Eagles a year ago. Elon improves to 1-1 on the season and NC Central falls to 1-1.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After North Carolina Central opened the game with a three-and-out, Elon drove right down the field for the game's opening touchdown. Matthew Downing was 5-of-5 passing and TJ Thomas Jr. had a 24-yard rush. Downing connected with Jamarien Dalton for the touchdown and the 7-0 lead.
• Elon added to the lead with a 10-play, 80-yard drive capped by Rushawn Baker's first touchdown with the Phoenix. The big play on the drive was a 41-yard Onuma Dieke reception.
• After a Brandon Tyson interception, Thomas Jr. showed his explosiveness with a 74-yard run to the house. It was his first collegiate touchdown and gave Elon a 21-0 advantage at the half.
• Jack Berkowitz made a 31-yard field goal with 3:58 left in the third for a 24-0 lead but NC Central took momentum back with a touchdown less than 90 seconds later. After a 30-yard Eagles score on the first play of the fourth quarter, it was 24-13.
• Berkowitz stopped the bleeding with a career-long 46-yard field goal that made it 27-13 and then Jesse Powell II had a highlighted interception return for a touchdown. He hurdled a defender along the sideline on the way to the end zone for a 34-13 lead.
• After a North Carolina Central touchdown made it 34-19, Elon closed out the scoring. Thomas Jr. had a 40-yard run to the one and Downing punched it in on the next play for the 41-19 win.

NOTES AND STATS

• In facing his former team, North Carolina Central, Khalil Baker ended with four tackles, including 0.5 tackle for loss.
• With 152 yards rushing, TJ Thomas Jr. became the first true freshman at Elon to run for over 100 yards in a game since Jaylan Thomas did it twice in 2018. He had those 152 yards on just 11 carries, an average of 13.8 yards per carry.
• Wide receivers Onuma Dieke and Jamarien Dalton both had career games. Dieke ended with six catches for 109 yards and Dalton had six receptions for 83 yards.
• Elon had three interceptions from three different players – each of them getting the first of their careers. Brandon Tyson, Jonathan Robinson and Jesse Powell II each had an interception with Powell returning his 40 yards for a touchdown. Powell added a team-high 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
• Jeff Yurk entered the week leading all of FCS at 51.9 yards per punt. He averaged 49.8 yards on four punts Saturday, downing one at the one-yard line. He also had a 60-yarder.
• Jack Berkowitz was perfect kicking the ball. He made both of his field goals and all four extra point attempts. His 46-yard field goal was the longest of his career.
• Matthew Downing had a streak of 145 pass attempts without an interception snapped in the third quarter. It is the longest streak since Davis Cheek set the program's FCS record with 238 consecutive pass attempts without an interception spanning the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
• With three interceptions in the contest, Elon was +2 in turnover margin for the game and is now +3 on the season.
• After holding a large time of possession advantage in week one against Duke (33:10), the Phoenix built an even larger edge against NC Central, holding the ball for 37:08.
• The lights at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium went out midway through the third quarter and caused approximately a 15-minute delay.
• Elon improved to 10-4 all-time against NC Central, including a mark of 6-1 in Durham.
• The victory avenged North Carolina Central's 34-23 win a year ago. It is Elon's only home loss since 2021.
• Tony Trisciani improved to 27-26 all-time as head coach at Elon with the win.

UP NEXT

• After opening the season with two straight road games, Elon will play four in a row at home over a five-week stretch.
• Elon hosts Western Carolina Saturday at 6 p.m. before closing out non-conference play with a home game against ETSU on Sept. 21 at 6 p.m.
• The Phoenix opens CAA play Sept. 28 by hosting Richmond for Family Weekend at 2 p.m.
• Following a bye week, Elon will close the four-game home stretch by hosting New Hampshire on Oct. 12 at 2 p.m.