WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The Elon football team held an 11-point advantage in the first half but fell to William & Mary 26-21 on Saturday afternoon at Zable Stadium.
 
The Phoenix (4-4, 2-2 CAA) dropped to .500 on the year with its second consecutive conference defeat and saw a three-game win streak against the Tribe (4-3, 3-1) snapped.
 
Elon led 14-3 midway through the second quarter after Landen Clark threw touchdown passes of 24 and 47 yards to Zimere Winston and Isaiah Fuhrmann, respectively. William & Mary went on to score the next 23 straight points to build out a 26-14 lead and withstood a fourth-quarter touchdown by the Phoenix to claim the five-point win.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Phoenix offense jumped in front first for the fourth straight CAA game. Following punts by both teams on their opening drives, Landen Clark spread the ball around with first-down passes to Kenaz McMillian and Isaiah Fuhrmann before finding Zimere Winston alone behind the defense for a 24-yard touchdown completion with 8:42 left in the first quarter.
• The Phoenix defense limited the Tribe to 35 yards of offense in the first quarter and forced three punts. William & Mary took advantage of an interception by Clark to start the second quarter and advanced to the two-yard line for a 1st and goal opportunity, but three straight stops by the Elon defense limited the Tribe to a 22-yard field goal.
• Elon countered with a touchdown on the following drive – a seven-play, 75-yard push – as Clark found Isaiah Fuhrmann on back-to-back passes, the latter resulting in a 47-yard score for a 14-3 advantage.
• The Phoenix saw its lead begin to slip late in the second quarter as William & Mary needed only 1:32 of game clock to drive 80 yards for its first touchdown, a 16-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Hughes to Deven Thompson.
• The Tribe took the lead for good on its first drive of the second half, using the combination of Tariq Sims on the ground – who picked up 28 yards on six carries – and Thompson in the air with a 37-yard touchdown reception. William & Mary expanded the lead to 26-14 later in the third quarter with a safety, followed by a touchdown run from Hughes.
• Elon scored its lone touchdown of the second half with 12:03 remaining when Clark punched in a 1-yard rushing score. It capped a 10-play, 75-yard drive that featured eight straight runs and brought the Phoenix within five points.
• Kahmari Brown turned on the heat with two sacks on the following Tribe drive to force a punt by the home team, but Elon's offense was ultimately turned over on downs with 1:47 to go in the contest, effectively halting the late rally.

 
NOTES & STATS
 

• Elon now trails the all-time series against William & Mary, 6-5.
• Brown had a career day from his defensive end spot, totaling career bests with 13 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks, including a pair on the Tribe's second-to-last drive when the Phoenix needed a stop. Brown now ranks among Elon's top 10 in both career sacks (10.5) and single-season sacks (6.0; seventh).
• Clark completed a career-high 77.8% of his passes (14 of 18) while throwing multiple touchdowns for the fourth time this year. He passed for 184 yards.
• Clark's 47-yard touchdown to Fuhrmann was the quarterback's fourth touchdown pass to go for 40 yards or more this season.
• Fuhrmann, who led the Phoenix with 92 receiving yards on four catches, now has four touchdown grabs this season; the 47-yarder was the second longest of his career.
• Clark was the leading rusher for the Phoenix with 83 yards on the ground to go along with his seventh rushing touchdown of the year. The redshirt freshman is now one rushing touchdown shy of entering the top-10 on Elon's single-season rushing touchdown list. Only one other quarterback – Scott Riddle (9 touchdowns, 2007) is in the top 10.

• Brodie Carroll totaled 13 tackles, giving him a team-best 66 on the season.
• Jared Kirksey totaled a career-high two tackles for loss.
• Elon continued to be efficient in the red zone with its one red zone trip of the day resulting in a touchdown. Elon is now scoring at a 90.3% (28 for 31) clip inside the red zone.

 
UP NEXT
Elon plays its second straight CAA road game next Saturday at Maine. Kickoff in Orono is at 1 p.m. ET.
 
SUPPORT THE PHOENIX
Fans can support Elon Athletics through the Phoenix Club. To purchase 2025 tickets, visit TicketMaster.com/ElonTickets.
 
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