ELON – The Elon football team hits the road again Saturday to face Maine in the Phoenix's second straight CAA road contest. Kickoff from Alfond Stadium in Orono, Maine, will be at 1 p.m. ET.
The Phoenix (4-4, 2-2 CAA) looks to return above .500 in conference play with what would be a third straight win against the Black Bears (3-4, 2-1).
GAME INFORMATION
- Audio Broadcast (Web-Based): LeanStream via ElonPhoenix.com
- Games Notes: Elon | Maine
SETTING THE STAGE
- The matchup on Saturday will be the seventh all-time meeting between Elon and Maine. The Phoenix and Black Bears did not meet until Elon joined the CAA in 2014.
- The Phoenix and Maine are tied in the all-time series with three wins apiece. Elon has won two straight games in the series dating back to 2021.
- The Black Bears are coming off a bye week and enter the matchup with three straight wins, two coming in CAA play. In a midseason meeting with Merrimack two weeks ago, Maine prevailed on the road 20-13.
- Maine enters the matchup ahead of the Phoenix in the CAA standings at 2-1. In league play, both teams share a loss to William & Mary.
- Jordan Stevens is in his fourth season as the head coach at Maine. Stevens has a record of 12-29 as the head coach of the Black Bears.
CAA SUCCESS
- Over the last four seasons, the Phoenix has become accustomed to over performing CAA preseason expectations. Elon has played its best when a conference opponent across from them, going 24-12 in CAA play since 2021.
- Elon ranks second among active members in both CAA wins and winning percentage over the last four seasons.
- Elon finished its 2024 season on a four-game, CAA winning streak, averaging 38 points per game during that stretch despite averaging less than 20 in the eight games prior.
- Rhodes Stadium has become one of the toughest places to play in the CAA. The Phoenix are 13-4 over the last 17 CAA home games and have lost just three times at home in conference play the past three seasons. The Phoenix went unbeaten in the league at home in both 2022 and 2023.
GROUND AND POUND
- The Phoenix ground attack has provided a punch so far this season with the trio of running backs Jimmyll Williams and TJ Thomas Jr. and quarterback Landen Clark – who was named to the Jerry Rice Award watch list Wednesday – all have had their say when running the ball.
- Clark had his best rushing day as a Phoenix last week against Wiliam & Mary, tallying 83 yards and a rushing score in the loss.
- Williams had a career day with 172 rushing yards and a touchdown on just 13 carries in the Sept. 27 win against Hampton; the back was named CAA Co-Offensive Player of the Week following the performance. Williams has amassed 458 yards on the ground on just 53 carries. His rushing total in CAA games is fourth best in the league, and his yards per carry average is first at 9.2 YPC.
- Thomas has had a knack for finding the end zone, scoring touchdowns in three of Elon's four CAA contests. He posted multi-rushing touchdown efforts against both Hampton and Villanova, and Thomas' next rushing touchdown will put him among Elon's top 10 all-time for rushing scores in the school's FCS era.
- Clark and Thomas are both in the top 10 in the conference for rushing touchdowns. Clark is second in the league in rushing TDs behind Monmouth's Rodney Nelson.
