ELON – The Elon Phoenix hit the road Saturday for their final non-conference game against ETSU. Elon will close out their pre-CAA slate looking for their third consecutive win after victories over Davidson and Western Carolina. Kickoff at Bank of Tennessee Field at William B., Greene, Jr. Stadium will be at 5:30 p.m. in Johnson City, Tenn. Â
Â
GAME INFORMATIONÂ
Date: Sept. 20, 2025Â
Time: 5:30 p.m.Â
Television/Streaming: ESPN+Â
Audio Broadcast (Web-Based): LeanStream via ElonPhoenix.com Â
Games Notes: Elon | ETSUÂ
Â
SETTING THE STAGEÂ
- Elon and ETSU will meet for the second consecutive year on Saturday. The Phoenix and Buccaneers battled at Rhodes Stadium last season with ETSU coming out on top 34-14. Â
- The Phoenix showed resiliency in a tough, road win over Western Carolina last Saturday. Elon triumphed with a 37-31 win over the Catamounts in Cullowhee with Landen Clark tallying 377 yards of total offense and four touchdowns. Â
- ETSU enters the matchup with a 1-2 record following a 35-31 loss to #22 West Georgia last Saturday. Head coach Will Healy is in his first season in Johnson City after previous head coaching stops at Austin Peay and Charlotte. Â
- The two schools have played just four times in total and just once since ETSU brought back football in 2017. Elon's most recent trip to Johnson City came in 2002 when Elon fell 31-15. Â
Â
A Smooth LandenÂ
- Landen Clark was named CAA Rookie of the Week on Monday for his performance against Western Carolina, becoming the first Elon quarterback to earn the honor twice since 2017.Â
- Clark continued to be a threat through the air and on the ground against Western Carolina. He passed for a career-high 305Â yards and two touchdowns and rushed for two more touchdowns in the win, giving him a rushing score in all three games.Â
- Clark became just the fourth Elon freshman quarterback to start a season opener since 2005 when he took the first snap at Duke on Aug. 28.Â
- Clark was one of the most prolific high school quarterbacks in the history of southwestern Virginia. Under coach Michael Crist at Radford High School, Clark led the Bobcats to a 15-0 record and the first state title for the school in 51 years.  Â
- Clark finished his senior season with more than 4,300 total yards and 71 total touchdowns as a senior. He passed for over 3300 yards and ran for over 1000 as well as played free safety on defense and punted on special teams.Â
Â
LuuuuukeÂ
- Elon's kicker Luke Barnes returns for his second season with kicking duties. After taking over kicking duties from Jack Berkowitz last season, the 6'6 Barnes hasn't missed a beat. Â
- Against the Catamounts, Barnes was perfect. He nailed three field goals on three tries for the first time in his career and hit a 48-yarder as time expired in the first half. Barnes' 48-yard field goal was a career long and enters the game against ETSU a perfect 6-6 on field goals. Â
- In his first game of the season against Duke, Barnes converted all three placekicks. Barnes nailed a 35-yard field goal to even the score a 3-3 in the second quarter and converted both extra points following Elon's scores. Â
- Barnes came in midseason last year and converted every PAT he attempted (21-21) and made 6-10 field goals last season but was 5-7 going into the final game against North Carolina A&T. Â
- The 6'6 placekicker is also a homegrown product out of Grimsley High School in Greensboro. At Grimsley, Barnes kicked off 30 times and every kickoff resulted in a touchback for the Whirlies during their 13-1, 2023 season.Â
Â
DJ, Turn Up the MusicÂ
- In Elon's five defensive back system, two starters from last season will be starting again this season. But, in a whole new position. Â
- DJ James-Hamilton is one of those players. After starting last season at corner for the first three games last season, James-Hamilton returns to the defensive backfield but as the team's free safety. Â
- The free safety has been a tackling machine over his first three games. So far this season, James-Hamilton has reached double-digit tackles in a game twice. His nine solo tackles against the Catamounts were a career high and best among defenders in the game. Â
- In his first action since sustaining his injury against Western Carolina last season, James-Hamilton became a tackling force against the Blue Devils. He was the leading tackler between both Duke and Elon with no player topping his 11 total tackles. Â
- This was not the first time DJ showed off his tackling against Duke. Against the Blue Devils in 2024, James-Hamilton led the Phoenix with nine total tackles.Â
Â
Â
Â
