ELON – Landen Clark threw for three touchdowns and ran in another as Elon racked up 41 first-half points en route to a 55-7 win over Davidson at Rhodes Stadium on Saturday night.
 
The Phoenix (1-1) made decisive work of its first victory of the season after kickoff was delayed two hours due to inclement weather in the area. A 10-0 advantage after 15 minutes of play quickly expanded to 41-0 at halftime with Clark – who finished the game 15-of-24 passing for 247 yards and added another 37 yards on the ground – connecting with Landyn Backey for two touchdown passes of 22 and 44 yards within a four-minute span during a 31-point second quarter.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Elon engineered an 8-play, 56-yard touchdown drive to open the contest. The scoring march was highlighted by a pair of completions from Clark to Isaiah Fuhrmann and a 13-yard run from TJ Thomas Jr. Clark capped off the drive with a 1-yard scramble into the end zone.
• After forcing an opening three-and-out for Davidson, the Phoenix extended its lead to 10-0 with a 27-yard field goal by Luke Barnes.
• The Phoenix kept rolling early in the second quarter. Following another defensive stop, Elon covered 46 yards in just four plays for its second touchdown of the night. Jimmyll Williams had carries of 11 and 13 yards, respectively, before Clark found Backey in the back right corner of the end zone for a 22-yard score.
• Clark found Backey for another touchdown on Elon's next possession, this time a 44-yard strike down the middle that put the Phoenix ahead, 24-0.
• The Phoenix scored 17 points in the final 2:46 minutes of the second quarter to go into halftime leading, 41-0. Barnes tacked on his second field goal of the night, which was followed by a Thomas touchdown run. On the ensuing Wildcats drive, Tony Hart III knocked the ball loose from Davidson's quarterback, which DJ James-Hamilton recovered deep in Wildcats territory. Clark wasted little time cashing in the takeaway, connecting with Fuhrmann in the end zone from 20 yards out on the first play of the next Elon drive.
• Elon added a pair of second-half touchdowns, with Williams and Dan Frederick finding the end zone.

 
NOTES & STATS

• Elon's 55 points scored were its most against an NCAA Division I foe since routing Davidson 56-0 on Sept. 5, 2009.
• Elon's 41 first-half points were its most in a half since piling on 44 in the first half of a 51-14 win against Hampton on Nov. 18, 2023.
• The Phoenix improved to 3-0 against Davidson in its NCAA Division I era.
• Backey's first two career receiving touchdowns came on back-to-back receptions in the second quarter. He finished with team highs in receptions (5) and receiving yards (118). Backey leads the Phoenix with three total touchdowns through two games.
• Brodie Carroll piled up five tackles (2.5 for loss), one sack and a forced fumble, the latter being his second in as many games.
• The Elon defense held Davidson to 93 passing yards, marking its fewest allowed since Oct. 14, 2023 (36 at Villanova).
• Five different Phoenix had a sack with Asher Cunningham, Ethan Grace, Jared Kirksey and Rashad Reid joining Carroll.
• Jeff Yurk booted his fourth punt of 50-plus yards through two games with a 54-yarder.
• The Phoenix rushed for 289 yards as a team, the most in a game for Elon since accumulating 319 yards on the ground against Rhode Island on Nov. 3, 2018.
• Barnes made all nine of his kicks on the night. He went 7-for-7 on PATs and 2-for-2 on field goals.

 
UP NEXT
The Phoenix heads west to face Western Carolina in Cullowhee next Saturday. Kickoff is at 2:30 p.m. ET and the contest will be televised on ESPN+ from E.J. Whitmire Stadium.
 
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Fans can support Elon Athletics through the Phoenix Club. To purchase 2025 tickets, visit TicketMaster.com/ElonTickets.
 
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