Elon University Athletics

DURHAM, N.H. – Kamerin McDowell-Moore rushed for 273 yards and two touchdowns, but the Elon football team's final-minute comeback bid fell short in a 30-23 loss to New Hampshire in CAA action Saturday afternoon at Wildcat Stadium.
 
Trailing by seven with 57 seconds remaining, the Phoenix drove 76 yards to the New Hampshire 7-yard line. An apparent touchdown pass from Elijah Guttman to Kenaz McMillian was overturned following replay review, and an incomplete pass on the final play allowed the Wildcats to hold on.
 
Elon moved to 4-2 overall and 2-2 in CAA play, while New Hampshire improved to 2-4 overall and 1-2 in conference action.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• New Hampshire turned two early Elon turnovers into a 10-0 lead. After recovering a muffed punt at the Phoenix 1-yard line, the Wildcats scored on a Barry Kleinpeter touchdown run with 12:25 remaining in the opening quarter. An interception on Elon's ensuing possession set up a 27-yard Lucas Glassburn field goal at the 7:22 mark.
• Luke Barnes put Elon on the board with a 42-yard field goal with 4:31 left in the first quarter. After another New Hampshire field goal made it 13-3, the Phoenix answered with a seven-play, 65-yard touchdown drive. McDowell-Moore capped the possession with a 5-yard scoring run at the 11:28 mark of the second quarter, cutting the deficit to three. Glassburn's third field goal gave the Wildcats a 16-10 halftime advantage.
• New Hampshire extended its lead to 23-10 on a 27-yard touchdown pass from Brooks Bentley to Joquez Smith with 9:38 remaining in the third quarter. Elon responded with a five-play, 75-yard scoring drive that opened with a 26-yard connection from Guttman to McMillian. Facing fourth-and-1 at the Wildcats' 40-yard line, McDowell-Moore broke free for his second touchdown of the afternoon, pulling the Phoenix within 23-17 with 7:49 left in the quarter.
• Ross Smith stopped a New Hampshire rushing attempt for an 8-yard loss on third down to force a punt on the next possession. McDowell-Moore then opened Elon's ensuing drive with a 35-yard run, helping set up a 25-yard Barnes field goal that trimmed the margin to 23-20 with 2:48 remaining in the third quarter.
• The Wildcats scored on the first play of the fourth quarter, with Bentley finding Drew Danson for a 15-yard touchdown. Elon again answered, using a 27-yard reception by Jaedon Alford and a 28-yard McDowell-Moore run to move into scoring position. Barnes connected from 36 yards with 12:17 remaining to make it 30-23.
• Elon's defense forced punts on New Hampshire's final three possessions, giving the Phoenix one last opportunity from its own 17-yard line with 57 seconds remaining. Guttman found McMillian for 36 yards to move across midfield, then connected with Alex Voss for 31 yards on fourth-and-10. A 9-yard completion to Alford brought Elon to the Wildcats' 7-yard line.
• Guttman's third-down pass to McMillian was initially ruled a touchdown before replay review changed the ruling to an incomplete pass, leaving two seconds on the clock. His fourth-down attempt to Alford fell incomplete as time expired.

 
NOTES & STATS

• McDowell-Moore carried 29 times for 273 yards, averaging 9.4 yards per attempt. His 273 yards are the fourth most in a single game by a Phoenix.
• Elon finished with a 464-355 advantage in total offense, including a 272-54 edge on the ground. The Phoenix averaged 7.6 yards per rushing attempt and held New Hampshire to 2.1.
• Guttman completed 12 of 33 passes for 192 yards. McMillian led the Phoenix with five receptions for 93 yards, including a 36-yard catch on the final possession.
• Brodie Carroll led Elon with 10 tackles, while Jevean Brown added nine. Trey Woods finished with seven tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss.
• Rashad Reid recorded three tackles for loss, including a sack, with all three stops coming in the fourth quarter. The Phoenix totaled nine tackles for loss for 22 yards.
• Barnes made all three field goal attempts and both extra points, accounting for 11 points.
• Elon held New Hampshire to 2-for-12 on third down but finished 0-for-12 on its own third-down opportunities. The Phoenix converted two of four fourth-down attempts.
• Landon Herzberg forced a fumble on a second-quarter kickoff return that Leo Taylor recovered at the New Hampshire 43-yard line. Elon finished with one takeaway and four turnovers, with the Wildcats scoring 10 points off those turnovers.

 
UP NEXT
Elon is back at Rhodes Stadium next Saturday to host Wofford in a nonconference tilt. Kickoff for the Homecoming contest is at 2 p.m. ET.
 
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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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