Elon University Athletics

ELON – The Elon football team kicked off its 2026 season with a 42-7 win against Glenville State at Rhodes Stadium on Thursday night. Brady Stober accounted for three touchdowns in his Phoenix debut and Jimmyll Williams added two more on the ground, while the Elon defense held the visiting Pioneers to just 125 total offensive yards.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a season-opening three-and-out defensive stand, Elon marched 58 yards on 10 plays before punching in its first touchdown on a 2-yard rush by Stober. Stober completed 10-yard passes to Dylan Magazu and Ben Kirsch on the drive, while Williams piled up 25 yards on the ground, including a 20-yard rush that pushed the Phoenix inside Glenville State's 15-yard line.
• Williams' first rushing score of the season came with 10:25 remaining in the second quarter on a 10-yard scamper that made it 14-0. Elon started the drive in prime position at the GSU 47-yard line and quickly moved forward with a 21-yard completion from Stober to Jamarien Dalton.
• Elon's longest drive of the first half, an 11-play, 70-yard march, ended with Stober and Dalton's third connection of the night, a 3-yard touchdown pass that extended the Phoenix lead to 21-0. The duo connected earlier on the drive for an 18-yard gain, while freshman running back Kamerin McDowell-Moore did much of the heavy lifting with 24 yards on four carries.
• Glenville State broke through following Elon's opening possession of the second half, taking advantage of a short field to go 30 yards in seven plays. JD Sherrod connected with Kyree Bunny for a 2-yard touchdown pass with 9:00 remaining in the third quarter to cut the lead to 21-7.
• Elon needed little time to answer. Stober found Kirsch for a 43-yard completion that put the Phoenix at the GSU 5-yard line before Williams finished the seven-play, 60-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, his second of the night, to restore a three-score advantage at 28-7.
• The Phoenix defense forced another punt on Glenville State's ensuing possession and the offense responded with its fifth touchdown drive. Stober hit Kenaz McMillian for 35 yards on third-and-1 before Dan Frederick added an 11-yard run. Two plays later, Stober found Kirsch for a 10-yard touchdown to give Elon a 35-7 lead with 1:03 left in the third quarter.
• Elon put the finishing touches on the victory late in the fourth quarter. Frederick broke loose for a 31-yard run and a Glenville State facemask added 15 more yards before TJ Crews IV connected with Jaedon Alford for a 24-yard touchdown, capping an 85-yard drive and producing the final 42-7 margin.

 
NOTES & STATS

• Elon outgained Glenville State 446-125 and finished with a 27-9 advantage in first downs. The Phoenix threw for 278 yards and rushed for 168 while averaging 5.8 yards per offensive play.
• The Phoenix defense pitched a first-half shutout, forcing Glenville State to punt on its first seven drives of the contest while allowing only 80 total yards on 30 offensive plays. The Pioneers punted 12 times overall and mustered only 55 second-half yards.
• Stober finished his Elon debut 16-of-26 passing for 254 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. He also rushed for the game's opening score.
• Stober found eight different receiving targets, including redshirt freshman Ben Kirsch, who led the Phoenix in receptions (4) and receiving yards (68) to go along with his first career touchdown catch.
• Williams recorded his first multi-touchdown game as a Phoenix and his first since the 2024 season while at Virginia State. He finished with a team-high 77 rushing yards on 17 carries.
• McDowell-Moore added 75 rushing yards on 13 carries in his Elon debut, while Frederick totaled 58 yards on nine attempts. The trio combined for 210 yards on the ground.
• Elon converted all five of its red-zone opportunities into touchdowns. The Phoenix also went 6-of-14 on third down and converted its lone fourth-down attempt.
• Brodie Carroll led the Elon defense with six tackles and recorded the Phoenix's lone sack of the night.
• Remington Moss tallied a game-high three pass breakups along with one tackle and one quarterback hurry in his Phoenix debut.
• Thursday marked the first time since the 2021 fall season that Elon started the season at home. It was also the first time Elon won its season opener since the 2021 spring season, when it defeated Davidson 26-23 at Rhodes Stadium.

 
UP NEXT
Elon will play its first road game of the season at Davidson next Saturday, Sept. 5. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. ET in Davidson, North Carolina.
 
SUPPORT THE PHOENIX
Fans can support Elon Athletics through the Phoenix Club. To purchase 2025 tickets, visit TicketMaster.com/ElonTickets.
 
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