ELON – Elon football hits the road for the first time in 2026 Saturday as the Phoenix travels to Davidson for an in-state matchup with the Wildcats. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET at Davidson College Stadium.
 
The Phoenix enters the weekend 1-0 after opening the season with a 42-7 victory over Glenville State at Rhodes Stadium last Thursday. Elon looks to continue its recent success against Davidson, having won each of the last three meetings in the series, including a 55-7 victory a year ago in the Phoenix's home opener. Davidson is 0-1 on the early season following a 41-35 loss to Concord in its opener and is in its second season under head coach Saj Thakkar.
 
GAME INFORMATION
·       Date: Sept. 5, 2026
·       Time: 6 p.m. ET
·       Location: Davidson College Stadium | Davidson, N.C.
·       Television/Streaming: ESPN+
·       Radio: Varsity Network App (PxP: Taylor Durham / Analyst: Dr. Khirey Walker)
·       Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
·       Game Notes: Elon | Davidson
 
SETTING THE STAGE

• The Phoenix and Wildcats will meet for the 21st time overall and for the third time since the series resumed in 2009. Elon has won each of the last three meetings, including a 55-7 victory at Rhodes Stadium in 2025.
• The Phoenix opened the 2026 season last Thursday with a dominant 42-7 victory over Glenville State at Rhodes Stadium. Elon outgained the Pioneers 446-125, held a 27-9 advantage in first downs and allowed just 80 yards in a scoreless first half.
• Sophomore quarterback Brady Stober accounted for three touchdowns in his Elon debut, throwing for 260 yards and two scores while adding a rushing touchdown. Jimmyll Williams rushed for 77 yards and two touchdowns, while Kamerin McDowell-Moore added 75 yards on the ground in his collegiate debut.
• With a win on Saturday, head coach Tony Trisciani would become just the fifth Elon head football coach to reach the 40-win mark. Only "Red" Wilson (72), Jerry Tolley (49), "Peahead" Walker (45) and Al Seagraves (40) have reached the 40-win plateau with the maroon and gold.

 
BRADY'S BUNCH

• Stober made an immediate impact in his Elon debut, accounting for three touchdowns in the Phoenix's 42-7 season-opening victory over Glenville State. Stober threw for 260 yards and two touchdowns without an interception while adding a 2-yard rushing touchdown for Elon's first score of the season. He connected with Jamarien Dalton for a 3-yard touchdown and Ben Kirsch for a 10-yard score, while also completing passes of 43 yards to Kirsch and 35 yards to Kenaz McMillian.
• Stober transferred to Elon after making five starts as a freshman at Samford in 2025, throwing for 1,240 yards and seven touchdowns. He earned Stats Perform National Freshman of the Week honors following a three-touchdown performance against VMI. After arriving at Elon in January, Stober's first start in the Maroon and Gold resulted in his first victory as the Phoenix quarterback.

 
THREE-HEADED MONSTER

• Elon's three-headed backfield delivered in the season opener as Williams, McDowell-Moore and Dan Frederick combined for 210 rushing yards against Glenville State. Williams led the group with 77 yards and two touchdowns, while McDowell-Moore rushed for 75 yards in his collegiate debut. Frederick added 58 yards, including a 31-yard run in the fourth quarter.
• The performance continued the momentum for Williams after he led Elon with 673 rushing yards and averaged 6.5 yards per carry in 2025. McDowell-Moore, a highly decorated running back from Tarboro, North Carolina, showed his potential immediately, while Frederick gave Elon a third productive option. All three backs rushed for at least 58 yards and averaged better than five yards per carry in the opener.

 
WINNING THE STATE

• Elon has found consistent success against fellow North Carolina FCS programs in recent seasons, entering 2026 on a six-game winning streak against in-state FCS opponents. The Phoenix went a perfect 4-0 in those matchups in 2025, defeating Davidson, Western Carolina, Campbell and North Carolina A&T.
• Elon outscored those four opponents 178-79, averaging 44.5 points per game. The Phoenix opened the stretch with a 55-7 win over Davidson before defeating Western Carolina 37-31, Campbell 31-24 and North Carolina A&T 55-17. The four victories followed wins over North Carolina Central and Campbell in 2024.
• The run also includes three consecutive victories over North Carolina A&T since the Aggies joined the CAA. Elon capped the 2025 season with a 55-17 victory over A&T, its largest win in the series since 2006.

 
MAN IN THE MIDDLE

• Preseason All-American Brodie Carroll helped lead an Elon defense that dominated Glenville State in the opener. Elon limited the Pioneers to 125 total yards and nine first downs, while holding Glenville State scoreless in the first half. The Phoenix forced punts on each of the Pioneers' first seven possessions and allowed just 80 yards on 30 plays before halftime.
• Carroll entered 2026 after leading Elon with 104 tackles in his first season with the Phoenix, earning second-team All-CAA honors. He recorded 9.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks and enters his redshirt junior season as a preseason All-American and the established leader in the middle of the Elon defense.

 
 
SUPPORT THE PHOENIX
2026 Elon Football tickets are on sale now at ElonTickets.com. Fans can support Elon Athletics through the Phoenix Club.
 
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