Elon University Athletics

DAVIDSON – Elon turned a fast start into a dominant road performance Saturday night, shutting out Davidson 38-0 at Davidson College Stadium to improve to 2-0 on the season for the first time since 2009.
 
Kamerin McDowell-Moore and Jimmyll Williams scored two rushing touchdowns apiece, while TJ Crews IV connected with Jaedon Alford for a second-half score. Codey Larkins helped set up 10 first-half points with a muffed-punt recovery and a blocked punt as the Phoenix defense kept Davidson off the scoreboard from start to finish.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Elon took advantage of a Davidson special teams mistake on the Wildcats' opening possession. Codey Larkins recovered a muffed punt at the Davidson 23 and Luke Barnes converted a 39-yard field goal four plays later to put the Phoenix ahead 3-0.
• Davidson threatened to answer by driving to the Elon 7, but the Phoenix defense kept the Wildcats out of the end zone before a 24-yard field goal attempt missed. Elon then put together a 19-play, 78-yard drive of its own before Davidson stopped the Phoenix on fourth-and-goal at the 2.
• Elon broke through for its first touchdown on the next possession. McDowell-Moore ripped off a 29-yard touchdown run to finish a three-play, 50-yard drive and extend the lead to 10-0 with 11:37 remaining in the second quarter.
• Special teams set up another score less than two minutes later when Larkins blocked a Davidson punt and recovered it at the Wildcats' 7. Williams scored from three yards out two plays later for a 17-0 advantage.
• Davidson used a fake punt to reach the Elon 24 midway through the second quarter, but the Phoenix defense held and the Wildcats missed a 43-yard field goal. Elon responded with a 74-yard drive, highlighted by Crews IV completions of 17 yards to Dylan Magazu and 34 yards to Alford, before Williams' second touchdown sent the Phoenix into halftime ahead 24-0.
• Elon needed just one offensive possession in the second half to add to its lead. Dan Frederick broke off a 20-yard run and Williams followed with an 11-yard gain before Crews found Alford for a 36-yard touchdown, completing a five-play, 77-yard march that made it 31-0 with 10:25 left in the third quarter.
• The Phoenix defense preserved the shutout as Davidson twice drove inside the Elon 30 during the third quarter. Elon turned the Wildcats away on downs at the 28 and again at the 14, with Chaz Knox recording a nine-yard sack during the latter possession.
• Elon closed the scoring with a 57-yard drive in the fourth quarter. Tanner Payne completed a 21-yard pass to Josiah Payton to move the Phoenix to the Davidson 2 before McDowell-Moore scored his second touchdown of the night from one yard out, pushing the advantage to 38-0 with 8:27 remaining. Davidson never crossed midfield again as Elon finished off the shutout.

 
NOTES & STATS

• Elon recorded its first shutout since defeating Wofford 26-0 on Sept. 10, 2022. The 38-point margin was Elon's largest in a shutout since a 45-0 victory over North Carolina A&T on Nov. 11, 2006.
• Elon is 2-0 to start the season for the first time since 2009, when it defeated Davidson and Presbyterian to kick off a 9-3 year.
• The win was No. 40 for head coach Tony Trisciani at Elon, making him just the fifth Phoenix football head coach to reach the milestone. Trisciani is now tied with Al Seagraves for the fourth-most wins in program history, trailing only "Red" Wilson (72), Jerry Tolley (49) and "Peahead" Walker (45).
• Elon has won five straight games against Davison, including four in the modern era.
• Larkins made two pivotal special teams plays in the first half. He recovered a muffed Davidson punt on the Wildcats' opening possession and later blocked and recovered a punt at the Davidson 7. The two plays directly set up 10 Elon points.
• Larkins' blocked punt in the second quarter was Elon's first since Brennan Davis blocked a Campbell punt on Nov. 2, 2024.
• The Phoenix held Davidson to 251 yards of total offense and 11 first downs. The Wildcats went just 3-of-16 on third down and 2-of-6 on fourth down.
• Elon has allowed just seven points through its first two games while outscoring Glenville State and Davidson by a combined 80-7.
• Crews IV completed 5-of-7 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown, while Alford led Elon with 70 receiving yards on two catches, including a 36-yard touchdown. The duo has connected for a touchdown in each of the Phoenix's first two games of the year.
• McDowell-Moore rushed 15 times for a game-high 88 yards and two touchdowns. Williams added two rushing touchdowns as Elon finished with four scores on the ground.

 
UP NEXT
The Phoenix opens CAA play on the road next Saturday at No. 6/8 Rhode Island (1-1). Kickoff in Kingston, Rhode Island is at noon ET.
 
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