ELON, NC – Vinnie Miroth threw for 200 yards and a touchdown to lead Chattanooga to a 24-7 Southern Conference triumph over Elon Saturday afternoon at Rhodes Stadium.
The victory marked the first of the season for the Mocs (1-6 overall, 1-2 Southern Conference) and represented a fourth consecutive loss for the Phoenix (2-6, 1-4). Chattanooga out-gained Elon 341 to 294 in total net yards, despite surrendering 218 to the Phoenix ground attack.
“I’m happy for our players,” said Chattanooga coach Rodney Allison. “It has been a long road for them. I’m happy that they get to feel this winning feeling. After being up by two touchdowns, we still never thought that it would be easy. We were able to get three or four turnovers in the second half and were able to hang in there. Our scoring defense was the difference in the game.”
Elon beat the Mocs in possession time (36:07-23:53), but committed 12 penalties that resulted in 65 yards. Chattanooga was flagged for eight penalties for 71 yards. The Phoenix had also out-gained the Mocs in first downs 17-13, earning 12 on the ground.
Chattanooga struck first on Cortney McGlone’s one-yard touchdown run with 11:20 to play in the first quarter, capping a nine-play, 70-yard drive. The Mocs stretched it to 14-0 with 8:29 remaining in the opening period when Miroth connected with Jeremy Grier on a 56-yard pass play.
Elon jumped onto the scoreboard when Rashaud Palmer punched in his 22nd career touchdown from one yard out with 8:51 left in the second quarter. Palmer ended up with a season-high 127 net rushing yards to push him up to 13th among Elon’s all-time leaders with 2,176 career rushing yards, passing both Bob Stauffenberg (2,073 in 1954-57) and Emery Moore (2,161 in 1966-69).
Patrick Shutters sank a 26-yard field goal with 21 ticks left in the second stanza to give the Mocs a 17-7 halftime advantage. Chattanooga posted the only score of the second half – a 26-yard touchdown run by Jessie Chesterfield – with 2:44 remaining in the contest.
“At times, we moved the ball better today,” said Elon coach Al Seagraves. “We had some penalties that shot us in the foot, but I thought we did move the ball better. It (the past month of the season) has been very frustrating and very difficult, but we started this journey together … somehow, someway, we’ve got to find our way back.”
Elon will face its final non-conference opponent of the season when it travels to Towson for a 1 p.m. contest next Saturday. Chattanooga returns home to host Southern Conference rival Western Carolina at 6 p.m. Saturday.
— ELON — Game Box Score
