ELON, N.C. – Terrell Hudgins hauled in a program-record 16 receptions for a career-best 219 yards and career-high four touchdowns while Scott Riddle passed for a career-best 368 yards and career-high four touchdowns to go with his first two college rushing scores, powering Elon to a 42-14 NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision triumph over Liberty Saturday afternoon at Rhodes Stadium.
Hudgins, a second team All-America choice by The Associated Press last season, easily eclipsed his previous high of 183 receiving yards versus Wofford last October. Richard McGeorge, a two-time first team All-America selection, posted single-game program plateaus of 15 catches and 285 receiving yards during the 1968 campaign.
Riddle finished with 33-for-39 (.846) passing with one interception, matching his Elon-record 33 completions versus West Virginia Wesleyan two weeks ago. The performance marked Riddle’s second consecutive outing of over 360 aerial yards, following his 362-yard outburst against West Virginia Wesleyan.
The Phoenix (2-1) amassed 522 yards of total offense to 332 net yards for the Flames (2-2). The victory included the second-straight outburst of over 520 yards of total offense for Elon – coupled with its 551-yard unloading on WVWC – as well as a second consecutive performance of exactly 401 passing yards.
“This is probably the most satisfying win in my time at Elon,” Phoenix coach Pete Lembo said. “Going in, we had a lot of respect and appreciation for Liberty and the great job they are doing with that program. When we first looked at our schedule, we knew this was a game we needed to win and play well in for us to keep moving our program forward.”
Behind Riddle and Hudgins, the Phoenix built a 28-0 halftime lead. Riddle’s one-yard TD run capped an 11-play, 69-yard drive while Hudgins’ finish of a 32-yard pass play from Riddle for a score concluded a seven-play, 69-yard drive to put Elon up 14-0 for the first quarter. In the second stanza, Hudgins scored on a 24-yard toss from Riddle before Riddle ran five yards for another touchdown with 47 seconds remaining before halftime.
Zach Terrell put the Flames on the board with a two-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter. Terrell, who entered the contest leading the Big South Conference and ranked 25th nationally with 113.3 rushing yards per game, finished the game with four yards on three carries.
Riddle responded by hitting Hudgins for a 15-yard touchdown toss to end the third period and a 29-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter to fatten the Elon advantage to 42-7 with 9:16 remaining in the contest. Liberty’s Spencer Landis threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Wynton Jackson to determine the final score with 6:17 to play.
“We just didn’t execute today,” Liberty coach Danny Rocco said. “They (Elon) came out and took it to us in every aspect of the game. They wanted it more and the final score reflected that. The bottom line is we don’t have a very good football team right now. We’ve got a lot of talent, but we just aren’t playing like it right now.”
Brock Smith connected on 17 of 37 passes for 222 yards with one interception while Jackson pulled down six receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown to pace the Flames. Liberty’s Stevie Ray Lloyd racked up 13 tackles to lead all defenders.
Elon’s Brandon Lane booted four punts for 182 yards for an average of 45.5 yards per punt. Lane, who entered the contest ranked second in the Southern Conference and 12th in the nation, upped his average from 42.1 to 43.1 yards per punt.
The Phoenix will welcome two-time defending national champion Appalachian State to Rhodes Stadium at 1:30 p.m. next Saturday to highlight Elon Family Weekend festivities. Also next Saturday, Liberty hosts St. Francis (Pa.) at 7 p.m.
– ELON –
