Late Scores Send #3 Coastal Carolina Past Elon Football

CONWAY, S.C. – A strong defensive effort by the Elon Phoenix kept the maroon and gold nearly even with third-ranked Coastal Carolina on Saturday night, but the Chanticleers were able to pull away late in a 31-3 contest.

Elon (1-3) saw its defense force three turnovers as #Chris Blair#, #Akeem Langham and Odell Benton# all forced fumbles.

“We played a good football team,” said Elon head coach #Rich Skrosky#. “They’re the third-ranked team in the country for a reason. The thing that impresses me about them is they hit adversity, but they don’t flinch. The effort of those guys (the defense) was very good.”

Coastal Carolina (5-0) was first to score when De’Angelo Henderson ran it in from nine yards out midway through the first quarter. The Chants would tack on a field goal late in the first half and led 10-0 at the break.

The Phoenix pulled within a touchdown at 10-3 after #John Gallagher#’s 19-yard field goal capped an eight-play, 32-yard drive early in the third quarter.

It remained a 10-3 game until 2:24 left in the third period. At that point, Alex Ross lofted a 10-yard touchdown pass into the back corner of the end zone to Bruce Mapp to make it a 17-3 contest.

Coastal added two fourth-quarter scores to provide the final margin.

In the first half, the Phoenix defense forced the Chants into four punts and forced two fumbles on nine drives.

#Jonathan Spain# lead the maroon and gold with 10 total tackles, all solo stops. Blair added six tackles.

Offensively, #Kierre Brown set a new career high with 125 receiving yards on five catches. Demitri Allisonadded five grabs for 76 yards. Mike Quinn# threw for 232 yards while completing 20 of 37 pass attempts.

The Phoenix will return home to Rhodes Stadium next Saturday for its first-ever CAA Football game as the maroon and gold will welcome in fourth-ranked New Hampshire. Game time is set for 1:30 p.m. and it is Community Day.