Elon Football Heads North for First-Ever Meeting With Delaware

ELON, N.C. – The season’s third new foe awaits the Elon football team this Saturday as the Phoenix will make the trip to Newark, Del. for its first-ever bout on the gridiron with the Delaware Blue Hens. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. at Delaware Stadium.

Fans unable to attend the game can listen to the game on WPCM 95.1 FM and 920 AM or at elonphoenix.com. The radio broadcast will start at 2:30 p.m. Fans can also listen to all Elon football games via the TuneIn Radio app. This app is free to download to your smartphone.

CONNECTIONS:
• Delaware’s roster sports two North Carolinians – sophomore DB Ryan Torzsa (Waxhaw) and junior LB Derek Battle (Charlotte).
• Elon OL Ty Alt and UD QB Trent Hurley both graduated from Greensburg Central Catholic (Pa.).
• Both squads sport transfers from Rutgers University. Elon DL Marquise Wright and UD QBs Blake Rankin and Rich Czeczotka all began their careers with the Scarlet Knights.
• Elon offensive coordinator Damian Wroblewski spent five seasons on the staff at Delaware. He was the offensive line coach for the Blue Hens from 2007-11 and helped the team to two national title game appearances.

NOTING DELAWARE
• Delaware was projected to finish sixth in the league’s preseason poll.
• The Blue Hens saw a three-game winning streak snapped this past Saturday with a 10-7 loss to Sacred Heart.
• Delaware’s passing defense ranks second in the CAA. The Blue Hens are allowing just 171.6 yards per game through the air.
• Both Elon and Delaware are among the four teams nationally that have not lost a fumble this year. The others are Albany and Alabama State.

A NEW HOME:
After spending the past 11 seasons as a member of the Southern Conference, Elon has joined the Colonial Athletic Association and CAA Football. The Phoenix officially transitioned to CAA Football on July 1, 2014.

The CAA geographic footprint provides an attractive match with Elon’s student and alumni populations. Elon draws a large proportion of its enrollment from mid-Atlantic and New England states where many CAA teams are located. About 1,850 current students came to Elon from areas close to CAA member schools. Alumni populations in CAA cities are equally strong, with about 5,300 Elon alumni living within 50 miles of CAA member schools.

ELON VS. DELAWARE:
Elon will be facing Delaware for the first time ever. The Blue Hens are one of five new opponents on the Elon slate this season. The others are Charlotte, New Hampshire, William & Mary and Maine.

WE’RE CLOSE
Dating back to 2013, six of Elon’s last 12 games have been decided by seven points or less.

HEADING NORTH
Saturday’s game at Delaware will mark the first time that Elon has played a game north of Virginia since a September 2008 visit to Stony Brook. The Phoenix won that game 30-20.

WINNING THE TO BATTLE
Over its last four games, the Phoenix has posted a +4 in turnover margin. The maroon and gold has five turnovers (all interceptions), but has forced nine (four interceptions and five fumbles). Elon has yet to fumble the ball this season and is one of just four FCS programs not to lose a fumble this year.

Last year, Elon forced a total of 17 turnovers (eight interceptions and nine fumbles).

TACKLING MACHINE
Senior linebacker Jonathan Spain currently boasts 288 career tackles. That number ranks fourth in program history during Elon’s FCS tenure and eighth on the school’s all-time tackles chart.