By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Elon will play its home opener as a ranked team in the Football Championship Subdivision.
The Phoenix holds the No. 22 spot this week in time for Western Carolina’s visit Saturday night at Rhodes Stadium.
This will be the third straight in-state opponent for Elon (1-1).
These are former Southern Conference rivals. Elon leads the all-time series by 24-17-2, including 4-1 at Rhodes Stadium. The teams haven’t met since the Catamounts prevailed 27-24 in 2013, which was Elon’s final season in the Southern Conference.
Then-No. 17 Western Carolina lost 24-16 at home last week to Campbell, which defeated a ranked team for the first time in program history. The Catamounts (0-2) didn’t produce an offensive touchdown.
In Western Carolina’s opener, it hung within striking distance of North Carolina State into the fourth quarter before falling 38-21 in Raleigh.
“They’ve got to be the best 0-2 FCS program in the country,” Elon coach Tony Trisciani said.
Elon will try to establish the level of ball control that worked well in last week’s victory at North Carolina Central, Trisciani said. The Phoenix took 60 snaps compared to the Eagles’ 48, while holding more than a 14-minute edge in time of possession.
Part of that came courtesy of a rushing attack that included Elon’s T.J. Thomas, Jr., who was named the Rookie of the Week for the Coastal Athletic Conference. He racked up 152 yards on the ground.
Elon played without veteran receiver and return special Chandler Brayboy yet still churned out 428 yards of total offense.
At the on-campus venue, the Phoenix is 13-10 in home openers, including victories the past two seasons. Overall, Elon has won 10 of its last 11 home games.
