By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Elon’s football team fell short of some goals this season, but the Phoenix could end the year as one of the hottest teams around.
Elon (5-6 overall, 4-3 Coastal Athletic Association) has won three games in a row going into the season finale at 1:00 p.m. Saturday at North Carolina A&T in Greensboro.
Coach Tony Trisciani wants players finishing their careers to have one last memorable experience.
“They’re going to remember how we finished,” Trisciani said. “We need go out and finish it right for them.”
Redshirt junior safety Caleb Curtain might be in his final game with the Phoenix. He’ll be in his hometown.
“I know a lot of guys over there, so it’s definitely a good one,” Curtain said. “It’s definitely cool to finally play a college football game in that stadium.”
Curtain’s father and brother attended N.C. A&T. Sincere Burnette, an Aggies linebacker, played with Curtain on a Greensboro Grimsley state championship team.
“Trying to finish out the right way,” Curtain said.
N.C. A&T (1-10, 0-7) has only an overtime victory against Division II Winston-Salem State to its credit this year.
“There’s a no-quit, never-die mindset here,” N.C. A&T coach Vincent Brown said. “Looking forward to a very tough and exciting game this Saturday against Elon.”
Elon won last year’s meeting at home in the first CAA matchup between the teams. The Aggies hold an 8-5 series lead.
Elon captures home finale
Rushawn Baker ran for three touchdowns and 156 yards as Elon beat Maine 31-25 on Saturday afternoon at Rhodes Stadium.
“I wish we could’ve won our home games in front of our people early in the season,” Trisciani said. “We had some great crowds and a lot of support. I appreciate that everyone kept coming back and supporting us here on the back end.”
Matthew Downing threw for 299 yards and one touchdown and Chandler Brayboy racked up 138 receiving yards on three catches.
Elon never trailed, but Maine (5-6, 3-4) kept it interesting.
With the Black Bears in position to take the lead in the third quarter, Curtain intercepted Maine quarterback Carter Peevy in the end zone. The Phoenix then marched 84 yards, with Baker scoring from 6 yards out for a 21-10 lead.
“That was a 14-point swing,” Trisciani said.
It took Maine only three plays to answer with a touchdown and two-point conversion, closing within 21-18.
Elon trumped that, with Brayboy’s 30-yard kickoff return followed immediately by Downing’s 70-yard TD strike to Brayboy.
Luke Barnes’ 40-yard field goal expanded Elon’s lead to 31-18. The final points came on Maine’s touchdown with two seconds remaining, and the Phoenix recovered the ensuing onside kick.
With TJ Thomas Jr. out with an injury, Baker has become Elon’s main ball carrier. He had 27 of the team’s 30 carries against Maine.
