BY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL SPORTS INFORMATION | NCCUEaglePride.com
In a clash of top-25 NCAA Division I-FCS programs, No. 11 North Carolina Central University amassed 14 tackles behind the line of scrimmage with eight sacks and senior quarterback Davius Richard accounted for four touchdowns to defeat No. 25 Elon University, 34-23, at Rhodes Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Entering the contest, Elon (3-3) was riding an eight-game win streak at home and the Phoenix had not allowed a touchdown inside Rhodes Stadium for 15 quarters. NCCU (5-1) made five visits to the end zone to snap both streaks.
Richard rushed for a season-best 114 yards and three touchdowns, while completing 21-of-35 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown. Senior running back Latrell Collier ran for 95 yards, including a 63-yard touchdown scamper, to become the ninth Eagle in NCCU history to amass 2,000 career rushing yards (currently 2,050 yards). The dynamic duo of Richard (10) and Collier (6) have now combined for 16 rushing touchdowns this season.
Sophomore receiver Joaquin Davis topped the Eagles with five receptions for 72 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown. Collier also had five catches for 12 yards, while Twan Flip Jr. and Devin Smith each caught four passes.
NCCU’s 14 stops for a loss and eight sacks are the most by the Eagles since 2019. Junior defensive lineman Quantez Mansfield recorded 2.5 hits for a loss with 1.5 sacks, junior lineman Trey Middleton added 2.5 tackles for a loss and a sack, and sophomore defensive end Kendrick DuJour posted 1.5 sacks. Sophomore linebacker Jayden Flaker collected a team-high seven takedowns with 1.5 TFL and a sack, while sophomore cornerback Jason Chambers tallied three tackles and an interception, his second in the past two contests.
The win is the 500th victory in NCCU gridiron history. The triumph is also the third straight against a top-25 FCS team, as Trei Oliver is now 3-1 against nationally-ranked opponents since becoming head coach at his alma mater in 2019.
NCCU has next week off before opening MEAC play at Morgan State University on Thursday, Oct. 19 on ESPNU at 7:30 p.m.
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Notes from the Elon perspective
By Jacob Kisamore | Elon Athletic Communications
- Three different Elon quarterbacks recorded a touchdown, with Justin Allen and Matthew Downing both tossing a score and William Lankford rushing for one.
- Nine different Elon players caught at least one pass. Landyn Backey hauled in the first pass of his career for 32 yards in the first quarter.
- Johncarlos Miller II paced the Phoenix with five catches and 82 yards, both season highs.
- Elon threw for a season-high 282 yards.
- Reigning CAA Defensive Player of the Week Caleb Curtain led the Phoenix with seven tackles while Bo Sanders and Jesse Powell II both added six. The six tackles for Powell II were a career best.
- Marvin Pearson tied Elon’s FCS record for career quarterback hurries with his 16th against the Eagles. Pearson is now level with Marcus Willoughby (2016-19).
- Elon extended its streak of keeping opponents out of the end zone at home to 16 quarters before surrendering three touchdowns in the second.
- The Phoenix was held without a sack as a team for the first time this season.
- The loss is Elon’s first at Rhodes Stadium since Nov. 6, 2021 against No. 10/13 Villanova. The Phoenix had beaten four ranked teams during its eight-game home winning streak.
