After a loss at Wofford College put the Phoenix under .500 for the first time since its season-opening loss at Vanderbilt University, Elon University head coach Jason Swepson wanted to get back to that mark.
"I told the team after the (Wofford) game, 'Let's get to 5-5, and put all our chips in against App,'" he said.
The words proved to be prophetic, as the Phoenix defeated Furman University 41-34 Nov. 12. The Paladins were ranked No. 21 in the Football Championship Subdivision and had racked off three big wins against Wofford, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Appalachian State, who the Phoenix play this Saturday in Rhodes Stadium.
"People didn't expect us to win," redshirt sophomore Rasaun Rorie said. "All week we practiced, it just seemed different. We wanted to send the seniors out right."
One of those seniors, linebacker Joshua Jones, provided a key play by intercepting Furman quarterback Chris Forcier's fourth-quarter pass and returning it for a touchdown to make the score 41-27.
"Overall it was just a great game," Swepson said. "For the first time all year, the guys were excited for each other. We had some success early in the game running the football. That gave us confidence up front in calling plays."
For the first time all season, the Phoenix had a running back rush for more than 100 yards. Senior A.J. Harris had 31 carries for 111 yards on the ground. Senior Dontay Taylor had 38 yards and a touchdown. Swepson pointed to the overall success of the offensive game plan.
"When you get off schedule, you have to start throwing the ball," he said. "The guys came out with determination to control the line of scrimmage. It's something that we talked about all year doing."
Along with outrushing the Paladins 163-65, Elon was led by junior quarterback Thomas Wilson, who completed 20 of 26 passes for 279 yards and four touchdowns, two to junior wide receiver Aaron Mellette, and one interception. Wilson was named the Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Week Monday for his performance.
"He's been playing at a high level all year," Swepson said of Wilson. "He's a gritty warrior out there who loves to throw the football and is not gun-shy."
The Phoenix will need both sides of the offense working Saturday against the No. 9 Mountaineers, who rank third in the SoCon in offensive yards per game and points per game. They have also beaten Elon in every game the teams have played since the Phoenix entered the SoCon in 2003.
"We can't let that 'A' on the jersey beat us," Swepson said. "They're a physical football team. This is going to make or break our season."
Swepson understands the sad history for the Phoenix behind these games.
"Going into App State, I think Elon is desperate, thirsty for a win," he said. "I don't know if it's really a rivalry for them. It's us trying to get that first conference win over App. State."
Swepson said the Furman win makes the App State game more special. It is Senior Day, and players such as Harris, Taylor, linebacker Zach Henderson, wide receiver Darrius McQueen and linebacker Joshua Jones are among the Elon players playing in their final collegiate game. The head coach is very confident.
"We're gonna beat them and we're going to do it the right way," Swepson said. "We're going to welcome them to Rhodes Stadium, we're going to lock the gates and we're gonna beat them up. We're going to make this our bowl game, our championship game, our Super Bowl."