The Elon University football team is entering a bye weekend following three straight double-digit losses to Southern Conference opponents. The Phoenix lost 48-28 to then-ranked No. 9 Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C. Oct. 29.
Elon will play at Furman University Nov. 12 and then host No. 3 Appalachian State University Nov. 19 in the team's final game of the season.
"These young guys are going to get a lot of work (during the bye week)," head coach Jason Swepson said. "I told them team after the game, 'Let's get to 5-5, and put all our chips in against App.'"
The loss drops Elon's record below .500 for the first time this season at 4-5 overall and 2-4 in the SoCon.
The game against Wofford featured two very different offenses; one based heavily on the passing game and the other on the ground attack. Elon gained 363 total yards but got only 21 yards rushing from 24 carries. Junior quarterback Thomas Wilson was 27-35 passing for 342 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.
Junior wide receiver Aaron Mellette had nine receptions for 162 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, the Phoenix struggled to stop Wofford's rushing game. Led by Walter Payton Award watch-list fullback Eric Breitenstein, the Terriers rushed for 465 yards and threw for only 13 yards. Breitenstein ran for 217 yards and four touchdowns on 28 carries and was named SoCon Offensive Player of the Week.
"They're a good football team," Swepson said. "They're strong up front. We didn't do a good job tackling. We stopped them but didn't wrap them up. We're still finding our way."
The Phoenix will use the bye week to try and correct some of those mistakes before their final two games.
"We're going to give them a couple days off, and really work on the basics: tackling, catching, running the football, blocking," Swepson said. "Just get back to the basics and really get the young kids a lot of work."
Underlying frustration from recent weeks is also starting to surface in the locker room. Following the loss to Wofford, senior running back Jamal Shuman went on a Twitter rant about his lack of playing time and the coaching staff's decision making. Some of his comments even appeared on well-known sports websiteDeadspin.com.
Shuman was suspended indefinitely by the athletic department Tuesday. He could not be reached to comment.