The Elon University football team is finding themselves sort of like the victims of Monty Python's Spanish Inquisitors. There is a sense in which the same thing is attacking them, at least in the last two weeks.

Unfortunately for the Phoenix, those attacking them have more bite than the Rack.

Elon faces the battering triple-option, run-first offense for the second week in a row in this week's opponent, the Wofford College Terriers. And perhaps, even so, the repetition makes "a smashing film." Elon fans better hope the Phoenix's defense is better than the Soft Cushions and the Comfy Chair.

The Terriers come in with a vicious rushing attack led by senior fullback Eric Breitenstein, the reigning Southern Conference Player of the Year. Elon's defense gave up 342 yards rushing to No. 9 Georgia Southern University last week in a 26-23 loss but held their own with a sharp passing game, only hampered by two Thomas Wilson interceptions.

Here are the keys for the game for each team:

Keys for the Phoenix

1. Beware of the pass play: Last week, Georgia Southern was able to put together enough passing in their triple-option offense. Quarterback Ezayi Youyoute threw a pass on the first Eagles' play of the game and led off the scoring with a 38-yard scoring throw to wide receiver Kentrellis Showers to end the drive and give GSU an early 7-0 lead. Youyoute finished the day 4-6 for 66 yards and a score.

Wofford quarterback Brian Kass is 8-15 for 171 yards, four touchdowns and just one interception. When the Terriers throw, it tends to be effective and for a long way. Elon's pass defense hasn't necessarily been tested, so if Kass decides to go to the air, the secondary must be ready.

2. Get the crowd going: Elon head coach Jason Swepson mentioned the environment at Georgia Southern as definitely factoring into the game. "I know when you have home-field advantage and the crowd is rocking, it's worth about three points, I think," he said. "And I think we witnessed that this past Saturday."

It's Family Weekend here at Elon, and if the Phoenix want those three points, the crowd needs to get going. There will be parents and other family members at the football game, unless the rain drives them away. If Elon is to have a shot at upsetting No. 5 Wofford, the crowd will have to have an impact. "Hopefully, (the crowd is) nice and loud and hostile and cheering the maroon and gold on and giving out kids some excitement," Swepson said. We'll see.

3. Thomas Wilson completing passes to Elon receivers: As I wrote in a blog post Friday, Elon senior quarterback Thomas Wilson has significantly decreased his number of interceptions this year as opposed to last year. He tends to be a little more on the money, except for the occasional overthrows and Tim Tebow-like moments. He's also taken to a little bit of Aaron Rodgers-like running (the No. 12 on the jersey must mean something).

Instead of throwing to Wofford defensive backs, Wilson must be keen to hit Elon targets early and often. As obvious as that sounds, the offense will need to take every opportunity to get points on the board and get a significant lead and not let Breitenstein be a deciding factor in the game.

Keys for the Terriers

1. Exploit injured, struggling Elon offensive line: The Elon offensive line has struggled with injuries all season. Junior center Clay Johnson and senior offensive guard Kyle Herbert have missed time in games this year, while the status of junior offensive tackle Gavin Billings is unknown. Swepson said at the beginning of the season that he was especially concerned about the depth of the offensive line.

Wilson has been known to be a struggle at quarterback under a great deal of pressure. He has the ability to escape the pocket, but it's not often. If Wofford's defensive line and linebackers can penetrate and get to Wilson early, it's going to be a long day for Elon fans.

2. Push Breitenstein early and often: This is sort of the opposite of point No. 3 for Elon. In each game the Phoenix has dropped this season, the opposing offense was able to score early and get a lead, most notably the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Breitenstein had three touchdowns in the first half against Elon last year in a 48-28 victory for the Terriers in Spartanburg.

If Wofford is able to get Breitenstein going, Elon's in trouble. Plain and simple. The defense will need to be ready and not get cocky by any early stops and just tackle the guy. "We've just got to get low and tackle him," said Elon senior defensive lineman Olufemi Lamikanra. "We've just got to do our jobs, filling our gaps in." Really, that's all there is to it.

3. Use kick/punt return game to set up good field position: Elon has had a continued struggle against the return game. It started against North Carolina and has continued to be an issue. Junior punter Kenton Beal has improved tremendously over 2011, but that doesn't mean the kick/punt returners aren't effective. In just three games against significantly-weaker opponents, the Terriers already have a punt return touchdown.

If the Terriers can set themselves up with good field position and get the running attack going, it's lights out for Elon.

The idea of Family Weekend, I think, is to use the support of the home crowd to get the team going and push the hometown maroon and gold to a victory.

Unfortunately for them, I don't see that happening. Wofford wins 30-17, disappointing the home crowd on Family Weekend. That's just the breaks, ya'll.

As far as records go, Andrew Wilson is a spotless 4-0 on the season, while I lag behind 1.5 games at 2-1. But he also predicts a Wofford victory, 48-31 Terriers. Maybe I'll need to pick something different and hope something happens. But not today.