A week after suffering one of the most gut-wrenching defeats under head coach Jason Swepson, the Elon University football team returns home to Rhodes Stadium to face the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Saturday, Oct. 19. The Mocs (4-2, 2-1 Southern Conference) are anchored by junior defensive lineman Davis Tull and sophomore dual-threat quarterback Jacob Huesman. Elon will have its hands full as it tries to bounce back from its 31-27 loss against Wofford College a week ago. Let’s get to the keys to the game:

Elon Offensive X-factor: Running backs 

In the Wofford game, Elon returned to its old ways by throwing the ball 54 times, a major increase from the 17 pass attempts two weeks ago against Furman University. Yet when it mattered most, what did Elon call upon? The running game. The Phoenix had four chances inside the 5-yard line of Wofford to win the game in its final minute, yet redshirt freshman B.J. Bennett could not find the end zone.

This week, the running backs will be staring right into the teeth of Tull, the reigning national defensive player of the week. While the going will be tough, Elon needs to re-establish its run game this week.

Chattanooga Offensive X-factor: QB Jacob Huesman

Around practice on Tuesday, there was muttering comparing Huesman, the son of Mocs head coach Russ Huesman, to Texas A&M University sophomore quarterback Johnny Manziel. Why? Because Huesman leads the SoCon in completion percentage through the air at 65.3 percent, and is his team’s second leading rusher. Huesman averages 141.8 passing yards per game and 80.7 rushing yards per game, a combination that will provide a challenge for a weak Elon defense all afternoon.

Elon Defensive X-factor: Linebackers

I almost went with “the whole defense in the second half” for this category, as Elon has given up 67 points in the second half the past three weeks. By comparison, the Phoenix has allowed 59 in the first half, 32 of which came in one game. However, the linebacking corps is a major key to success on Saturday. Huesman, as a dual-threat quarterback, has the ability to run or pass on each and every play. If Elon goes with a pass rush and Huesman scampers away, the linebackers will become the first line of defense for his running ability. If Huesman goes to the air, the linebackers will have to quickly adjust to pass coverage.

Davis Tull is a monster. A week ago against Furman, the 6-foot-3, 240-pound Tull picked up 3.5 sacks, earning national Defensive Player of the Week honors. Tull only needs 1/2 a sack to tie the all-time record at Chattanooga.

Elon’s offensive line has been a major bright spot for the Phoenix this year, but if Tull can exert his dominance and get to Elon junior quarterback Mike Quinn as well as stop the run, Elon’s offense will be hopeless.

Prediction

Elon has the tools to win this game, but the effect of the Wofford loss still looms large over the team. With Huesman and Tull on the Mocs’ side, Elon comes up short in this one.

Chattanooga 34, Elon 21