The Elon University football team, still seeking its first win of the 2014 campaign, will host the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Sept. 20 at Rhodes Stadium for Family Weekend.
The game will mark the first-ever matchup between Charlotte and Elon on the gridiron. The 49ers are in their second year of competition and are competing as an independent at the Football Championship Subdivision level. Beginning next year, Charlotte (3-0) will join Conference USA at the Football Bowl Subdivision level.
The Phoenix only had one scheduled game against an FBS opponent in 2014 (at Duke University Aug. 30), but since Charlotte will be at the same level next year, it is indirectly a second FBS game for Elon.
“[Charlotte is] a good team,” Elon head coach Rich Skrosky said. “They’re 3-0 and they’ve won all three games decisively. It’ll be a good challenge. It should be a great atmosphere.”
While just in its second year of existence, the Charlotte football program has many experienced players playing under head coach Brad Lambert.
Skrosky mentioned the experience of the 49ers’ offensive line as an example of this. Heading into this season, Elon’s offensive line had a combined 33 starts, with 31 of those made by senior Austin Sowell. Conversely, Charlotte’s line has started nearly double the amount of games as Elon’s line.
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The 49ers’ offensive line has been an essential cog in an offensive unit that is averaging 43 points per game. Pacing the offense has been sophomore running back Kalif Phillips, who is averaging 5.8 yards per carry and has scored eight touchdowns in just three games.
After surrendering 270 yards to North Carolina A&T State University and sophomore running back Tarik Cohen (243 yards) Sept. 13, the Phoenix defense will face a 49ers team that is coming off a 300-yard rushing performance at North Carolina Central University Sept. 13.
“They do it in a different way,” Skrosky said in comparison to N.C. A&T. “I think we have a different set of issues but we still have to defend the run and we will. They present a run challenge but it’s a different run challenge than last week with A&T. The guys are working hard and every day I think we’re getting closer to where we want to be.”
A large crowd is expected at Rhodes Stadium, as the game is one of the main attractions of Elon’s Family Weekend. The game, which annually draws more than 10,000 fans, is set to kick off at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on the American Sports Network.
Getting healthy
Two of Elon’s most productive players are improving as the season progresses. Junior defensive lineman/linebacker Alexander Dawson (broken finger) and sophomore running back B.J. Bennett (broken hand) have both been productive despite their injuries.
Bennett wore a large, bulky cast on his left hand during Elon’s game against Duke. But even with the cast, he was able to run for a career-high 87 yards. To Bennett, it’s simple.
“You just have to go out play with it,” he said.
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Against N.C. A&T, Bennett played without the cast, though he did play with extra tape on his hand to protect it.
Dawson’s injury still requires him to wear a large cast, similar to the one that Bennett wore at Duke.
“I feel like I’m getting used to the club a little bit,” Dawson said. “I was having to make some adjustments just as far as my physical play and basically you have to kind of change the way you hit people, and I don’t have the gripping ability that I’m used to having, but I expect to get better with it as the season goes on.”
The Eastern Alamance High School graduate logged two tackles against Duke and was one of Elon’s top defensive performers against N.C. A&T, recording seven total tackles (two for a loss) and a sack.
“Looking forward to the challenge,” Dawson said of the matchup against Charlotte. “They play a physical brand of football and we consider ourselves a physical defense. It’s nice to have a challenge like that though with the bigger recruits they’re able to bring in, so it’s going to be a great challenge.”
Once again, Bennett laid it out pretty simply.
“I mean [Charlotte is] 3-0,” he said. “You have to respect it. We’re not 3-0, they’re 3-0 so you just have to attack it like it’s another game.”