Trailing by 15 points at halftime, the Elon University football team was off to a familiar start against Towson University Nov. 1 at Johnny Unitas Stadium in Towson, Maryland. Slow starts have plagued the Phoenix all season, but the Phoenix was able to rally in the second half against the Tigers.
Senior quarterback Mike Quinn found senior wide receiver Kierre Brown for a 5-yard touchdown with 1:11 to play in the game to cut Towson’s lead to 21-19. Needing a two-point conversion to tie the game, Quinn went to the air once again, but his pass fell incomplete. Elon was not able to recover the ensuing onside kick, securing the 21-19 win for Towson.
“I think both sides made some plays, and at the end of the day, they probably made one more than we did,” Elon head coach Rich Skrosky said in a press release.
Elon trailed 21-6 at halftime, but the Phoenix defense kept the team in the game by pitching a shutout in the second half. An interception by sophomore Adrian McClendon, a blocked field goal by junior Alexander Dawson and a tipped punt by junior Jeremy Gloston were all key plays that helped to keep Towson off the scoreboard when Elon needed it most.
Towson (4-5, 2-3) built an early 14-0 lead by scoring on each of its first two possessions. First it was sophomore quarterback Connor Frazier who found sophomore Andre Dessenberg for a 4-yard score.
Sophomore running back Darius Victor found the end zone from two yards out on the next drive. Victor finished the game with 153 yards rushing on 28 carries.
The Phoenix scored on its second possession of the second half to spark the comeback. Quinn connected with junior wide receiver Andre Davis for a 5-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 21-13.
Quinn completed 25 of 43 passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns on the game, his first scores since Oct. 11 at the University of Delaware.
Sophomore John Gallagher accounted for all six of Elon’s first half points with two field goals. Gallagher connected on a 25-yard field goal as well as a 49-yarder, a new career long.
Elon remains winless in the Colonial Athletic Association, falling to 1-8 and 0-5 on the season. The Phoenix will travel to the College of William & Mary Nov. 8 to take on the nationally ranked Tribe at Zable Stadium. Kickoff from Williamsburg, Virginia, is set for 3:30 p.m.