After capturing its second-straight win over a ranked team, the Elon University football team is gaining recognition.
Elon was listed at No. 23 in this week’s STATS FCS poll and named the Football Championship Subdivision team of the week after the Phoenix topped No. 6 Richmond on Saturday evening 36-33, moving the team to 3-1 (1-0) on the year.
The win was set up by a fourth-quarter interception by junior linebacker Warren Messer, which allowed freshman kicker Owen Johnson to put the game winner through the uprights. This is the first time since 2011 that Elon has been able to capture a victory three weeks in a row.
Elon is one of six Colonial Athletic Association football programs in the top 25. Joining them is James Madison at No. 1, Villanova at No. 14, New Hampshire at No. 15, Richmond at No. 16 and, this weekend's opponent, Albany at No. 19.
In the FCS Coaches Poll, Elon earned 27 points, the second-most points of the teams outside the top 25 on that list.
Elon will face off against the State University of New York at Albany on Saturday at 2 p.m.