Towson, MD - Quarterback Davis Cheek marshaled the Elon University football team’s offense as the Phoenix took down the Towson University Tigers, 37-14.
Despite sustained wind above 17 mph and gusts of greater than 25 mph, the senior threw for 251 yards and a touchdown. Cheek completed passes of 32, 34, and 45 yards on his way to a 59% completion percentage.
After being shut out a week ago against Villanova, the Phoenix opened up a 27-7 lead halfway through the third quarter against the Tigers and scored a season high of 37.
Towson’s passing game was shut down completely by Elon’s secondary, with quarterbacks Vincent Amendola and Chris Ferguson combining for only 102 passing yards. Towson’s run game, however, found more success, accounting for 203 yards. Graduate student running back Jerry Howard, Jr. rushed for 126 yards on 17 carries, worth over 40% of the Tigers’ offense. The Phoenix had less success on the ground, with junior running back Jaylan Thomas rushing for only 58 yards on his 14 carries.
Senior receiver Kortez Weeks was a bright spot for the Phoenix offense, catching all six of his targets for 124 yards and a 27-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Junior Jackson Parham caught four passes for 75 yards, but also had two drops.
Junior kicker Skyler Davis had his best game of the season for Elon, hitting field goals from 52, 50, and 28 yards. Coming into Saturday, Davis had failed to convert both of his field goal attempts this season from beyond 50 yards. Davis was also 4/4 on extra points, moving to 98-100 on his career and 24-25 on the season—his sole miss of 2021 was a blocked attempt against Maine.
With Saturday’s win against Towson, the Phoenix are 5-5 overall and 4-3 in conference play. Elon faces the University of Rhode Island on Senior Day at Rhodes Stadium on November 20 to close the season. A win against Rhode Island would give the program its first winning season since 2018, when the Phoenix also finished 6-5.