Elon, NC. – Wofford turned five takeaways into a 16-0 shutout of Elon on Saturday at Rhodes Stadium, the Terriers’ first blank sheet since a 17-0 win over VMI on Nov. 19, 2016. Three Connor Deviney field goals in the final four minutes of the first half made it 9-0, and Kaeden Gilstrap hit Anjuan Coleman for a 6 yard touchdown early in the third.
Wofford moves to 4-3 and 2-2 in the Southern Conference. Elon falls to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the CAA. The game was played in rain and wind in front of 5,379 fans.
Gerald Modest Jr. carried 24 times for 107 yards, his second 100 yard game of the season and of his career, and added 3 catches for 30 yards receiving. J.T. Fayard went 11-of-25 for 130 yards. Kamerin McDowell-Moore led Elon with 25 carries for 164 yards, but the Phoenix finished with five turnovers and no points.
“It was a great team win,” said head coach Shawn Watson. “I thought obviously the defense played lights out, and we needed him too in these conditions today. We came up with five turnovers. The defense did an awesome job and stopped a really good running back. The offense answered when we needed them to in these conditions and held onto the ball. We saw some good things on special teams; they played well. I think we are finding unique ways to win football games. I can’t say enough about the staff. They’ve done a great job of using all the resources we have in the building right now because we got some guys down. I am really happy with the team win.”
A scoreless first quarter featured Corey Williams breaking up a fourth down pass and a Logan McCloud forced fumble recovered by Eli Campbell. Wofford finally broke through when a roughing the punter call kept a drive alive and Deviney drilled a 42 yarder with 3:26 left in the half for a 3-0 lead.
Campbell then intercepted a third down pass and returned it to the 4, setting up Deviney’s 22 yard kick for 6-0. Aiden Morris forced and recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff return at the 24, and Deviney drilled a 37 yarder as time expired for a 9-0 halftime edge.
After Elon went three and out to open the third, Fayard found Ivory Aikens for a 41 yard gain. Jack Purdy and Modest added first down catches inside the 10, and Gilstrap’s short throw to Coleman made it 16-0 with 9:50 left in the quarter. Campbell snagged his second interception of the day soon after. Jake Thorner later blocked a 40 yard Elon field goal try that Perrin Ketchin recovered, and Zayd Rogan sealed the takeaway count with his first career interception with 4:00 left.
Wofford finished with 252 total yards (150 passing) and a 31:54 to 28:06 time of possession edge. Elon had 258 yards, 179 of them on the ground. The Terriers were 2-of-17 on third down; Elon was 2-of-13. Logan McCloud led Wofford with nine tackles, and the defense posted five tackles for loss. Campbell’s two picks give him nine for his career, and he added his first career fumble recovery. Morris logged his first career forced fumble and recovery. McCloud forced his first career fumble as well.
The series now stands at 29-12 for Wofford across 41 meetings, and seven of the last eight matchups. The Tdawgs return home Saturday, Oct. 17, for Homecoming against VMI at 1:30 PM ET on ESPN+.