The Pendulum
SPORTS
Wednesday, September 19, 2007 / Page 15
Phoenix looks to burn the Flames
Sitnilar teams will face off this weekend as Elon hosts Liberty University
Jeff Rickel
Sports Editor
The Phoenix [1-1] faces its first
Division 1-AA test this week when it
takes on the Liberty University Flames
[2-1] on Saturday at Rhodes Stadium.
While the Phoenix was idle last
weekend, Liberty lost in a double
overtime thriller against the College
of William and Mary 48-41. In last
week’s poll, both teams were outside
the top 25 but received votes.
Like Elon, Liberty’s team is in the
middle of a rebuilding stage. Two
years ago, the Flames were 1-10. Last
year under new head coach Danny
Rocco, the Flames improved to 6-5,
which was the biggest turn around of
all Division I-AA teams.
“This is a huge test for our team,”
Phoenix head coach Pete Lembo said.
“They are a program that commits
tremendous resources to football, are
very physical and have outstanding
skill players.”
The Phoenix defense will have its
hands full with the balanced offense of
the Flames. Led by quarterback Brock
Smith and running back Zach Terrell,
the Flames have scored 35 or more
points in each of the team’s games.
On the other side of the ball, the
Phoenix could be without starting mnning
back T.J. Clegg who is questionable after
he injured his knee on the first drive of
the Phoenix’s win against West Virginia
Wesleyan. However, Lembo is not
too worried if Clegg is unable to play
Saturday because of red shirt freshnian
Brandon Newsome’s solid performance
off the bench.
“The trademark of championship
programs is depth, and we have lots
of depth at tail back,” Lembo said.
“The players have a lot of confidence
in Brandon and he’s improved
dramatically since this summer.”
Newsome ended the West Virginia
Wesleyan game with 74 rushing yards
and one touchdown, his first as a
college mnning back.
Brian Beegle/ Photographer
Brandon Newsome looks to help Elon attempt to climb above .500 against Liberty after significant minutes two weeks ago.
“I got chills all over,” Newsome said.
“It was the greatest feeling since my first
high school touchdown. I hope it can
every week or maybe a twice-a-week.”
The Phoenix will also have a
favorable match-up against the Flames’
weak pass defense. In three games.
Liberty has yielded six touchdowns via
the pass and is giving up an average of
215 yards through the air. That defense
will be facing Phoenix quarterback
Scott Riddle, who has thrown for five
touchdowns and is averaging 286
passing yards in his first two starts.
The Phoenix will need to cut down
on its penalties though. Last season,
Elon gave up 38 penalty yards-per-
game. Through two games this season,
it has committed 88 penalty yards-per-
game and Lembo is not happy about it.
“There is no excuse for the
penalties we’re giving up,” Lembo
said. “We need to be more disciplined
and make better decisions out there.”
Lembo also made it clear to his
team that it is not good enough to look
ahead to the Appalachian State game
in two weeks.
“Liberty will run us out of our
own stadium if we’re not focusing on
them,” Lembo said.
These two teams have played each
other 10 times and Elon leads the
series 7-3. The last time the Phoenix
and the Flames played was in 2004,
which Liberty won 27-17.
Sports Standings
Te
Volleyball
Conference
W L
Women’s soccer
Overall
UNC-Gil^nsboro
Westem|j^rolina
Furman
Wofford
College of (fcharleston
Davidson "
Elon ^ ’
Chattanoogi
AppalachiHi State
Georgia Southern
The Citadel
O' 0
0. 0
01 #
0 0
0^ 0
0, 0
Team
Appalachian State
^offord
College of CharlffistoQ i
UNC-GreetaglB >
-- -Wunan «
Western Carolina
EIob »
L r Davidson
» ^ » The Citadel
! ^ 'Chattarfeoga
1 Georgia SouH^
Conference
W L
0 0 0
0 o^ a -
0
0 0 0
0 0 0
0 0 0
0 0 0
0 0 0
0 0 0
0 0 0
Overall
W L 1
0 2
2 “i
3 0
3 0
3 1
3 0
5 0
3 1
4 0
Football
Conference
Men’s soccer
Team
L
Appalachian State
0
0
Georgia Southern
0
0
The Citadel
0
0
Wofford
0
0
Elon
0
0
Furman
0
0
Chattanooga
0
0
Western Carolina
0
0
Overall
Conference
Overall
W L
Team
W
L 1
M
L
1
3 0
College of Charleston
0
0 0
6
0
0
2 0
Furman
0
0 0
6
0
0
2 1
Appalachian State
0
0 0
3 ■
1
1
2 1
UNC-Greensboro
0
0 0
2
1
2
1 1
Elon
0
0 0
2
2
1
1 2
Wofford
0
0 0
2
2
1
0 2
Georgia Southern
0
0 0
2
4
0
0 3
Davidson
0
0 0
1
4
0