It’s time we take Elon football seriously
Emmanuel
Morgan
Managing Editor
@_EmmanuelMorg3n
My roommate and I
jabbed in a number of
heated debates last year
regarding the sports world
whenever we got the
chance. As much as I hate
to admit it, he won most
of them.
I guessed the Carolina
Panthers would return to
the Super Bowl, while he
said they wouldn’t make
the playoffs. He was right. I
said Louisville quarterback
Lamar Jackson wouldn’t
win the Heisman trophy.
My roommate laughed at
me when Jackson accepted
the award after becoming
the only Football Bowl
Subdivision (FBS) player
to pass for 3,300 yards and
rush for 1,500 in a season.
When he told me Elon
University’s football team
finally turned the corner
this offseason, I wanted to
believe him, but I wasn’t
fully convinced. Now, I am
never questioning what he
says again.
Through six games
this season, the Phoenix
has lost only one game —
and it was against an FBS
opponent. It is Elon’s best
start to a season in nine
years, and it seems like
the team shatters every
internal record each time
it plays.
For a team that was
picked to finish second to
last in the Colonial Ath
letic Association (CAA)
preseason poll, it is safe to
say it does not care what
other people think.
And now, it’s time people
take Elon football seriously.
Elon’s 25-17 win against
William & Mary on Satur
day was expected, but that
is a situation the Phoenix
has rarely experienced in
years past. If the Phoenix
fails to win another game,
it is still guaranteed to
have a 45 percent winning
rate. Since 2014 — Elon’s
first season in the CAA —
the Phoenix’s winning per-
,s;
centages were 8 percent,
36 percent and 18 percent,
respectively. The Phoenix
is in unchartered territory,
but first-year head coach
Curt Cignetti wants to
continue that heading into
the bye week.
“It’s a great team
win, tremendous effort,”
Cignetti said. “I’m really
happy for the guys. We
have a chance to rest up
and heal a little bit and
with the goal being to have
a strong second-half to the
season.”
Factors propelling
the Phoenix have been
its physicality on offense
and defense. Through six
games, running back Mal
colm Summers already has
134 carries for 772 yards.
Last season, he only had
108 carries.
On defense against Wil
liam & Mary, the Phoenix
shined. Elon snagged one
interception, making it
three consecutive weeks
Elon has taken the ball
away in the air. Elon forced
11 sacks in the last two
games, and has held three
CAA opponents to under
200 yards for the first time
since 2015. Quarterback
Davis Cheek said Elon’s
seven sack, one safety per
formance is proof of the
effort his defense puts in.
“It’s nothing new.They
put in the work and they
do everything they can
during the week to prepare
and that’s what you get,”
Cheek said.
The next five games on
the schedule will be a true
test for Elon. The Phoenix
plays three ranked op
ponents including James
Madison University, who
won the national champi
onship last year. No matter
the result, Cignetti’s revival
of the Phoenix football
team is evident.
My roommate tried to
TEAM STATISTICS
134
carries by running back
Malcolm Summers. Last
season, he only had io8.
11
forced sacks in the last two
games.
200
yards or fewer by three
CAA opponents for the
first time since 2015.
warn me, but I did not be
lieve him. Now that Elon
football has proven them
selves, hopefully the rest of
Elon’s community will not
question them again.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
AUC MANOEll I STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Junior wide receiver Corey Joyner runs for extra yards
after catching a pass against William & Mary on Oct. 7.
RESULTS
8-M
OCT. 5 WILLIAM & MARY/ELON
2-2
OCT. 8 NORTHEASTERN/ELON
3-3
SCUEBUU
OCT. 15 HOFSTRA/HEMPSTEAD. NY 12:30 P.M.
MEN’S SOCCER
REStttTS
3-2't
OCT. 3 DUKE/DURHAM
0-1
SCMEMLE
OCT. 11 WILLIAMS MARY/
7 P.M.
WILLIAMSBURG, VA
OCT. 14 NORTHEASTERN/ELON
7 P.M.
FOOTBALL
OCT. 7 WILLIAM &MARY/EL0N
5-1
25-U
^EBUIE
OCT. 14 BYE WEEK
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
REStATS
13-8
3-0
OCT. 3 NCCENTRALYDURHAM
OCT. 6 HOESTRA/HEMPSTEAD.NY 0-3
OCT. 8 NORTHEASTERN/BOSTON, MA 2-3
OCT. 13 COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON/ 7 PM
ELON
OCT. 15 UNCW/ELON 2PM
SPORTS BRIEFS
1?" -
ALEC MANDELLI STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Junior running back Malcolm Summers rushes against the William & Mary defense on Oct. 7.
Football continues
its winning streak
Busa reaches
milestone on the
road
Men’s soccer returns
to action this week
Women’s soccer
battles in double OT
Having reached double overtime in
both of its games this week, the Elon
University women’s soccer team walked
away with two ties added to its record
Playing against Colonial Athletic
Association (CAA) teams William «
Mary and reigning league champion
Northeastern University, the Phoenh
battled to a 2-2 and 3-3 tie this wee,
respectively. Freshman forward Mere
dith Christopher scored twice and ad
ed two assists for the Phoenix over ^
CU IWU lUT UlC 1 IIWVIA*-- ~
two games. She is currently first in ^
CAA in total points with 22.
The team will not play again un
Sunday when Elon travels to Hemp
stead, New York to face off against Ho
stra at 12:30 p.m.
Following a win on Saturday, th.
Elon UniversityfootbaUteamcontinuci
Its rise m national rankings. Movinsup
three spots, Elon comes in this wedai
No. 20 in the Footbah Championship
Subdivision (ECS) Coaches Poll. In il,
STATS ECS poU, Elon bumped up two
spots to No. 16.
Elon’s rise in the rankings came af
ter the Phoenix defeated the Williams;
Mary Tribe 25-17 this weekend. Fresh
man quarterback Davis Cheek went
12-16 for the Phoenix, throwing for 179
yards. Junior running back Malcolm
Summers rushed for two touchdowns,
but left the game early with an appar
ent hamstring injury, according to head
coach Curt Cignetti.
With the win, the Phoenix takes a
5-1 record into the upcoming bye week.
The Elon University volleyball team
returns home this week after battling
three teams on the road.
The Phoenix lost both of their two
matches last week against Colonial
Athletic Association (CAA) rivals
Hofstra University and Northeast
ern University. Sydney Busa added
to her career statistics in the loss
es, recording 24 digs and reaching
a milestone for the Phoenix. Busa
joins only three other Elon volleyball
players to have both 1,000 digs and
1,000 kills in their careers.
The Phoenix will be back in Alumni
Gym on Friday when Elon welcomes
CAA opponent College of Charleston
at 7 p.m.
A week since their last game, the
men of the Elon University soccer
team will be back in action later this
week against Colonial Athletic Associ
ation (CAA) competition.
Having not played since its 1-0 loss
against the Duke University Blue Devils,
the Phoenix takes to the road tonightto
play William & Mary in Williamsburg,
Virginia at 7 p.m. Elon defeated Wil
liam & Mary 2-0 in regular-season play
last year, but fell to the No. 5 ranked
Tribe 1-0 in the CAA Championships
at the end of the season.
If you want to watch the Phoenix,
the men’s soccer team will be back at
Rudd Field on Saturday when it wel
comes Northeastern at 7 p.m.