Seawolves Out Gain Phoenix 354-259 But Can't Overcome Early Defecit
Stony Brook, N.Y. - No. 17 Elon used some early field position advantage to take a 16-0 lead and then held off Stony Brook to take a 30-20 victory in non-conference football action. In a game that was played in some rainy conditions due to the remnants of tropical storm Hanna, the Seawolves held Elon to just 18 yards rushing and 259 overall, but could not overcome the early Phoenix lead. Freshman Edwin Gowins (Bellport, N.Y.) had another strong game at running back for SBU, passing the 100-yard mark again with 122 yards.
"Games are won and lost on fundamental things," said Stony Brook head coach Chuck Priore. "We did not execute on the offensive side of the ball in the first half. We had some blown assignments, some miscues and a couple of penalties that led to our defense playing a little bit too long. I am proud of the way we played in the second half. We have to learn how to be better against these types of teams. We will move forward and I am sure that we will be successful."
Elon (1-1) was able to pin Stony Brook (1-1) inside its own five-yard line early in the first quarter. The Seawolves went three and out and the Phoenix got the ball back on the SBU 30 to start its drive. Scott Riddle hit a pair of passes that gave Elon a first and goal at the SBU seven and on second down threw a little shovel pass to Bo Williamson for the four-yard score.
Elon held Stony Brook to another three and out and the Phoenix again got the ball in Stony Brook territory, this time on the 45. After missing on his first attempt, Riddle hit on his next five passes with the last a nine-yard scoring strike to Tim Applegate that put Elon on top 13-0 with 2:42 left in the first.
After seeing Elon stretch its lead to 16-0 on a field goal, Stony Brook finally got a needed break when junior Tyler Santucci (New Kensington, Pa.) intercepted a Riddle pass and returned it nine yards to the Elon 24. Two plays later freshman Dayne Hoffman (Ada, Mich.) turned the Phoenix miscue into points when he found senior Lynell Suggs (Bronx, N.Y.), who made a one-handed grab, for a 19-yard scoring play that cut the Elon lead to 16-7 at 5:08 in the second.
"Games are won and lost on fundamental things," said Stony Brook head coach Chuck Priore. "We did not execute on the offensive side of the ball in the first half. We had some blown assignments, some miscues and a couple of penalties that led to our defense playing a little bit too long. I am proud of the way we played in the second half. We have to learn how to be better against these types of teams. We will move forward and I am sure that we will be successful."
Elon (1-1) was able to pin Stony Brook (1-1) inside its own five-yard line early in the first quarter. The Seawolves went three and out and the Phoenix got the ball back on the SBU 30 to start its drive. Scott Riddle hit a pair of passes that gave Elon a first and goal at the SBU seven and on second down threw a little shovel pass to Bo Williamson for the four-yard score.
Elon held Stony Brook to another three and out and the Phoenix again got the ball in Stony Brook territory, this time on the 45. After missing on his first attempt, Riddle hit on his next five passes with the last a nine-yard scoring strike to Tim Applegate that put Elon on top 13-0 with 2:42 left in the first.
After seeing Elon stretch its lead to 16-0 on a field goal, Stony Brook finally got a needed break when junior Tyler Santucci (New Kensington, Pa.) intercepted a Riddle pass and returned it nine yards to the Elon 24. Two plays later freshman Dayne Hoffman (Ada, Mich.) turned the Phoenix miscue into points when he found senior Lynell Suggs (Bronx, N.Y.), who made a one-handed grab, for a 19-yard scoring play that cut the Elon lead to 16-7 at 5:08 in the second.
Both teams were forced to punt on their next possessions. With less than two minutes to play Elon's Karlos Sullivan took a punt at the Elon 19, shook off the first hit by a Stony Brook player, and then evaded the rest of the Seawolves for an 81-yard return for a score. Getting the ball back with just 1:25 left in the half, Hoffman again came through with another scoring pass, this time finding junior Donald Lee (Clifton, N.J.) on a 49-yard play that made it 23-13.
With the rain coming down hard, neither team could do much over the first 10 minutes of the third quarter. It was Elon that put the first points of the second half on the board when Riddle found junior Terrell Hudgins open over the middle for a 57-yard play that put the Phoenix back on top by 17 points.
Early in the fourth quarter Stony Brook found itself pinned back on its own eight-yard line after an Elon punt and a Seawolf holding penalty. The rushing of Gowins and junior Conte Cuttino (Uniondale, N.Y.) got SBU out of the hole and out to the 28-yard line. On third and one Gowins took the handoff, sprinted around the left side and then out-raced the Elon defense to the end-zone for a 72-yard score. The run broke the LaValle Stadium record for the longest run from scrimmage, with the previous mark a 64-yard run by Clinton Graham against St. Francis (Pa.) in 2003.
Stony Brook got another drive going later in the fourth, going 59 yards all the way down to the Elon 33 where the drive came to a half after three straight incomplete passes. Elon got the ball back with 2:46 left and ran out the clock to preserve its win.
Stony Brook out gained Elon 354 to 259 yards, holding the Phoenix to just 18 yards rushing and coming up with four sacks of Riddle; two of which came from senior James Harris (Piscataway, N.J.). Thanks to his 72-yard run, Gowins averaged over 10 yards a carry for a second game and led all rushers with his 122 yards. Hoffman threw for 157 yards and two scores and was intercepted once. Senior Dwayne Eley (Bowie, Md.) led the SBU receivers with five catches for 62 yards. Riddle finished with 241 yards thru the air for Elon, with Hudgins grabbing 10 balls for 138 yards.
With the rain coming down hard, neither team could do much over the first 10 minutes of the third quarter. It was Elon that put the first points of the second half on the board when Riddle found junior Terrell Hudgins open over the middle for a 57-yard play that put the Phoenix back on top by 17 points.
Early in the fourth quarter Stony Brook found itself pinned back on its own eight-yard line after an Elon punt and a Seawolf holding penalty. The rushing of Gowins and junior Conte Cuttino (Uniondale, N.Y.) got SBU out of the hole and out to the 28-yard line. On third and one Gowins took the handoff, sprinted around the left side and then out-raced the Elon defense to the end-zone for a 72-yard score. The run broke the LaValle Stadium record for the longest run from scrimmage, with the previous mark a 64-yard run by Clinton Graham against St. Francis (Pa.) in 2003.
Stony Brook got another drive going later in the fourth, going 59 yards all the way down to the Elon 33 where the drive came to a half after three straight incomplete passes. Elon got the ball back with 2:46 left and ran out the clock to preserve its win.
Stony Brook out gained Elon 354 to 259 yards, holding the Phoenix to just 18 yards rushing and coming up with four sacks of Riddle; two of which came from senior James Harris (Piscataway, N.J.). Thanks to his 72-yard run, Gowins averaged over 10 yards a carry for a second game and led all rushers with his 122 yards. Hoffman threw for 157 yards and two scores and was intercepted once. Senior Dwayne Eley (Bowie, Md.) led the SBU receivers with five catches for 62 yards. Riddle finished with 241 yards thru the air for Elon, with Hudgins grabbing 10 balls for 138 yards.
