Heading into this weekend's showdown in Spartanburg, S.C. against Wofford College, Elon University football head coach Jason Swepson said his players have to "overcome the negative vibe" surrounding the team after it has dropped the last two games.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga spoiled Elon's Homecoming game Saturday in Rhodes Stadium by defeating the Phoenix 42-18.
Or maybe Elon spoiled its own Homecoming. The Phoenix committed four turnovers that led to 28 Chattanooga points while the Mocs never turned the ball over once.
"Same old same old," Swepson said. "Turnovers are killing us right now."
The Phoenix has now turned the ball over 29 times (18 picks and 11 fumbles lost) through eight games this season, the most by any team in the FCS. Elon also ranks last in the country out of 120 FCS teams in turnover margin per game (-2.25).
Elon junior quarterback Thomas Wilson has accounted for 19 turnovers, which is more than the total for 100 FCS teams. Those 19 turnovers have also led to 71 points for opposing teams.
Despite the quarterback's struggles, Swepson said Wilson shouldn't take all the blame.
"It's easy to point the finger at the turnovers, at the quarterback position," Swepson said. "But it's not all him. We're just not a very good football team at this point."
Starting quarterbacks are known to receive the most praise during the good times and take the most heat during the bad. It's a pressure that comes with the job.
Swepson has said he still has faith in his starter and has no intention to replace him with backup redshirt freshman Mike Quinn or Maryland transfer and redshirt freshman Tyler Smith.
"I still believe that Thomas gives us the best chance to win football games," Swepson said. "I'm gonna try to coach the team on giving him support instead of pointing the finger."
Wilson was 22 for 35 passing for 241 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in the loss to Chattanooga. Junior wide receiver Aaron Mellette had eight catches for 107 yards but did not find the end zone, snapping his streak of 8 consectuive games with a touchdown reception.
Elon trailed Chattanooga 28-0 at one point in the second quarter but managed to cut the Moc's lead to 28-18 early in the fourth quarter after a touchdown run by senior running back Dontay Taylor. The Phoenix offense scored 18 unanswered points while the defense held the Chattanooga offense to only four yards in the third quarter.
"We came out hungry in the third quarter," redshirt freshman linebacker Jonathan Spain said. "How we played in the third quarter in all three phases of the game is how we should play and could play every single game for 60 minutes."
The Phoenix will be looking to put together those 60 minutes as it enters a challenging three-game stretch to finish the season. The team will play at No. 9 Wofford Saturday, Oct. 29 before entering its bye week, and then play at Furman University Nov. 12 and finish its season at home against No. 5 Appalachian State University Nov. 12.
"(We're) just focused on one right now," Swepson said. "Those ranks don't really mean anything to us right now. It's a conference opponent, and that's what makes it special."
The Phoenix is now 4-4 overall with a 2-3 record in the Southern Conference. Despite the team's recent adversity, Swepson remains focused on the positives.
"We've got a chance to win three more, have a winning record and sneak into the playoffs," he said. "The team is coming together. It's a young team. It's very easy to point the finger, but that's not what we're going to do"