He's said it before, he said it after the team's loss on Homecoming Saturday and he'll likely say it again.
"Same old same old," head coach Jason Swepson said. "Turnovers are killing us right now. "
Elon committed four turnovers in its 42-18 loss to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga while the Mocs didn't turn the ball over once en route to a decisive victory in Rhodes Stadium.
The Phoenix has now turned the ball over 28 times (17 picks and 11 lost fumbles) through eight games this season, an average of 3.5 per game.
The Phoenix fell behind early and despite a productive third quarter could never cut the lead to single digits. After a Terrell Robinson touchdown pass in the first quarter, Wilson threw an interception on the Phoenix's next possession that was returned 24 yards for a score by Chattanooga linebacker Gunner Miller. Chattanooga would go on to score the first 28 points of the game and led Elon 28-3 at halftime.
"Obviously we didn't come out in the first half and play the way we wanted to play," Swepson said. "I don't know if we handled some of the distractions very well. We just gotta do a better job of coming out of the gate and play good football. "
Despite Wilson's two interceptions and two other Elon fumbles, the Phoenix managed to cut the Mocs' lead to 28-18 with 10:50 left in the fourth quarter. A field goal by junior kicker Adam Shreiner, a touchdown pass from Wilson to junior wide receiver Jeremy Petersen and a touchdown run by senior running back Dontay Taylor accounted for 18 unanswered points from halftime to the beginning of the fourth quarter.
Elon outgained Chattanooga 160 yards to four yards in the third quarter as the momentum of the game seemed to be turning in the Phoenix's favor.
"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. We need to put 60 minutes together and we'll be a good team."
Chattanooga scored the game's final 14 points to end any hopes of a comeback. Redshirt-freshman quarterback Terrell Robinson was 11 for 13 passing with three touchdowns and ran for another 125 yards on 14 carries.
In addition to the four turnovers, Swepson added that giving up big plays on defense and missed tackles are also areas that need to be improved moving forward.
Elon and Chattanooga each have a 4-4 record and are 2-2 in the Southern Conference. The Phoenix will play on the road at Wofford College on Saturday, Oct. 29 before entering its bye week.
"We continue to make some mistakes out there and if we continue to make those mistakes we're gonna have trouble winning football games," Swepson said.