The Elon University football team struggled to score in a 70-0 defeat at the hands of Georgia Tech on Saturday, Aug. 31 in Atlanta.
The Phoenix gained 253 yards of total offense, but costly turnovers prevented Elon from finding the end zone.
The first of those turnovers came on the game’s second play from scrimmage when sophomore running back Tracey Coppedge fumbled, giving Georgia Tech the ball at the Elon 30. Four plays later, junior “a-back” Deon Hill reeled off a 14-yard touchdown run to put the Yellow Jackets on the board with 12:58 to play in the first quarter.
Each of Georgia Tech’s next four possessions would end the same way — in the end zone.
Elon miscues, notably a blocked punt and an interception by sophomore linebacker Jabari Hunt-Days, contributed to the Yellow Jackets attack. The Hunt-Days interception occurred on the sixth play of a 40-yard drive orchestrated by Elon junior quarterback Mike Quinn.
With Georgia Tech already leading 35-0 early in the second quarter, Elon drove to the Yellow Jackets 5-yard line. On the 12th play of the drive, Quinn was intercepted by sophomore linebacker Tyler Marcordes, who returned the interception for a 95-yard touchdown. After the extra point, Georgia Tech led 42-0 with 8:51 left in the half.
The Elon defense forced its first stop with 1:41 left in the half, as freshman kicker John Gallagher missed a 47-yard field goal try as time expired. The 42-0 Georgia Tech halftime lead was one point more than the 41-0 deficit Elon faced last season at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Georgia Tech began the second half with a long drive capped off by a 2-yard touchdown run from sophomore quarterback Vad Lee, extending the lead to 49-0 with 9:25 left in the third quarter. Elon’s next possession would result in the second Yellow Jackets interception return for a touchdown in the game, this one coming from sophomore defensive back Chris Milton.
Both teams put in backups as the game wound on, and a unique rule was invoked for the fourth quarter that began with Georgia Tech leading 63-0. Per NCAA rules, teams can mutually decide to use a running clock, which Elon and Georgia Tech agreed upon for Saturday’s game.
The Yellow Jackets would find the end zone once in the fourth, even with the running clock, and would close out a 70-0 win. The number tied the largest point total ever given up by Elon and was Georgia Tech’s biggest win under head coach Paul Johnson.
Georgia Tech finished the day with 557 total yards - 368 on the ground. Elon’s 253 yards featured only 164 passing yards from a spread offense that favors an air attack.
Lee was 7-for-11 with 189 passing yards and two touchdowns for Georgia Tech. He also ran for 49 yards on six attempts. Redshirt freshman quarterback Justin Thomas was the leading rusher for Georgia Tech, carrying the ball five times for 53 yards.
Quinn was 17-of-30 for 136 yards, but three interceptions marred his first collegiate start. Redshirt freshman running back B.J. Bennett led Elon on the ground with 12 carries for 42 yards.
Elon senior defensive lineman Tony Thompson left the game early with an apparent leg injury. The captain did not return, and his status is uncertain.
Elon will look to bounce back on Saturday, Sept. 7 when the Phoenix opens its home season against West Virginia Wesleyan College at 6 p.m. in Rhodes Stadium.