It’s one thing when you know exactly what to expect of your opponent. It’s another when you're not able to excel against it.
The Elon University football team knew what to expect out of Stony Brook University Oct. 18: a stout defense and a ground-and-pound offense.
Despite knowing exactly what makes Stony Brook click, Elon still struggled, the Seawolves defense was as advertised and its offense ran the ball effectively all afternoon en route to a 20-3 win at Rhodes Stadium.
Inconsistency, which has been the story of the season for Elon’s offense, was once again an issue.
“We have to clean up the miscues we’re having,” Elon head coach Rich Skrosky said. “Our room for error is not very big and I think we know that. We have to eliminate the miscues whether its missing tackles on defense, or drops, penalties or turnovers on offense.”
Elon wasn't anticipated to have much offense. Stony Brook’s stout defense ranks at or near the top in the Colonial Athletic Association in nearly every defensive category.
Though senior quarterback Mike Quinn threw three interceptions, it should be considered a win that he was able to throw for 221 yards, the second-best passing performance against the Stony Brook defense all season.
“It’s a sign of our inconsistency and it’s spread around in a lot of areas,” Skrosky said. “We knew going in we were going to earn every yard we could get just like everyone else has against Stony Brook.”
The game marked the third of seven that the Phoenix has failed to score a touchdown.
“It’s frustrating, disappointing,” Quinn said. “I’m just upset for my teammates really, just not putting the points on the board.”
Elon took a 3-0 lead when sophomore John Gallagher booted a 41-yard field goal that was set up by a fourth-down stop by the Elon defense.
On the ensuing drive, the Seawolves drove the ball 75 yards for a touchdown. The drive took just seven plays, all rushing, and was capped off by a 39-yard scamper by sophomore running back Stacey Bedell.
In all, Stony Brook ran the ball 47 times on 60 offensive plays. In fact, the Seawolves didn’t throw a pass until their 18th offensive play of the game. Bedell was the Seawolves’ leading rusher, carrying the ball 25 times for 118 yards.
Stony Brook (4-4, 3-2 CAA) found the end zone two more times in the game, once in the second quarter on an 18-yard pass from junior Conor Bednarski to senior Adrian Coxson and again late in the fourth quarter on a 3-yard rush by James Kenner.
Though 20 points against is by no means spectacular, the Elon defense gave the offense a chance. It forced five straight Stony Brook punts to start the second half, but Quinn and the offense could not take advantage, driving the ball deep into Stony Brook territory on numerous occasions without results.
Elon’s defensive unit gave up 262 yards on the afternoon, the fewest allowed by the Phoenix all season. But on this day, it was not enough.
“It’s tough to swallow, but at the same time, we have to all look at ourselves in the mirror and realize what we have to do,” sophomore running back Tracey Coppedge said. “We have to focus no matter what, through adversity, when things are going well. As an offense, we have to execute one play at a time.”
Elon drops to 1-6 and 0-3 in CAA play with the loss. The Phoenix will host the University of Richmond Oct. 25 at Rhodes Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.