BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. — The triple-overtime victory for the Elon University football team Saturday night was the longest game in school history.
The 21-13 defeat of Gardner-Webb University bested the previous record of two overtimes, which had happened twice before. The first occurred Oct. 16, 1999 at Samford University, with Elon pulling out a 36-33 win. The other happened Oct. 13, 2007 against Georgia Southern University, which resulted in a 36-33 home victory for Elon.
This was the 10th overtime game in school history, with Elon improving its record to 5-5 in overtime games, but they are now 3-0 in games that last beyond one overtime period.
SCORELESS HALF: Neither the Phoenix nor the Runnin' Bulldogs could muster a single point during the first half. It was the first time Elon had been in a game where it was scoreless at halftime since Oct. 15, 2005 when the Phoenix and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs were knotted at zero through one half.
EXTRA PERIODS: The matchup in Boiling Springs was one of only two games to go to triple overtime in Division I college football this weekend. The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff defended the home turf over Division II Morehouse College 29-27 in three overtimes Saturday night, thanks to a 2-point conversion stop by the Golden Lions.
That game was also scoreless after halftime. In fact, there wasn't a score until two minutes, five seconds into the fourth quarter, which makes Elon's first score eight minutes, one second into the third quarter look petty in comparison.
SACK SESSION: Elon finished with five sacks on the night, the most since it had five sacks against Western Carolina University Nov. 7, 2009. Senior defensive lineman Rob Sullivan led the Phoenix with two sacks, giving him four on the season.
Corey Mitchell and John Silas were the leaders for the Elon defense on the night, as Mitchell finished with 18 total tackles and a forced fumble. Silas ended the night with 17 total tackles and one sack.
PUNTING FOR FAME: Junior punter David Petroni continues to shine for Elon, as he hit 10 punts for an average of 49.4 yards per punt.
Petroni, who was named Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts against Wake Forest University, also set a new career-high with a 63-yard punt in the second quarter.
On the season, Petroni has seven punts of 50+ yards and eight punts that pinned the opponent inside their own 20-yard line.