With the Phoenix continuing its recent dominance against its opponents last Saturday when they doused the Liberty Flames 42-14, the team looks to maintain its hot streak against two-time defending national champions, Appalachian State University.

On an already hot day, the Phoenix’s offense caught fire early and never slowed down, scoring touchdowns on its first two drives of the day. The defense was just as strong. Not only did it shut out the Flames [2-2] in the first half, but it also prevented them from crossing the 50-yard line.

“This is probably the most satisfying win I’ve had here,” Phoenix head coach Pete Lembo said. “We had a lot of respect for Liberty going in and we knew this was a game we had to win.”

Leading the Phoenix [2-1] to the big win was freshman quarterback Scott Riddle, whose statistics improve every time he steps onto the field. Riddle got it done with both his arm and legs, having a hand in all six of Elon’s touchdowns. He threw for 368 yards and four touchdowns while running for another two, all three of which were career highs.

Riddle credited most of his success to his teammates.

“As a total offense we did a heck of a job,” he said. “You have to credit that third touchdown pass to the line; I think I looked at five different receivers there several times.”

One player Riddle singled out was sophomore wide receiver Terrell Hudgins, who finished the game with 219 yards, four touchdowns and 16 receptions, an Elon single game record.

“Terrell is special,” Riddle said. “I know he’s going to catch it if I throw it to him.”

Although Hudgins teammates were doing their best Wayne’s World impressions, bowing down to him after his record setting catch, Hudgins remained humble about the accomplishment.

“Yeah 16 catches, but I’m just happy we got the win,” Hudgins said.

On the defensive side, the Phoenix were just as dominant as its offensive counterparts, shutting down powerful running game of the Flames, which Liberty head coach Danny Rocco said was a big factor in his team’s struggles.

“Right now we don’t have a good football team,” Rocco said. “The lack of a running game prevented us from getting Zach Terrell in the game and forced us to pass more.”

Now the Phoenix has its biggest test of the season in the Appalachian State game. The Mountaineers may have lost to Wofford last Saturday 42-31, but they have dominated Elon the past four years, going 4-0 and scoring at least 34 points in each contest.

However, this is a new Phoenix team and junior linebacker Daronce Daniels thinks that the team is playing with a confidence that they were lacking in the past.

“Mentally, we know we can go out there and play with anybody now,” Daniels said. “Traditionally, we haven’t been the best against this team, and I think that was mostly a mental thing. We’d go in thinking we were going to lose.”

Confidence was something that Lembo also said is important going into Saturday’s game, and “programs that have it, find a way to win close games.”

However, there is another emotion that is motivating the Phoenix players and especially Daniels, and that is redemption.

“As a freshmen, they [Mountaineers] tore me up, I gave up like three of the touchdowns they scored,” Daniels said. “I really want to shut them down and prove that no one comes into our house and walks over us.”

The match-up to watch for this weekend will be the Phoenix’s No. 1 passing attack against the tough Mountaineers No. 1 pass defense.

With it’s win against Liberty, the Phoenix received 17 votes in the Football Championship Series Coaches Poll and was ranked No. 24 in the Sports Network national poll.

Sports Editor: Jeff Rickel - 09/26/07