Despite remaining in the Top 25 since opening week, things haven’t gotten off to the start Elon was hoping for.
    The No. 24 Phoenix (2-4, 1-2 Southern Conference) dropped a heartbreaker Saturday, 34-31 on the road to No. 1 Appalachian State in Boone, N.C.
    To top it all off, running back Brandon Newsome re-injured his leg in the game. He is expected to return against No. 14 Wofford at home on October 23 after Elon’s Bye week this weekend.
    “We’re not a complete football team at this point in the season, but I think we played as well as we played all year,” said Phoenix coach Pete Lembo about the game against ASU, “and really gave ourselves a chance to win that game. We were able to edge Appalachian in some key statistical categories, and it played out about as well as we could have hoped. … I think ultimately we just came up short of making a big play or two on either side of the ball that might have given us enough to win the game.”
    While Elon is on a break from action Saturday, the Mountaineers (5-0, 3-0) will play host to The Citadel (2-4, 0-3) at 6 p.m.

Starting to roll
    The Samford Bulldogs (3-3, 1-2) are another SoCon squad off to a rough start, but had a breakout performance Saturday against Western Carolina (2-4, 1-2) in a 38-7 road win.
    Quarterback Dustin Taliaferro was replaced early in the game by sophomore Conner Lowery, who passed for a career-high 167 yards.
    The Bulldogs’ offense has evolved since joining the SoCon from a power running game to a more multiple attack. Samford’s Chris Evans rushed 20 times for 131 yards and three touchdowns.
    To accompany the passing attack, Samford coach Pat Sullivan has installed some wildcat packages which feature Evans, among other running backs, taking snaps from the shotgun.
    “They’ve got a great running back in Chris Evans, but they’re doing a lot of different things with formations on offense,” said Furman coach Bobby Lamb, whose Paladins travel Birmingham, Ala. to face SU Saturday at 2 p.m. “In the past, they’ve pretty much been a Power-I team and they’d give it to Evans downhill, but they’re very multiple on the offensive side of the ball.”

A quick recovery
    After blowing fourth-quarter leads in each of their first two games, the Chattanooga Mocs (3-2, 2-1) have gone on a three-game winning streak to remain in the mix at the top of the SoCon.
    They face a tough test against No. 21 Georgia Southern, a team looking to bounce back after a fourth-quarter lead of its own was overcome by Wofford Saturday at Paulson Stadium.
    “I think they’re playing with a lot of confidence,” said UTC coach Russ Huesman about GSU. “They’re kind of getting that Georgia Southern mentality back as far as expecting to win championships. You can see that on film. Their team speed is really, really good. We’re probably going to have to play our best game to date to have a chance in this one.”
    The Mocs host the Eagles (3-2, 1-1) Saturday at 6 p.m.

Thinning out the top
    Wofford’s win over GSU made things even lonelier atop the SoCon. The Terriers are know alone with Appalachian State as the only teams still unblemished in conference play.
    They face Western Carolina at home Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
    “They’ve probably been their own worst enemy in some situations, but they’ve got some kids that can play,” said Wofford coach Mike Ayers about WCU. “Defensively, I’m impressed with their size and their speed. … Offensively, they’ve got a guy that can throw it, and they’ve got some guys that can catch it. A lot of times those guys aren’t really open, but they’ll go up and they’ll make a play, and they’ll create some problems for you. We’ll have to play better than we did this past Saturday, I can guarantee you that.”

    Matt Yogus can be reached at (912) 489-9408.