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ELON -- The numbers kept stacking up against Elon in its game against Wofford, and the Phoenix couldn't do anything to stop it.

The Phoenix were down by 14 after the first quarter, 21 at halftime, and then 28 in the fourth quarter. Elon ended up losing 55-20 to the Terriers, the first Southern Conference loss of the season for the Phoenix.

The Terriers racked up 473 yards of total offense, including an incredible 333 rushing yards. Wofford was also 7-of-7 in the red zone and scored on five of its seven first-half possessions on the way to a commanding 34-13 halftime lead.

"They executed flawlessly on offense," said Elon coach Pete Lembo. "They did some things with their formations and motion that we hadn't seen before. They really kept us off balance."

The Terriers took control early by taking the opening kickoff and methodically marching down the field. Using a spread option offense, Wofford ate up more than eight minutes, going 91 yards. Fullback Dane Romero finished off the drive with a 1-yard touchdown plunge, giving the Terriers a 7-0 lead.

Elon (7-2, 5-1) gave the ball right back to Wofford on its first possession. Quarterback Scott Riddle tried to hit Terrell Hudgins on a deep out pattern, but the Terriers' Tommy Irvin stepped in front of it and picked it off. It was one of three interceptions that Riddle threw during the game.

"For three years now, the turnovers have told the story of this game," Lembo said. "The last time we played them here we had four and they had none and they won."

Wofford (6-1, 4-0) took advantage of the turnover by scoring eight plays later. Romero found the end zone again, this time from eight yards out providing the Terriers with a 14-0 lead with 3:11 to play in the first quarter.

After only gaining four total yards in the first quarter, Elon tried to get back in the game in the second quarter. The Phoenix picked up their first first down on an 18-yard pass from Riddle to Bo Williamson on the first play of the second period. Five plays later, Riddle scrambled left and found Hudgins in the corner of the end zone for 13-yard touchdown, cutting the lead to 14-7.

But once again, the Terriers' offense was too much for the Phoenix defense. Wofford scored three more touchdowns in the second quarter behind the running and passing of quarterback Ben Widmyer. Widmyer scored on a 10-yard run to push the Wofford lead to 21-7 with 9:48 to play.

After an Andrew Wilcox field goal, the Terriers needed only four plays to score again. This time Widmyer found Andy Strickland behind the defense for a 59-yard scoring pass, making the score 28-10.

Wofford 14 20 7 14 -- 55

Elon 0 13 7 0 -- 20

Wof--Romero 1 run (Mugan kick)

Wof--Romero 8 run (Brown kick)

Elon--Hudgins 13 pass from Riddle (Wilcox kick)

Wof--Widmyer 10 run (Brown kick)

Elon--FG Wilcox 45

Wof--Strickland 59 pass from Widmyer (Mugan kick)

Wof--Widmyer 1 run (kick failed), :24.

Elon--FG Wilcox

Elon--B.Williamson 4 pass from Riddle (Wilcox kick)

Wof--Romero 1 run (Mugan kick)

Wof--M.Allen 2 run (Mugan kick)

Wof--Breitenstein 2 run (Mugan kick)

A--7,874.

Wofford Elon

First downs 29 24

Rushes-yards 63-330 28-62

Passing 143 276

Comp-Att-Int 11-17-0 33-48-3

Return Yards 55 (-6)

Punts-Avg. 3-35.7 2-52.5

Fumbles-Lost 0-0 2-1

Penalties-Yards 4-40 9-81

Time of Possession 30:17 29:43

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING--Wofford, Romero 21-87, M.Allen 6-81, Widmyer 13-59, Marshall 7-53, Rucker 8-36, M.Scott 3-9, Breitenstein 3-4, Joslin 1-2, Team 1-(minus 1). Elon, Newsome 19-83, Riddle 8-(minus 10), Kirby 1-(minus 11).

PASSING--Wofford, Widmyer 11-17-0-143. Elon, Riddle 30-45-3-263, Kirby 3-3-0-13.

RECEIVING--Wofford, Strickland 6-101, Romero 2-14, Joslin 1-12, Bersin 1-8, Rucker 1-8. Elon, Hudgins 11-120, B.Williamson 6-73, Jeffcoat 5-26, Newsome 5-26, Leddy 4-17, Labinowicz 2-14.