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ELON -- Elon coach Pete Lembo could sense team needed a big play to get back in an effective rhythm.

When the Phoenix found it, the source was no surprise.

After falling behind 3-0 and stumbling through their first two drives, senior wide receiver Terrell Hudgins lifted the stagnant offense with touchdown receptions on three consecutive possessions that ignited a run of 38 unanswered points in Elon's 45-10 homecoming win over Chattanooga Saturday at Rhodes Stadium.

"I think there were some moments throughout the course of the game where we didn't quite fire on all cylinders," Lembo said. "And you're just thinking to yourself, 'OK, we need to break a big run here or we need to have a big completion just to get that energy back, that feeling of cohesion back."

Hudgins has long been a go-to source for that. His six receptions for 74 yards on Saturday brought him within 188 yards of the FCS record held by 13-time NFL Pro Bowler Jerry Rice. And his three touchdown receptions on Saturday -- the most he had recorded in a single game in nearly two years -- came at an important time and helped ensure the Phoenix (6-1, 4-0 Southern Conference) would retain its place atop the conference standings.

Elon quarterback Scott Riddle started the game by throwing his third interception of the season on the opening play, setting up a Mocs field goal and a 3-0 Chattanooga lead. The Phoenix's next possession went three-and-out, and Riddle's sole pass fluttered well short of Sean Jeffcoat.

"We didn't quite come out with a sense of urgency," Riddle said. "We kind of walked up to the line of scrimmage lackadaisical. It didn't really work out like we wanted it to."

That quickly changed once Hudgins started his pyrotechnic performance.

He started the outburst by pulling down a 2-yard touchdown reception on a fade route just over his defender while falling out of bounds in the back corner of the end zone with 5 minutes remaining in the first quarter.

On Elon's next possession, Hudgins capped a 41-yard touchdown reception by twisting his body while backpedaling and extending the ball over the goal line with one hand, giving the Phoenix a 14-3 lead with 58 seconds remaining in the quarter.

"Great plays," said Chattanooga coach Russ Huesman. "I had a bad feeling. It's so hard to simulate in practice the things that he can do."

With Hudgins helping to build a comfortable lead, Elon's other parts started pulling together. Lance Camp's 47-yard reception on third-and-15 set up Hudgins' third scoring catch from 5 yards out with 12:21 remaining in the first half. A.J. Harris followed with a 35-yard return of a blocked punt, and Riddle scored on a 5-yard run to cap the Phoenix's streak of 38 unanswered points and go ahead 38-3 with 11:08 remaining in the third quarter.

Chattanooga 3 0 0 7 -- 10

Elon 14 17 7 7 -- 45

Chat--FG Camay 27

Elon--Hudgins 2 pass from Riddle (Shreiner kick)

Elon--Hudgins 41 pass from Riddle (Shreiner kick).

Elon--Hudgins 5 pass from Riddle (Shreiner kick)

Elon--FG Shreiner 36

Elon--A.Harris 35 blocked punt return (Shreiner kick)

Elon--Riddle 5 run (Shreiner kick)

Chat--Cooper 12 pass from Coleman (Camay kick)

Elon--Peterson 7 pass from Th.Wilson (Shreiner kick)

A--8,264.

Chat Elon

First downs 17 17

Rushes-yards 40-112 38-158

Passing 149 230

Comp-Att-Int 18-35-1 16-22-1

Return Yards 1 68

Punts-Avg. 7-30.6 4-33.3

Fumbles-Lost 4-3 1-1

Penalties-Yards 2-11 4-35

Time of Possession 33:29 26:31

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING--Chattanooga, Awuah 16-49, Jackson 5-32, Gault 6-22, T.Davis 1-6, Coleman 7-6, Dyer 2-4, Kermah 1-1, Pastore 2-(minus 8). Elon, Shuman 16-58, Newsome 6-48, A.Harris 6-33, Riddle 6-20, Peterson 1-1, Th.Wilson 3-(minus 2).

PASSING--Chattanooga, Coleman 14-30-1-122, Gault 3-4-0-23, Pastore 1-1-0-4. Elon, Riddle 13-18-1-196, Th.Wilson 3-4-0-34.

RECEIVING--Chattanooga, Cooper 7-72, Pitchford 4-20, Hughes 3-8, T.Davis 2-10, Woods 1-27, Allison 1-12. Elon, Hudgins 6-74, Shuman 3-32, Labinowicz 2-47, Camp 2-46, Peterson 2-22, Jeffcoat 1-9.