Elon Outguns Hampton 41-20 Behind TJ Thomas’ 288 Rushing Yards and Big Plays
By Tiffany Williams –
Hampton nearly pulled off the impossible, but Elon’s firepower and opportunistic defense steamrolled the Pirates in a 41-20 Coastal Athletic Association clash at Rhodes Stadium. The Pirates, trailing 17-6 at halftime, stormed out of the locker room with Braden Davis and Jah’Kei Chavis igniting a furious rally. A 75-yard TD run by Chavis on the very first play of the second half followed by a 44-yard strike from Davis to Tae’Shaun Johnson put Hampton ahead 20-17 early in the third. For a moment, it looked like the upset was on.
Then Elon flipped the script. Landen Clark’s six-yard touchdown run reclaimed the lead for the Phoenix, and they never looked back. The fourth quarter became a demolition derby: a 33-yard field goal by Luke Barnes, a one-yard Thomas rush, and a 14-yard jaunt by Jimmyll Williams capped a 24-point surge that buried the Pirates. Williams finished with a career-best 172 rushing yards, including a 45-yard burst that set up his touchdown, while TJ Thomas added two more scores and 288 rushing yards powered the Phoenix ground game.
Clark and Isaiah Fuhrmann connected six times for 135 yards through the air, including an 81-yard touchdown bomb that had Hampton reeling. On the defensive side, Ishmel Atkins picked off two passes and helped Elon force three total turnovers, giving the Pirates fits all day. The Phoenix front seven also made their presence felt, with sacks spread among four different defenders, helping shut down Hampton’s running lanes late.
Hampton’s Davis passed for 233 yards and two scores, Chavis ran for a game-changing 75-yard touchdown, and Tae’Shaun Johnson caught a long touchdown pass, but it wasn’t enough. Turnovers, penalties, and a relentless Elon attack sealed the Pirates’ fate.
Elon improves to 3-2 overall, 1-0 in the CAA, and showed why their balanced attack and opportunistic defense can overwhelm any foe. Hampton, now 1-4 and 0-2 in conference play, will regroup at home against Norfolk State next Saturday in a game that promises to test their resilience once again.
This one had it all: momentum swings, big plays, and a fourth-quarter exclamation point that left Hampton reeling and Elon strutting off Rhodes Stadium with a statement win.
