Elon, N.C. — In a thrilling contest on Saturday, Rushawn Baker dazzled fans with a remarkable performance, rushing for 156 yards and scoring a touchdown in each of the first three quarters to lead Elon to a 31-25 victory over Maine.

The game began with excitement as quarterback Matthew Downing connected with receiver Chandler Brayboy for an impressive 46-yard gain on the opening play for Elon (5-6, 4-3 Coastal Athletic Association). Just moments later, Baker capped a well-executed 75-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown run, giving the Phoenix an early 7-0 advantage.

Baker continued to showcase his talents, scoring again on a 3-yard run, concluding a lengthy 16-play, 75-yard drive that extended Elon’s lead to 14-3 with 8:43 remaining in the second quarter. Maine (5-6, 3-4) fought back right before halftime, with Jaharie Martin finding the end zone on a 3-yard run, concluding a methodical 13-play, 91-yard drive that brought the score to 14-10 at the half.

As the game progressed, Baker made another significant impact with a 25-yard rush, followed by Downing’s 20-yard completion to Jamarien Dalton on a crucial third-and-4. This set the stage for another 6-yard touchdown run by Baker, providing the Phoenix with a 21-10 lead with just over four minutes left in the third quarter. The spirited Black Bears responded quickly when Trevin Ewing returned the ensuing kickoff for 69 yards, leading to Martin’s 7-yard touchdown run. After Carter Peevy connected with Joe Gillette for a successful two-point conversion, Maine narrowed the gap to 21-18.

Elon wasn’t deterred, as Downing connected with Brayboy again, this time for a 70-yard touchdown, restoring the lead to 10 points as the fourth quarter approached.

Midway through the final quarter, Luke Barnes added a 40-yard field goal for the Phoenix. Maine, however, would not give up easily, as Peevy found Montigo Moss for an 11-yard touchdown with only 2 seconds remaining, sealing the competitive contest.

Downing had an impressive outing, completing 17 of 26 passes for a total of 299 yards. Baker’s contributions came from 27 carries, including a standout 54-yard run, while Brayboy accumulated 138 receiving yards on just three catches. On the other side, Peevy finished the game with 271 passing yards after completing 22 of 37 attempts, but he also threw one interception.