DURHAM, N.C. – Elon University overcame five turnovers by piling up 525 yards of total offense and taking advantage of North Carolina Central University special teams miscues, as the visiting Phoenix escaped NCCU’s O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium with a 23-22 win on a cool, misty Saturday night.

For NCCU, a Division I newcomer against a traditional FCS contender, this was the game that got away.

With the visitors holding a one-point lead with less than two minutes left in the game, NCCU drove down the field to get into position for a potential game-winning 39-yard field goal. However, the snap from the long snapper was low and the rain-soaked ball slipped through the holder’s hands. Rookie kicker Oleg Parent, who missed an extra-point kick in the second quarter, never got a chance to redeem himself.

The sensational Elon duo of junior quarterback Thomas Wilson and junior receiver Aaron Mellette proved too much for the Eagles to handle. Wilson completed 34 of 48 passes for a career-best 416 yards and three touchdowns, while Mellette had 16 receptions for a career-high 237 yards with a score.

Wilson also made a shoe-string, touchdown-saving tackle when NCCU junior safety Marc Lewis appeared to be heading to the end zone after a first-quarter interception. The last line of defense, Wilson dove and barely tripped up Lewis at the Elon 15-yard line, and NCCU had to settle for a 30-yard field goal by Parent.

Elon senior receiver Christian Dennis caught six passes for 64 yards and two touchdowns, including what proved to be the game-winner with 4:46 remaining in the game.

NCCU senior signal caller Michael Johnson connected on 13 of 40 pass attempts for 153 yards and two touchdowns, both diving catches in the first half. The first was hauled in by senior receiver Demario Lackey at 8:29 of the second quarter to tie the game at 10-10. The second scoring grab was made by junior receiver Geovonie Irvine with 3:44 remaining before the halftime intermission. Parent pushed the extra-point kick wide right as Elon entered the locker room with a 17-16 lead.

Neither team scored in the third quarter or the first half of the final frame. Ironically, the first points of the second half were posted by NCCU freshman linebacker Tiron Guion, who intercepted Wilson’s overthrown pass at the Elon 25-yard line and rumbled 75 yards to the end zone with fellow rookie linebacker Prince Williams leading the way. That touchdown scamper gave the home team its first lead of the game at 22-17 with 7:17 on the fourth quarter clock.

The Phoenix did not let the home crowd cheer for too long. On the ensuing drive, Elon covered 64 yards in just seven plays as Wilson found Dennis open over the middle for a 27-yard go-ahead touchdown with 4:46 remaining.

NCCU tried to answer back, converting twice on fourth down to move the ball to the 22-yard line. However, Johnson threw three incomplete passes before the botched field goal attempt.

While Elon racked up the most yards by an NCCU opponent since Appalachian State in 2009, the Eagles managed 219 yards of total offense.

The NCCU defense was topped by senior safety James Reese with 11 tackles, including 1.5 hits for a loss, along with a forced fumble and two pas break-ups. Senior cornerback Brian Frierson tallied nine takedowns with an interception and a pair of pass deflections, while senior linebacker Brandon Outlaw added eight stops for the Eagles.

NCCU returns home to O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium next Saturday (Sept. 24) to host Savannah State at 6 p.m.