Werden proud of Elon progress

ELON, N.C. -- Elon offensive tackle Chris Werden remembers well his first game against The Citadel.

The Bulldogs welcomed new Elon coach Pete Lembo to the Southern Conference with a 44-7 whipping on a chilly November night at Rhodes Stadium back in 2006.

"It was brutal," said Werden, a redshirt senior from James Island High School. "I remember it was real cold. It wasn't a very good day."

One measure of how far Elon has come in Werden's four years as a starter was the Phoenix's 43-7 pounding of The Citadel on Saturday. Elon is 5-1 overall and ranked No. 10 in FCS, and harboring ambitions of a Southern Conference title and a playoff run.

Werden, 6-6 and 295 pounds, has started all 41 games in his career at Elon. He's the son of longtime Lowcountry high school coach Jim Werden, who coached for years at the old Middleton High School.

"I remember those days well," said Chris. "I was a ball boy, right beside him on the sidelines."

Werden, a teammate of Citadel tackle Dan DeHaven at James Island, was recruited to Elon by former coach Paul Hamilton. He's seen the Phoenix go from cellar-dweller to contender in four years under Lembo, who worked for and succeeded Citadel coach Kevin Higgins at Lehigh.

"All we've really done is buy into coach Lembo's plan," said Werden, who was a second-team all-SoCon pick last year. "We really try to focus on everything he says, and it's worked out so far."

Werden and his linemates paved the way for 267 rushing yards while allowing only one sack of quarterback Scott Riddle.

Bad start

The Citadel's day got off to a bad start Saturday, and never got any better.

Bulldogs receiver Luke Caldwell mishandled the bouncing opening kickoff, fumbling the ball out of bounds at The Citadel's 12-yard line. The Bulldogs had a false start on first down, gave up a 28-yard punt return on fourth down, and a touchdown on Elon's second play.

After another three-and-out and an 18-yard punt, Elon scored on the next play on a 55-yard TD pass for a 13-0 lead less than five minutes in.

Extra points

--The Citadel's 18 rushing yards were its fewest since the Bulldogs managed just 2 rushing yards on 27 carries in a 28-10 loss to Samford last season. This after The Citadel rushed for 214 yards in last week's 30-27 loss to Appalachian State.

--Andre Roberts' one catch for 13 yards was his worst day since his freshman year, when he caught one pass for five yards in a 24-21 win over Georgia Southern on Oct. 28, 2006. QB Bart Blanchard was 14 of 25 for 102 yards and a TD with two interceptions.

--Citadel receiver Luke Caldwell suffered a to the medial collateral ligament in his knee injury and will be out at least 10 days, Higgins said.

--Safety Rod Harland led The Citadel with 13 tackles, while linebacker Jordon Gilmore had 12 and a fumble recovery ... Defensive tackle Kyle Anderson had the Bulldogs' only sack, and safety Joseph Boateng the only other tackle for loss.

--WR Kevin Hardy's 5-yard TD grab in the fourth quarter was his first career score. Replays indicate he did get one foot down in the end zone on a fade pass from Bart Blanchard ... Backup WR Travis Ruff caught his first pass of the season, a 15-yarder.

-- ... Backup QB Miguel Starks had just two carries for one yard and was 0 for 2 passing.

Gilmore

All we know how to do is fight. We have to stay tohger and stay positive and get it giongn again.

No exsuse fo rhwa tappned out there today. We have to go back and get better. We didn't play well at all.

We really dodint do our bjob up front he guys in tehbox, d linle and libersker, no excuse for that.

We got ot bre back to basis now, we 0-2 in the lauge nd no qhere to go but up

I'm preety embarrassed aobu thow we played. We just to go back and saccpet it as men and whipoe the slate lcearn.

Dehaven

Im shocked. Disgusted with myself. Allwe can do is get better. And try to help out bart. We have to progect better. It was ll our fault. I wont blam eanyfoy else but msysle. I love meyateeammes and all we can do is keep pushing all on through.

We didn't paly to our pot. They are very godo defe line, bu I tinod think they shodl have manhaneld us the eway they did. They tricked ius a llt more than we though t they would. They pressued ourinside a little too much, but athat as beuase w gave it to them we couldn't asdjust to it.

Crossroads

We always togher. There notnigi we can do but fight. We going to come back to work, and it's game time. Don't worry abougt.. we are toghgther.

Higgins'

Never epected out gys to not bel able to bock them up front, and I thot we 'd progfectg better. And the open disturinb, we oput ourevles in a hole ainsg a good team.

Look at pen. Gujys ddoing againsgt guys and coudnt get in proper posiotnoi. When guys are going by our and beating you, and you stgart hodlingk, ti doing to coset you.

We pout ourselves in bad situations

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