WHERE: Rhodes Stadium, Elon, N.C.

WHEN: 2 p.m. Saturday

STREAMING: FloFootball

ALL-TIME SERIES: Maine leads, 3-2

KEY STAT: 17, the number of passing yards Maine quarterback Carter Peevy needs for 2,000 this season.

OUTLOOK: The Black Bears make their final road trip of the season, in North Carolina to face Elon for the first time since 2021. Maine scored a season-high 38 points in last week’s 38-26 win over Bryant. The Black Bears may need to break that mark this week. In the Phoenix, Maine faces a team that scored a combined 9o points in its last two games, both wins. After a 1-5 start to the season, Elon has won three of its last four games. Last week’s victory over William and Mary was secured with five seconds left when Onuma Dieke caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Downing. Even with the recent success, Elon ranks ninth in the Coastal Athletic Association in scoring (24.1 points per game) and 11th in total offense (329.3 yard per game). Downing has 1,547 yards passing with 13 touchdowns and four interceptions. Maine’s secondary will look to limit the big-play capability of wideouts Chandler Brayboy (723 yards receiving, six touchdowns) and Dieke (444 yards, two touchdowns), both of whom average more than 16 yards per catch. Defensive end Xavier Holmes continues to be Maine’s top defensive player and got his first interception last week to go with a team-high season totals of six sacks and 11 tackles for a loss. Elon Coach Tony Trisciani noted Maine’s wins over then-nationally ranked Albany and Villanova, and said if Maine can force turnovers and create pressure on the quarterback, it usually wins. Special teams has to be a point of emphasis for Maine. Brayboy leads the Football Championship Subdivision with an average of 36.9 yards per kickoff return, with two touchdowns.

Peevy is coming off his best game of the season, in which he completed 19 of 24 passes for 269 yards and four touchdowns. He’s sixth in the FCS in completion percentage (.694). Seven players have caught at least one touchdown pass from Peevy, with wide receiver Montigo Moss and tight end Cooper Heisey leading the way with five touchdowns each. Running back Brian Santana-Fis had his first 100-yard game of the season last week, gaining 104 yards and scoring a touchdown on 13 carries. Getting the running game going early will again be a key for Maine. That’s what allowed the Black Bears to open things up and create three touchdowns of 36 yards or more, Maine Coach Jordan Stevens said. Defensive back Caleb Curtain leads Elon with 68 tackles. Defensive end Cazeem Moore has four sacks.

OF NOTE: Last week’s win over Bryant ensured Maine a winning record at home this season. The Black Bears are 3-1 at Alfond Stadium, with next week’s season-ending game against rival UNH on deck. … Peevy has thrown at least one touchdown pass in each of Maine’s last seven games. Last week’s game was Peevy’s fourth straight without and interception. … Maine is 2-0 at Elon. The Phoenix took the last meeting between these teams, 33-23, in Orono in 2021. … Two of the last four games between Maine and Elon were decided by five or fewer points.