So how will Lipscomb’s Matt Elrod fare against the most conniving villain in Survivor history?
Fans and classmates will know soon.
Last week on Survivor: Redemption Island, we watched Lipscomb “celeb” Matt Elrod fight to survive in a battle with Francesca in the Redemption Island arena.
The setup: Host Jeff Probst introduces the game to the two contestants. Matt and Francesca will have to use sticks and rope to make a long pole that will retrieve three keys. These keys will open three locks. The first person to open all three locks and get through their door stays alive in this game. The loser is sent home.
Francesca retrives her first two keys before Matt even has a sturdy pole built. But while Francesca begins to retrieve the last key, her pole crumbles, and Matt begins to make his comeback, quickly capturing two keys. They both reach for the last key at the same time, but Matt comes out victorious unlocking his locks first.
“The challenge was intense,” said pharmacy student Rhett Hogan from Columbia, Tenn.
“I thought Matt was a goner, but he pulled it out in the end. I think he has a shot at making a great comeback from Redemption Island, and I’m excited for this week’s show because we are all rooting for him.”
Back at camp, team Zapatera makes plans to send veteran Russell to Redemption Island to face Matt. His only hope is to find the immunity idol. Although he never finds the idol, he convinces the alliance other that he has one, so they must make a back-up plan just in case.
The next day at the reward challenge, Zapatera casually throws the game in order to get rid of Russell. Regardless of Russell’s schemes to stay alive, he is marooned to Redemption Island at tribal council.
“I think Matt has a great chance against Russell this week,” said junior nursing major Macy Marlin from Chattanooga, Tenn. “If Matt gets kicked off, the show will probably lose a lot of viewers!”
“Although Russell is a veteran and has more knowledge of the game, Matt is superior in a head-to-head challenge mentally and physically,” said senior Biochemistry major Morgan Gonder from McMinnville, Tenn.
Matt will duel Russell on this week’s episode airing at 7 p.m. CST tonight on CBS.