Sophomore running back Darius Victor scored his 12th rushing touchdown of the season, but that proved to be the lone offensive bright spot as Towson dropped its season finale at Rhode Island (URI), 13-7, on Saturday afternoon at Meade Stadium.
Towson senior Tye Smith (24) and junior Jon Desir (99) close in on Rhode Island running back Lyle McCombs (27) in Saturday’s CAA clash. (Photo courtesy of URI Athletics)
Failed scoring chances in the red zone doomed the Tigers, who close the season 4-8 overall and 2-6 in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) just one year after advancing to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) national championship game. Towson scored just one touchdown despite advancing into the Rams’ red zone on four different occasions.
After giving up a 12-play, 70-yard touchdown drive on Rhode Island’s first offensive possession of the game, Towson’s defense held the Rams to just two field goals on their final 10 possessions of the game.
The lone drive that resulted in points for the Tigers occurred midway through the second quarter. Towson ran the ball on nine straight plays, netting 50 yards, and Victor scored from six yards out to tie the game, 7-7, with less than two minutes remaining in the first half.
Rhode Island took advantage of great field position after the Tiger score, going just 28 yards before connecting on a 44-yard field to give the Rams a 10-7 halftime lead. It marked Rhode Island’s first field goal of the season.
In the second half, the Tigers advanced past their own 46-yard line on five of six possessions and got inside the URI 30-yard line on three straight possessions, but failed to score.
The Rams added another field goal as Smith connected on a 41-yarder midway through the fourth quarter to give URI a 13-7 lead.
Towson’s defense handed the offense one final shot late in the game when freshman James Simms’ fourth down tackle gave the Tigers the ball on their own 35-yard line with 2:12 remaining. Junior quarterback Connor Frazier rushed for a first down to the Tiger 47 but then fumbled on the next play, ending Towson’s hopes for a season-ending win.
Frazier rushed for 68 yards, but was under duress for much of the game, getting sacked four times. Victor had 54 yards on 21 carries, halting his 100-yard rushing game streak at four games. He ends the year with 1,305 rushing yards, the most for a sophomore in Towson football history.
Sophomore Eric Handy paced the Tiger defense with a career-high 14 tackles, including three for a loss. Senior Tye Smith made six tackles in his final collegiate game to end his career with 312 tackles, fifth most in Towson football history.
(Article courtesy of Towson Athletics)
