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Tigers Stun 20th-ranked Villanova
By Simon Habtemariam
Towson opened up conference play Saturday night with a stunning 31-10 upset victory against the Villanova Wildcats. Coming off a 42-3 win against the Morgan State Bears, the Tigers (2-0, 1-0 CAA) never trailed to the visiting Wildcats (0-2, 0-1 CAA).
"This team won a national championship," Towson coach Rob Ambrose said. "Just to be uttered in the same breath as them fills you in with an automatic degree of respect."
Towson's second victory of the season doubles its win count from a year ago. Since taking over the program, Rob Ambrose has only one other win in the Colonial Athletic Association, a 2009 road victory against Rhode Island. The Tigers victory marks their first win streak since 2007, when they opened the season with wins over Central Connecticut and Morgan State.
To say this win was long awaited for by Towson students and fans is an understatement. After the game, the student section rushed the field.
"I'm an alum," Ambrose said. "This isn't just a job. This is my home. It's like the thing where the Grinch's hurt blows up -- I don’t smile that much, but this is a hell of a day for Towson."
Villanova Coach Andy Talley's team made a statement on the first drive, forcing the ball down the Tigers' throats on a 12-play, 70-yard drive. But the Wildcats gave up a costly fumble on the Towson 19-yard line to set up the Tigers' offense to go the other 81 yards for a touchdown on nine plays.
Sophomore quarterback Grant Enders, the CAA Offensive Player of the Week, connected with junior tailback Dominique Booker, who broke out a 47-yard screen-pass.
The Wildcats were able to open big gains early on the ground behind senior tailback Lawrence Doss, who amassed 72 yards off of eight carries during the first half. But clutch mistakes by the Villanova offense lead to five scoreless drives to open the game. While Villanova was able to do damage in between the 20-yard lines, its red-zone appearances during the first half ended with a fumble and a missed field goal.
Through two quarters, Towson's defensive unit held a team scoreless in the first half for the first time since 2007.
"Last year that was our weak spot, the red zone," junior safety Jordan Dangerfield said. "We wanted to change that this year."
Ambrose's offense featured a rushing attack with 10 Tigers carrying the ball for 223 yards. Enders led all Tigers with 75 yards, including a 52-yard scramble that put the Tigers on the Villanova five-yard line. Two plays later, the Tiger quarterback was intercepted by Ronnie Aikens, just a yard short of the end zone.
The Tigers finished the first half with a 10-play, 57-yard touchdown drive. Freshman tailback Terrance West scored his first collegiate touchdown with one second left in the half.
Villanova's offense showed its youth to start the second half. On their first drive of the third quarter, quarterback Dustin Thomas set up receiver Julian Wells to be leveled by Towson safety Jordan Dangerfield, and fumble the ball. Towson's offense held on to that momentum and marched 73 yards for another rushing touchdown by West.
West finished the night with 40 yards and two touchdowns.
"We just overpowered their defensive front," Enders said.
After seven scoreless drives, Villanova found the end zone for the first time with 6:30 left in the third quarter. Quarter Chris Culicerto came in for Thomas who suffered a separated shoulder. Culicerto completed 10 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown.
Culicerto led the Wildcats to their only touchdown of the night, avoiding two defenders to find Kenny Miles in the back of the end zone.
Facing a three and out in Towson territory on the next drive, Ambrose elected to go for it on fourth and inches and failed to convert. Towson defensive tackle Marcus Valentine forced a fumble on the very next play, giving the ball back to the Tigers.
Towson won the turnover battle, 3-1.
"I can tell you that I've sat here before when people have asked me what's the difference between wins and losses," Ambrose said. "I can honestly tell you, turnovers make that difference."
On the next drive, Towson again faced a fourth-and-inches play -- only this time, in Villanova territory. Enders ran it for five yards, to keep the Tigers on the field. Enders carried the drive into the fourth quarter, but failed to convert on a third-and-13 attempt. D.J. Soven booted a 36-yard field goal for the first points of the final quarter.
Again, Talley's Wildcats marched down the field and orchestrated a 10-play drive that ended in a 31-yard field goal. But on the following kick off, redshirt-freshman Derrick Joseph broke a 66-yard return to the Villanova 11-yard line. Two rushes by Booker put the Tigers into the end zone for their fourth and final touchdown of the night.
"I like Towson's team, very much," Talley said. "I think three years of rebuilding is finally starting to pay off for them. I think they’re ready to compete in the CAA."
Towson heads into a bye next week and then return home to face Colgate in non-conference play.
Posted Sept. 11, 2011 |
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