Dover, Del. (Sep. 13, 2014) --- Delaware State held a one-point lead before Towson scored two special teams touchdowns in the fourth quarter en route to a 21-7 victory in the Hornets' home opener in a steady rain at Alumni Stadium today.
Towson, the 2013 FCS national runner-up, won for the first time in three games, while the Hornets fell to 0-3 this season.
Delaware State led 7-6 before marching 27 yards on eight plays when the drive stalled at the Towson 48. On the DSU punt attempt, the snap by Ernest Mengoni sailed over the head of punter Jeremiah McGeough and rolled to the DSU 25. McGeough scooped up the ball and attempted a desperation kick, but the ball was blocked Towson's Jordan Mynatt and recovered by Fred Overstreet, who lunged into the endzone from one yard out for the touchdown. Towson quarterback Conner Frazier connected with Andre Dessenberg on a two-point pass after the score to give the Tigers a 14-7 lead with 11:16 left in the fourth quarter.
After each team failed to score on its next possession, Delaware State was forced to punt again.
This time McGeough boomed a 57-yard punt that was fielded by Towson's Derrick Joseph by the Tigers' 19-yard line. Joseph avoided several tackles before breaking free for an 81-yard touchdown on the return.
The extra point kick by Sam Hurwitz gave the Tigers a 21-7 lead with 2:54 left to play.
The Hornets trailed 3-0 before taking advantage of a good special teams play of their own to take the lead just before halftime.
Nine plays after a partially blocked punt by Alex Perry gave DSU the ball at the Towson 45, Gilbert Rivera found wide receiver Malik Golson in the endzone for a 13-yard touchdown on a third-and-nine play with seven seconds left in the first half. It was the only offensive touchdown of the game; and the second big Rivera-to-Golson play of the drive. The pair connected on a 14-yard pass to the Towson 28 on a fourth-and-six play. Mitchell Ward nailed the extra point to give the Hornets a 7-3 lead at the break.
Towson's big special teams plays overshadowed a solid effort by the Delaware State defense. The Hornets held Towson to 187 total yards through three quarters.
The Delaware State defense was tested early after Towson recovered a Hornet fumble on the opening kickoff at the DSU seven. The Tigers were forced to kick a field goal after failing to reach the endzone on the first three plays after the turnover.
Towson scored the only points of the third quarter on a 23-yard Hurwitz field goal to cut the Hornets' lead to 7-6 with 2:15 left in the quarter.
The Tigers won the total yardage battle 307-to-193. Towson rushed for 221 yards, 84 of which came in the fourth quarter. Darius Victor led TU with a game-high 131 yards rushing on 24 carries, highlighted by a 50-yard fourth quarter run. Towson completed 11-of-23 passes for 86 yards.
Delaware State rushed for 71 yards and threw for 122. Malcolm Williams led the Hornets with 77 yards rushing on 20 attempts, including a 22-yard run in the second quarter.
Rivera completed 14-of-25 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown.
Hornet wide receiver Milton Williams III had a game-high five catches, but was held to 26 yards.
Rodney Gunter, Alex Perry and William Burton led the Hornets with seven tackles each.
Delaware State returns to action at FBS Temple next Saturday (Sep. 20). Game time is 1 p.m. at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles. It will be the Hornets' first contest against a FBS opponent since 2009 at Michigan.
