SportsDirect Inc. staff
Aug 29, 2013
Towson 33, Connecticut 18: Terrance West rushed 36 times for 156 yards and two touchdowns while quarterback Peter Athens ran for one score and threw for another as the visiting Tigers shocked the Huskies.
Sterlin Phifer scored twice and Athens completed 13 of 20 passes for 192 yards as Towson (1-0) won its first game against an FBS opponent. The Tigers, ranked 12th FCS Coaches poll, totaled five sacks and held Connecticut to 84 yards rushing.
Chandler Whitmer threw two touchdown passes to Shakim Phillips, including a 21-yard strike with 3:29 remaining in the game, and Connecticut (0-1) pulled within 26-18 with a two-point conversion. The Huskies stopped Towson on the next series, but fumbled the punt and West capped the scoring on a 5-yard run with 16 seconds left.
Whitmer connected with Phillips for 31 yards and a score with 4:55 left in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead, but the Huskies could only manage three more points before halftime. Phifer caught a 23-yard scoring strike from Athens on the next drive and ran five yards for a touchdown midway through the second quarter for a 13-7 lead.
The Tigers extended the lead to 19-10 on a 1-yard run by Athens with 5:09 left in the third after a 13-play, 95-yard drive and D.J. Soven missed his second extra point. Towson stopped the Huskies on fourth down at its 32 early in the fourth quarter and West scored on a 6-yard run on fourth down with 5:14 left.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Former UConn receiver Leon Kinnard had four catches for 61 yards for the Tigers. … Whitmer was 16-for-28 passing for 206 yards and Geremy Davis caught five passes for 100 yards while Phillips collected five for 77. … Towson coach Rob Ambrose was an assistant for the Huskies from 2002-08.