CAA Football Rewind - Aug. 31
Rob Washburn
Shane Simpson photo courtesy of Michael Wiser
Towson 28, The Citadel 21
Box Score
Highlights
Shane Simpson accounted for 151 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns, including a 4-yard scoring run with 1:27 remaining, to lead Towson to a 28-21 victory at The Citadel. The Tigers trailed 21-20 with 3:31 to go, but drove 75 yards in only six plays on the game-winning drive. Coby Tippett sealed the victory with a late interception. Simpson rushed for 74 yards and 2 TD's on only nine carries and caught four passes for 37 yards and a score. Quarterback Tom Flacco completed 21-of-36 passes for 328 yards and a TD. Bryce Carter topped the Towson defense with 13 tackles and Robert Heyward added 11 tackles and 1.5 TFL.
West Virginia 20, James Madison 13
Box Score
Highlights
West Virginia used a 10-point burst in a 1:43 span of the fourth quarter to hold off James Madison, 20-13. The Dukes outgained the Mountaineers 328-294, but JMU was hurt by three turnovers. JMU took a 7-0 first-quarter lead on a 9-yard TD run by freshman Solomon Vanhorse. The game was tied at 10-10 following an Ethan Ratke field in the third quarter, but WVU went on its fourth quarter scoring run to go up 20-10. Ratke later added a 31-yard field goal. JMU quarterback Ben DiNucci was 13-of-20 passing for 156 yards and also ran for 36 yards. The Dukes' defense held WVU to just 34 yards on the ground. Linebacker Dimitri Holloway made a team-best 13 tackles.
Ohio 41, Rhode Island 20
Box Score
Highlights
Aaron Parker made nine catches for 144 yards and a touchdown, but Rhode Island dropped a 41-20 decision at Ohio University. Parker caught a 34-yard TD strike from Vito Priore that pulled the Rams within 24-13 midway through the third quarter, but they could get no closer. Priore finished 22-of-42 passing for 291 yards and 2 TD's, while Zoe Bryant rushed for 89 yards on 17 carries. Justin Neary and Brian Campbell each recorded eight tackles for URI.
William & Mary 30, Lafayette 17
Box Score
Highlights
William & Mary scored 24 points in the third quarter and rallied past Lafayette, 30-17. Freshman quarterback Hollis Mathis rushed for a team-high 127 yards and a TD on 16 carries and added 66 yards passing in his Tribe debut. Running back Owen Wright, who added 63 yards on the ground, gave W&M a 14-10 lead with a 4-yard TD run early in the third quarter and added an 11-yard scoring run later in the period that put the Tribe up 24-10. W&M's defense forced four Lafayette turnovers. Trey Watkins made a team-best 10 tackles and Will Kiely contributed six tackles, 1.5 TFL and a fumble recovery.
North Carolina A&T 24, Elon 21
Box Score
Highlights
Noel Ruiz booted a 52-yard field goal as time expired, lifting North Carolina A&T to a 24-21 victory over Elon in a battle of nationally ranked squads. In a game that went back-and-forth all night, the Phoenix tied the contest at 21-21 on a 14-yard TD pass from Davis Cheek to Kortez Weeks late in the third quarter. DeSean McNair tallied Elon's first two touchdowns, scoring from five yards out in the first quarter to put the Phoenix up 7-0 and again from two yards out midway through the third quarter, knotting the contest at 14-14. Cheek finished 16-of-27 passing for 202 yards and TD. Linebacker Jarquez Bizzell recorded a team-high nine tackles for Elon.