Two sacks.
Towson will need to at least double its season total if the Tigers are to upset 10th-ranked Delaware Saturday night at Unitas Stadium at 7.
“We have to get a pass rush somehow,” Coach Gordy Combs said, “and play better in the secondary.”
Those are two aspects the 23rd-ranked Tigers (2-1, 0-1 in the Colonial Athletic Association) struggled with most in their 36-13 loss to defending conference champion and third-ranked UMass (3-0, 1-0). Entering this week?s game against Delaware (3-0, 2-0), which clubbed Rhode Island, 38-9, on Saturday, Combs said his team needs to eliminate the mistakes that doomed it against the Minutemen.
Against UMass, the Tigers led, 7-0, early and trailed only 19-10 at the half and 22-13 entering the fourth quarter. But ultimately, Towson was undone by its own miscues. Towson botched two punt attempts ? one for a safety ? had a field goal blocked and threw three interceptions, including one returned 90 yards for a touchdown.
“We talked about that as a football team,” Combs said. “Let?s make the other team beat us and don?t beat ourselves. We did some things that helped UMass and hindered us. Anytime you have the turnovers we have and inconsistent play in special teams, it hurts you. You can?t give up big plays in special teams.”
Combs acknowledged the miscues were magnified against a quality opponent ? UMass reached the Football Championship Subdivision title game last year.
“They are a very good football team, well coached, with very good players and we held our own with them,” he said. “But they are an excellent team and there?s a reason they are ranked [No. 3].”
The 36 points the Tigers allowed are very deceiving. Towson gave up only 306 yards to the Minutemen, but the mistakes and short field put UMass in prime position for several scores. Against Delaware, the Tigers will need to get to quarterback Joe Flacco, who has thrown for 844 yards and four touchdowns, and contain running back Omar Cuff, who has 393 yards and 11 touchdowns on just 65 carries.
But the Tigers have had recent success against Delaware, winning 49-35 last year and 35-31 in 2005.
“We have to make sure we don?t give up sacks,” Combs said, “and put pressure on their quarterback.”
