Sports | 9/29/08

Media Credit: Blake Savadow Junior running back Matt Castor runs by Columbia defensive end Javier Garza on one of his 37 carries Saturday. Castor compiled 108 yards on the ground along with two touchdowns in a 31-24 win over the Lions. It was Castor's first game back from an ankle injury. [Click to enlarge]

Junior running back Matt Castor logged three career highs with 108 yards, 37 carries, and two touchdowns as he led the Towson to a 31-24 victory over Columbia in front of an announced crowd 5,030 rain-soaked spectators at Johnny Unitas Stadium Saturday afternoon.

"We felt going into the game, that we wanted to run the football," head coach Gordy Combs said. "I don't think we planned on giving it to [Castor] 37 times, but as it became apparent, with the weather, that we would have to run the football, [his] success definitely helped us win this game."

The match between the Tigers and the Lions was a back-and-forth contest that featured nine fumbles, two interceptions, six converted fourth down conversions and a lightning delay that lasted nearly an hour.

After the two teams exchanged punts for most of the first quarter, the first break in the game came when Columbia wide receiver Austin Knowlen muffed a Bill Shears' punt. Sophomore linebacker Donte Blakey recovered the live ball at the Columbia 36-yard line. After running one play, lightning forced officials to suspend play for 46 minutes. Even after the lightning subdued, the downpour was still torrential, forcing Towson to keep the ball on the ground. Castor carried the ball every play during the eight play-drive, which ended with Castor's 16-yard touchdown run on fourth and inches. The touchdown was both Castor's and the Tigers' first rushing touchdown of the season.

Towson was driving for another score before a botched snap by senior quarterback Sean Schaefer gave Columbia the ball. Two plays later, sophomore running back Zack Kourouma took a screen pass and raced 59 yards for the touchdown, knotting the score at seven.

Sophomore wide receiver Hakeem Moore returned the ensuing kickoff 60 yards, setting up a 32-yard field goal for senior placekicker Mark Bencivengo.

After forcing another Columbia punt, Towson drove the field, and Schaefer hit Marcus Lee for an 11-yard touchdown pass with just 18 seconds remaining in the first half, giving Towson a 17-7 lead.

Columbia opened the third quarter with a nine-play, 62-yard drive culminating in a 22-yard field goal by senior placekicker Jon Rocholl.

After a penalty and a sack, Towson punted from their own end zone, setting the Lions up with good field position at the Towson 39-yard line. Four plays later, junior quarterback Shane Kelly scrambled and connected with Mike Stephens for a 15-yard touchdown. The score was the first career touchdown for Stephens.

Towson responded with a methodical, time-consuming drive that lasted 17 plays, covered 75 yards, and lasted almost eight minutes. It ended with Schaefer throwing his second touchdown pass of the day, this time a one yarder to junior tight end Wes White. It was White's first career catch and touchdown.

After Ollie Thomas recorded his first career interception, Towson gave the ball right back to Columbia when sophomore free safety Adam Mehrer picked off a Schaefer pass and returned it 19 yards to the Towson 30. On third and goal from the 2-yard line, Kelly swept around left end and appeared to fumble before reaching the goal line. However, the official raised his arms signaling touchdown, tying the score at 24.

On the following kickoff, Moore again set the Tigers up with good field position, taking the ball to the Columbia 44 with under four minutes to play. Towson drove the ball to the Columbia 1-yard line before Castor punched it in the end zone with just over a minute remaining in the game. The score gave Towson their eventual 31-24 margin of victory.

"We did the things that we needed to do to them, and I think that's a really big thing," Combs said. "We talked about playing at home all week. We were able to execute and get a lot of things done."

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