TOWSON, Md. - Junior running back Tremayne Dameron isn't the biggest running back on the Tigers' roster (listed at 5-10, 185 pounds). He's probably not the fastest or the shiftiest of the Towson backs either. But, nobody can question his heart.
Dameron was Towson's starting running back in each of the the last two seasons when the offensive line was either very young (2010) or in shambles (2009). The quarterback(s) were rotated around like a merry-go-round due to injury (Peter Athens in 2009) or inconsistency. But, all Dameron did was take the ball and run with it.
He played in all 22 games for the Tigers, rushing for 1,065 yards on 305 carries for a 3.5 average. How much does the presence of a quality offensive line and quarterback mean to a running back? This season, Dameron has 227 yards and a touchdown while averaging 5.8 yards per carry.
"Having a great O-line is what makes a great running back," said Dameron after Towson's 40-30 win over Maine on Saturday. "I feel like the O-line is what propels people to become stars. Last year gave them the experience that they needed and now, they are coming into their own."
Dameron opened this seasn as the starter against Morgan State and led Towson with 71 yards on 9 carries in a 42-3 win. But, in the second game against Villanova, Dameron had just four carries for 24 yards as 10 different players carried the football in a 31-10 victory.
Due to an injury, Dameron didn't have a carry until the William & Mary game on Oct. 22 when he had 12 yards on three carries and one catch for nine yards. With injuries to junior Dominique Booker and sophomore Sterlin Phifer, Dameron was back in the rotation as the backup to freshman Terrance West even though he's listed as the starter.
In the snow against Delaware on Oct. 29, Dameron had four carries for 12 yards and three catches for 22 yards. In Saturday's win against Maine, Dameron erupted for a season-high 109 yards and a rushing touchdown while teaming up with West to account for 292 rushing yards. He also caught a 33-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Grant Enders in the third quarter to give Towson a 26-16 lead.
While the offensive line opened up huge holes for both running backs, Dameron was responsible for getting extra yardage as he dragged several tacklers once he got into the second level.
With 1,292 career rushing yards, Dameron has moved into 13th-place on the all-time rushing list. Just when the Tigers needed a "next man up" with two key running backs out, he came through with a big game on Saturday to give the Tigers that edge.
Around the CAA
After the Tigers' win over Maine, there is now a three-way tie in the CAA with Towson, Maine and New Hampshire sharing 5-1 records in league play. Towson has the tie-breaker over the Black Bears and the Tigers contest against the Wildcats on Saturday could decide the CAA title.
UNH came up with a home win over James Madison (5-4, 3-3 CAA) on Saturday, 28-10.
Old Dominion (8-2, 5-2 CAA) continued to keep pace with the first-place teams as the Monarchs defeated Richmond, 42-28. Freshman Taylor Heinicke threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Monarchs.
In other CAA action, Villanova (2-8, 1-6) upset UMass (5-4) on the road, 35-17, to give the Wildcats their first conference victory of the season. Rhode Island (3-6, 2-4) downed William & Mary (4-5, 2-4) at home, 24-21. The Rams forced three turnovers by the Tribe and won despite allowing 208 rushing yards to Jonathan Grimes.
