TOWSON, Md. – Towson put together a total team effort Saturday afternoon as the Tigers rushed for 284 yards and recorded three second-half interceptions in a 38-21 victory over Rhode Island Saturday afternoon at Johnny Unitas® Stadium.
 
How It Happened

• Rhode Island jumped out to an early lead as they converted an interception into a 7-0 lead.
• Towson then went to the ground on its next possession and Darius Victor broke off a 60-yard run.
• Two plays later, Grayson Boyce scored from one-yard out to tie the game.  It was the first rushing touchdown of Boyce's career.
• Towson took its first lead of the game when Marquel Dickerson broke up the middle for 42 yards.
• On the next play, Victor went up the middle for a five-yard touchdown. 
• The Rams would score on their next two possessions to take a 21-14 lead midway through the second quarter.
• Towson had another quick answer as Victor carried the ball four times for 32 yards on the next series.
• Boyce then ripped off 33 yards on the next two plays, before Victor capped the drive with a nine-yard touchdown.
• The second half belonged to the Tigers defense.  Donnell Lewis made an immediate impact on his first series of the game as he deflected a ball that was intercepted by Mike Kelly.  Lewis was forced to sit out the first half after receiving a targeting penalty last week against William & Mary.
• Heath Dahlgren, making his collegiate debut, hit Andre Dessenberg on a post route for 38 yards.
• Two plays later, Dahlgren hit Emmanuel Holder down the seam for a 13-yard touchdown pass.
• After a quick three-and-out by the defense, the Tigers offense took the air out of the ball on their next drive.
• Towson put together a 17-play scoring drive that covered 78 yards and took 9:13 off the third quarter clock.
• The Tigers did most of the damage on the ground as 12 of the 17 plays were rushing plays.
• The run game got the Tigers into the endzone, but Dahlgren's four-yard fade to Dessenberg got the Tigers into the endzone.
• The Rams started the fourth quarter with a drive deep into Tiger territory, but Monty Fenner ended the scoring chance with an interception in the endzone. 
• After Kelly's second interception of the game, Towson scored its final points of the day on a Sam Hurwitz career-long 46-yard field goal.

 
Inside the Numbers

• Towson rushed for a season-high 284 yards against URI.  It marked the third time this season they rushed for over 200 yards in a game.
• The Tigers 247 rushing yards in the first half were the most since the team ran for 292 yards in the first half against Eastern Illinois in the 2013 FCS Quarterfinals.
• Victor ran for 189 yards on a career-high 33 carries.  He is the first back to carry the ball over 30 times in a game since Terrance West carried it 39 times against EIU in 2013.
• Dahlgren finished the day 10-of-17 for 106 yards and two touchdowns.  The junior was playing in his first collegiate game.
• Dessenberg, Holder and Sam Gallahan each caught three passes.
• The Towson defense held Rhode Island to just 121 yards in the second half. 
• The defense also forced three second-half interceptions.  The defense has forced at least turnovers in each of the last six games.
• The three interceptions were the most since Towson recorded three interceptions against New Hampshire on Nov. 12, 2011.
• Mike Kelly recorded two interceptions in the second half.  Kelly is the first Tiger since Tye Smith against UNH in 2011 to record two interceptions in a game.

 
The Tigers will now wait until the FCS Selection Show Sunday at 11 a.m. to learn if they have done enough to qualify for the postseason.  The selection show will air on ESPNU.