TAMPA, Fla. – Towson University senior running back scored a pair of rushing touchdowns in the Tigers 56-20 loss to South Florida in the 2016 season opener Saturday evening at Raymond James Stadium.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Bulls got on the scoreboard early as Darius Tice caught a 43-yard touchdown pass from Quenton Flowers.
• The Tiger defense stepped on the next possession as Justice Pettus-Dixon stepped in front of a pass for his first career interception.
• The offense took advantage of the turnover as Morgan Mahalak hit Andre Dessenberg for 18 yards to convert a 4^th-and-8.
• Towson was not able to find the endzone on the drive, settling for a 29-yard field goal from freshman Aidan O'Neill.
• A big kickoff return helped the Bulls reach the endzone for the second time as Marlon Mack scored from seven yards out.
• Christian Summers made the most of his first reception of the season as he hauled in a 56-yard pass from Mahalak.
• On the next play, Darius Victor bounced to the outside for a one-yard touchdown run.  The touchdown marked the 35^th rushing touchdown in his career.  He has now scored a rushing touchdown in 19 of the last 24 games.
• Linebacker Diondre Wallace made the second big play for the defense as he stopped a Bulls drive with a big hit that forced a fumble.  Jordan Mynatt hopped on the fumble for the Tigers.
• USF took advantage of a pair of Tiger turnovers late in the first half to score a pair of touchdowns.
• Victor surpassed the 3,000 yard mark in his career when he went untouched from eight yards out in the third quarter.  He becomes just the fourth Tiger in school history to eclipse the 3,000-yard mark.
• Redshirt freshman Shane Simpson had 229 return yards on eight kickoff returns to set a new single-game record.  The record broke the previous mark of 211 yards set against James Madison last season.
• The Tigers offense ran 90 plays and held the ball for 37:40. 
• Punter Jake Ryder averaged 49.4 yards on seven punts.  He had a long of 68 yards and had three punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
• Diondre Wallace led the defense with 14 tackles, two tackles-for-loss, a sack and a forced fumble.

 
UP NEXT
The Tigers play their 2016 home opener as the welcome Saint Francis to Johnny Unitas® Stadium on Sept. 10.  Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. and it is First Responders Appreciation Night.   All First Responders receive four complimentary tickets.  All tickets for the home opener are $9.11.