TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University football team got another 100-yard rushing game from Jerry Howard Jr. on Senior Day, but fell to Elon 37-14 to close out the home season.
 
Towson (4-6, 3-4 CAA) fell victim to an early Elon (5-5, 4-3 CAA) advantage, which the Phoenix held throughout the game.
 
Before the game, Towson honored its 22 seniors, playing in their final contest at Johnny Unitas® Stadium.
 
Key Stats:

• The two sides were close on total offense, with Elon having the slight edge 356-306.  Towson burst for 203 rushing yards, where Elon had the edge on passing with 251 yards in the air.
• Jerry Howard Jr. had his third 100+ yard rushing game in the last five contests, averaging 7.4 yards per carry for 126 yards off 17 rushes.  Vincent Amendola ran for 52 yards at quarterback, including scoring his first rushing touchdown of his collegiate career.
• Amendola was the starting quarterback for much of the game, going 10-for-24 for 89 yards and a touchdown.  Ty'Shaun Granger had three catches for 29 yards while Jabari Allen had Towson's receiving touchdown, having 14 total yards.
• On defense, S.J. Brown II led all players with 10 tackles.  Darien Reynolds tallied up six tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and two quarterback hurries.
• For Elon, Davis Cheek was 16-for-27 for 251 yards and touchdown, finding Kortez Weeks six times for 124 yards and a score.  Kicker Skyler Davis converted all three field goals, including each from at least 50 yards.  Each Cole Coleman and Devonte Chandler had eight tackles on defense.

How It Happened:

• Elon came down the field on the first drive, including a pair of 30+ yard passes, to score a touchdown in the opening minutes.  Elon led 7-0.
• Towson used a three-quarterback system in its first drive with Vincent Amendola, Chris Ferguson and Jeff Miller.  Towson came down the field with runs, including by Jerry Howard Jr., Devin Matthews and Caleb Smith, getting down to the Elon 33.  Towson's 4^th and six attempt came up short on the pass as Elon took over on downs.
• Again Elon came down the field using the wind, including a 14-yard draft to Jordan Bonner.  Towson forced an incompletion on third down as Skyler Davis kicked a career-long 52-yard field goal to put Elon up 10-0 towards the end of the first quarter.
• After a Towson three-and-out, Davis Cheek kept throwing short passes to bring Elon down the field, getting into the Towson red zone.  Towson held on its own 11, with another Elon field goal making it 13-0.
• A Howard 33-yard rush began the next Towson drive as he and Matthews came down the field on rushes.  Getting to the Elon 5, Amendola fooled the Elon defense and broke to the left for the rushing score, pulling within six at 13-7 with 5:54 to play in the half.
• A 45-yard pass to Jackson Parham helped Elon get back into Towson territory.  Elon was pushed back on a false start, but two 10+ yard passes, then McKinley Witherspoon bursting into the end zone gave Elon the 20-7 advantage, the eventual halftime score.
• Out of the break, Towson again turned to the running game as Howard burst forward for 29 yards on second down to enter Elon territory.  Towson inched forward and went for it on fourth and one, being stopped at the line of scrimmage.
• Elon went back to the passing game as Cheek and Kortez Weeks connected three times for double digit yards down the field.  The final was a 27-yard catch in the end zone for Weeks to give Elon a 27-7 advantage with 5:58 left in the 3^rd.
• D'Ago Hunter got Towson revved up with a 44-yard kickoff return on the next drive, then Amendola burst down the field for 46 yards.  Facing a fourth down on the five, Amendola found Jabari Allen on a fade in the end zone for the touchdown to make it 27-14 Towson with 3:10 to go in the third.
• Elon got three points back fast after a 45-yard kickoff return by Chandler Brayboy.  Though Towson held Elon to a three-and-out, Davis converted the 50-yard field goal to make the score 30-14 Elon.
• Following a Towson turnover on down next drive, into the fourth quarter, Elon scored another touchdown on a Jaylan Thomas 14-yard rush to give Elon a 37-14 advantage. 
• Towson returned to Elon territory on the next drive, including a 19-yard down the middle pass to Caleb Smith, but had another turnover on downs.  Neither side would threaten to score again as Elon held for the 37-14 victory.

Inside the Numbers

• 124 rushing yards for Jerry Howard Jr. is the second-most for him this season, only surpassed by 145 yards vs. UAlbany on Oct. 30.
• This was Vincent Amendola's first start for Towson at quarterback.

Next Game:

• Towson heads back to Virginia next week to take on James Madison on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 2 p.m.

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