TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University football team was thwarted in its attempt for a second straight win over a nationally-ranked opponent when No. 5/6 Delaware exploded for 28 first quarter points en route to a 51-13 victory at Unitas Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Tigers (3-5, 2-3 CAA), who were coming off a 34-24 win over No. 13 William & Mary, saw Delaware (7-1, 5-0 CAA) score touchdowns on its first five possessions as the Blue Hens built a 38-0 halftime lead. Delaware, the CAA leader, won its sixth game in a row. 
 
Key Stats:

• The Tigers mustered 326 yards of total offense to Delaware's 619.
• Nathan Kent went 21-for-39 for 265 yards, a touchdown and an interception.  Zay Perkins had the touchdown, making five catches for 67 yards, while Carter Runyon had six catches for 76 yards and Lukkas Londono finished with five catches for 97 yards.
• On the ground, Devin Matthews carried the ball nine times for 46 yards.
• Keegan Vaughan converted both field goals, making attempts of 31 and 34 yards.
• Defensively, Xavier Terry led the Tigers with nine tackles.  Mason Woods finished with six tackles, one for loss.
• For Delaware, Zach Marker played just the first half, going 16-for-18 for 307 yards and two touchdowns.  Marcus Yarns had five total touchdowns, rushing 13 times for 63 yards and four touchdowns and making four catches for 105 yards and a touchdown.  Mateo Vandamia tallied up four tackles, a tackle for loss and two pass breakups.

• Delaware started with the ball as Marcus Yarns went 75 yards on the opening play for a receiving touchdown to put the visitors up 7-0.
• A 59-yard punt by Josh Cupitt helped put Delaware on its own 7 after a three-and-out.  On third and seven, a 54-yard pass to Jourdan Townsend got the Blue Hens to the Towson 36, then a 22-yard pass to Townsend set up the visitors inside the red zone.  Two plays later, a direct snap to Yarns for an eight-yard touchdown run made it 14-0 Delaware, 9:36 left in the first.
• A Nathan Kent interception ended Towson's drive.  Again a mix of passes and runs kept Delaware moving, spurred on by a 21-yard pass to Yarns.  Again Yarns got a direct snap and ran three yards to the end zone for a 20-0 Delaware lead.  A muffed kickoff gave Delaware back the ball on the Towson 27.  Despite an Ernie Smith sack, Delaware scored again on a four-yard Yarns run and subsequent two-point conversion pushed the Blue Hens up 28-0 towards the end of the opening quarter.
• Towson took advantage of a Delaware face mask penalty and got into Blue Hen territory, but a sack on fourth down ended the drive.  A 39-yard pass to Joshua Youngblood then a 12-yard touchdown pass to Braden Brose made the score 35-0 Delaware, 12:04 left in the third.
• Towson started to get some success on offense with a 14-yard breakout run from Kent, then a couple of six-yard completions to Daniel Thompson IV and Carter Runyon, but a punt as Delaware took over on its own 8.  A 16-play drive into the final minute of the quarter resulted in a field goal as the Blue Hens took a 38-0 lead into the locker room.
• Three completions of at least 13 yards got Towson to the Delaware 28 on the opening drive of the third quarter, but two incompletions and two sacks ended the drive.  A 39-yard completion to Jojo Bermudez set up Yarns for a five-yard running touchdown for a 45-0 Delaware lead.
• Next drive, Kent got in touch with Lukkas Londono for a 40-yard completion.  Towson got stopped at the Delaware 14, where Keegan Vaughan hit a 31-yard field goal to get Towson on the board.  Delaware countered with a field goal of its own on the next drive.
• Into the fourth, quick passes from Kent got Towson back into Delaware territory, but again the Tigers were stopped in the red zone.  Vaughan knocked down another field goal to make the score 48-6 Delaware with 13:09 to play.
• Towson's defense got a stop on the next drive as Onaje Lewis forced a fumble on the Delaware 49, with CJ McClendon recovering for the Tigers.  Two plays in, Kent found Londono for 26 yards for another chance in the red zone.  On third and 10, Zay Perkins made the 11-yard touchdown catch.  Towson trailed 48-13 with 7:27 remaining.
• Delaware scored a field goal on the next drive and Towson drove down the field.  A 40-yard pass to Runyon gave Towson a shot at the end zone, but another potential Runyon catch was ruled incomplete on review.  Delaware kneeled down and took the victory 51-13.

• Carter Runyon has had at least 62 receiving yards in each of his last five games, finishing with 76 today.
• Towson is 2-1 against then-top-15 FCS opponents this season, including victories over New Hampshire and William & Mary.

• Towson heads south to North Carolina A&T for a 1 p.m. game on Saturday, Nov. 4.

- TowsonTigers.com –