Towson State coach Gordy Combs could see the warning signs early last week. His Tigers were fresh off the season's high point -- a three-point victory at then-20th-ranked Hofstra -- but seemed too casual while preparing for Kutztown, a Division II school with a .500 record.
Yesterday, in their inaugural meeting with the Pennsylvania school, the Tigers almost paid dearly for not showing the Golden Bears enough respect. Three times the Tigers lost leads, and Towson State faced the unlikely challenge of having to rally in the fourth quarter.
But the Tigers, who offset a lack of momentum with big plays all day, turned again to the home run for salvation. And, as they did all afternoon and have done throughout their careers, quarterback Dan Crowley and wide receiver Mark Orlando delivered.
Trailing by a point with just under nine minutes to play, Crowley found Orlando over the middle, and Orlando shook a tackle to turn a decent gain into a 47-yard play. On the next play, Crowley rolled out and hit fullback John Swigart with a 10-yard touchdown that gave the Tigers a 36-31 victory before 1,651 at Minnegan Stadium.
"[Kutztown's] defense impressed me, and they've got some athletes on offense, but our concentration just wasn't there," Combs said.
"I could see the signs during the week. We were lagging, not watching enough video, not running hard in practice, not doing the things we're supposed to do. They [Kutztown] caught us. Maybe it's because they are not a name school and we've never played them before. But I'd rather play lousy and win than play great and lose."
The Tigers (6-2) weren't exactly terrible. Despite 11 penalties that often put them into bad position and an inability to control the ball, they gained 533 yards, thanks to a host of big plays.
But Towson State didn't hand Kutztown (4-5) its third straight defeat without feeling its share of anxiety.
The Bears ran more offensive plays and gained more first downs than the Tigers, stuffed Towson State's running game and piled up 431 yards -- 263 by way of sophomore quarterback Rob Holmes. They moved the ball well, converting on seven of 17 third-down situations. Their offensive backfield of Tony Miller (20 carries, 100 yards, three touchdowns) and Darrien Peoples (84 all-purpose yards) gave the Tigers fits.
But the Tigers countered with familiar trump cards.
Crowley shook off two interceptions and a few poorly thrown incompletions to burn Kutztown for a career-high 449 yards and three touchdowns. Orlando, in possibly the best performance of a brilliant career, caught 10 passes for 244 yards and returned a punt 47 yards for a score. Orlando returned six punts for 88 yards, giving him 332 all-purpose yards on the day.
"Everybody up our way thought this was going to be a 42-7 game, but I thought we played a heck of a game, especially in the second half," said Kutztown coach Al Leonzi. "The quarterback [Crowley] is as good as I've seen in a long time. He's got a gun, and he's got a receiver who is big time. He [Orlando] is a pro prospect in my book."
Kutztown hung tough. The Bears trimmed the Tigers' lead to 30-24 on a 36-yard field goal by Emerson Johnson with 1:49 left in the third quarter. The Bears then forced a punt, and moved 54 yards.
Holmes teamed up twice with Justin Bordlemay (eight catches, 152 yards) twice for 44 yards on the drive. Miller tied the game at 30 when he swept around the left side for a 6-yard run with 12:29 left. Johnson's extra point gave Towson State its first fourth-quarter deficit at home this year.
"Everybody took them lightly. Their backs are quick. They ran around us," Towson State middle linebacker Mike Arbutina said. "I've got a lot of respect for their offensive line. They picked up our blitzes well."
Kutztown 7 7 10 7 -- 31
Towson State 10 13 7 6 -- 36
NEXT FOR TOWSON
Who: Southern Connecticut
When: Saturday, at New Haven, Conn.
Record: 5-4
?3 Yesterday: Beat Central Connecticut State, 35-7