Even though the Tigers had been mathematically eliminated from the Patriot League title race after last week's loss to Fordham, Towson coach Gordy Combs said before yesterday's conference game against Georgetown that there was no shortage of motivation heading into the season finale.
However, whatever incentive the Tigers had didn't translate into a victory as the visiting Hoyas capitalized on several early Towson mistakes en route to a 24-16 win before 2,465 at Towson University Stadium.
"We just didn't play well," Combs said. "It seemed to me 2001 was revisited the whole first half. Every time we would make a play, we would screw it up. We dropped balls, we had penalties, we missed assignments, and we didn't line up properly. Sometimes we acted like an elementary school football team out there, and there's no reason for that."
Down 24-16, the Tigers were given one final chance with 1:18 to play. Towson had marched down to the Georgetown 8-yard line. But the Hoyas stopped the Tigers on three straight rushing attempts, all by tailback Matt Romeo (39 carries, 147 yards). On fourth down, Jay Amer's pass to Jamal White was ruled incomplete, as White caught the ball but failed to get one foot in bounds.
"It was a great goal-line stand," Georgetown coach Bob Benson said. "It was a huge win, a great way to end the season."
On Towson's previous drive, trailing 21-16, an errant snap over Amer's head gave Georgetown the ball at the Towson 1-yard line that eventually led to a field goal.
The Tigers controlled the pace for the entire second half, but the 21-0 deficit at intermission was too much.
"I think we showed a lot of guts, determination and character," Combs said. "But our football team has got to learn to play for 60 minutes and not 30 minutes.
"That's something that irritates me because we constantly preach that. You can't turn it on and off like a hot water spigot."
Towson (6-5, 3-4 Patriot League) dominated nearly every single offensive category, but the Hoyas (5-6, 2-5) made the big plays when necessary.
After a scoreless first quarter where Towson failed to take advantage of an interception in Georgetown territory, the Hoyas scored on three of their first four possessions in the second.
After starting the season 5-2, Towson dropped three of its final four games, as injuries to the offensive line mounted.
NOTE: White's sixth reception of the game, a 20-yard touchdown pass from Amer, broke the all-time Patriot League record for catches. He finished his career with 219 receptions.
Georgetown 0 21 0 3 - 24
Towson 0 0 10 6 - 16
Second quarter Geo-Jarry 6 pass from Paulus (Gillman kick), 14:53. Geo-Cote 30 pass from Paulus (Gillman kick), 5:44. Geo-Bowser 15 pass from Paulus (Gillman kick), 4:29. Third quarter Tow-Romeo 4 run (Whitacre kick), 11:09. Tow-FG Whitacre 31, 2:01. Fourth quarter Tow-J. White 20 pass from Amer (pass failed), 8:02. Geo-FG Gillman 18, 2:21. A-2,465.
Georgetown Towson
First downs 10 20
Rushes-yards 30-84 52-157
Passing 164 223
Comp-Att-Int 15-27-2 19-39-1
Return Yards 80 126
Punts-Avg. 8-41 5-30
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 2-2
Penalties-Yards 6-41 8-45
Time of Possession 25:26 34:34
Rushing-Georgetown, Sims 13-40, Huisking 7-24, Slayton 3-16, Paulus 6-5, Team 1-(minus 1). Towson, Romeo 39-147, Miles 7-47, Meeney 1-3, Amer 3-(minus 5), Team 2-(minus-35). Passing-Georgetown, Paulus 15-26-164-1, Wooten 0-1-0-1. Towson, Amer 19-37-223-1, Team 0-2-0-0. Receiving-Georgetown, McArdle 3-29, Huisking 3-15, Jarry 2-36, Cote 2-34, Bowser 2-32, Hillier 2-10, Slayton 1-8. Towson, White 7-91, Romeo 4-47, Galloway 3-34, Grubb 2-32, Byroads 1-14, White 1-3, Miles 1-2.