If Towson's football team wanted to make a statement, they certainly picked the right time to do it.
Host Towson used two touchdowns each by tailbacks Terrance West and Dominique Booker to upset FCS No. 20 Villanova, 31-10, in the Colonial Athletic Association opener for both teams Saturday night.
The victory touched off a celebration at Johnny Unitas Stadium that featured Towson coach Rob Ambrose receiving a Gatorade shower and the Towson students storming the field.
The win broke a 14-game conference losing streak for the Tigers, whose last CAA win came against Rhode Island in October 2009. It also gave the Tigers (2-0) their first winning streak since September 2007.
"For all the people who have stood by us, thank you, you deserve this," Towson coach Rob Ambrose said. "I am incredibly proud of my players, but I am an alum of this university. It’s great to share this with people who care about it like we do."
Quarterback Grant Enders was the Tigers' leading rusher and passer. The sophomore rushed for 62 yards on seven carries while passing for 193 yards (19-for-26) with a touchdown and an interception.
"I think our offensive line did a great job blocking for me," Enders said. "Just like last week [a 42-3 win over Morgan State], they gave me all the time I needed."
It looked as if Villanova (0-2) would take an early lead after mounting an 83-yard drive to start the game, but Wildcats quarterback Dustin Thomas' fumble was recovered by Towson's Romale Tucker at the Tigers' 6-yard line to kill a promising drive.
Towson capitalized, mounting a nine-play, 81-yard drive to take the lead with 3:54 left in the first quarter. Facing a third-and-15 at the Villanova 47-yard line, Enders found Dominique Booker on a short screen pass. Booker weaved through tacklers and scrambled 47 yards for a touchdown.
The Tigers appeared ready to widen the lead on their second possession of the second quarter, but an Enders pass was intercepted by Villanova's Ronnie Akins with 6:44 left in the quarter, killing an 81-yard drive.
Towson got the ball back with 4:20 remaining in the half and mounted a 57-yard drive, capped by Terrance West's first career touchdown with one second remaining in the half, helping the Tigers to a 14-0 lead at the break.
The Tigers' offense couldn't have been more balanced in the first half, rushing for 124 yards and passing for 124 more.
The Wildcats were again driving when Villanova's Dorian Wells caught a pass at the Towson 30 yard-line. He turned to run and was hit by Towson's Jordan Dangerfield, and the ensuing fumble was recovered by Towson's Corey Ford.
Enders took Towson down the field in six plays, capping a 2:28 drive with a four-yard run by West to make the lead 21-0 with 8:41 left in the quarter.
Villanova scored late in the quarter. After Wildcats quarterback Thomas had to leave the game with a shoulder injury, backup Christian Cullicerto threw a 10-yard strike to Kenny Miles in the back of the end zone to cut the lead to 21-7 with 6:30 left in the third quarter.
After the teams traded field goals, the Tigers put the game away. With 10:35 remaining, Colin Stevens weaved through traffic for an 81-yard kickoff return to the Wildcats' 11, and Booker finished the drive with a three-yard run with 8:59 remaining to run the score to 31-10.
"Villanova is a historical program," Ambrose said. "Just to be mentioned in the same breath with them is an honor. Winning is a process, and this was another block in the building of this program. Winning is always a good thing, but [beating Villanova] just looks a little prettier."