Football: frazier’s career day not enough for tigers

By: Tyler Beard, Staff Writer

Towson suffered a 17-13 loss to Elon on Saturday, after the team was shutout for the last three quarters of the game.

According to towsontigers.com, Head Coach Rob Ambrose said not much went right at the game. Ambrose was also quoted as saying that Elon had a good game.

The Tigers (2-2, 0-1 CAA) trailed the Phoenix (2-2, 1-0 CAA) 17-13 and had one last offensive drive that started on their 25-yard line with two minutes left in the game.

Redshirt senior quarterback Connor Frazier led the offense up the field with a couple of completions and ran for a 25-yard gain down to Elon’s 29-yard line on fourth down, which kept the drive alive.

Frazier connected with redshirt junior fullback Emmanuel Holder on a 7-yard pass that brought the ball down to the 22-yard line. Frazier completed another pass, but fumbled the ball on the 15-yard line and time expired before the Tigers could get off another play.

Towson finished the game with 399 total yards of offense, but the team finished with four turnovers.

The first half was a different story, as Elon’s first offensive play was a turnover.

Redshirt sophomore defensive back Alphonso Augustine stripped the ball from Elon’s wide receiver Corey Joyner and recovered it.

Both teams had stalled offensive drives until the Tigers broke through with a 4-yard touchdown run from junior running back Darius Victor in the first quarter.

However, Victor was injured on the play and didn’t return to the game.

After another forced punt from Elon, the Tigers scored again on a 49-yard touchdown run from freshman running back Shane Simpson.

The Tigers failed its extra point attempt but took a 13-0 lead in the first quarter. However, Elon came back with a nine-play, 88-yard drive, which resulted 35-yard touchdown catch from wide receiver Tereak McCray.

Towson’s offense faltered in the second quarter after Frazier threw an interception and the team failed to convert a fourth down conversion on its next drive at Elon’s 28-yard line.

Elon had a chance to take the lead in a last-minute drive before halftime, but sophomore linebacker Jordan Waite sacked Elon’s quarterback Connor Christiansen for a 10-yard loss and Towson went into halftime with a 13-7 lead.

The tide swayed at the start of the third quarter when Frazier fumbled at Towson’s own 26-yard line and Elon was able to recover the ball. Elon took just two plays to score a touchdown off a 5-yard from running back Brandon Gentry, which gave Elon its first lead of the game.

The Tigers’ next drive got the ball down the field from a few rushing plays from Frazier and a 17-yard catch from junior wide receiver Jacquille Veii. However, the Tigers faced another fourth down inside Elon-territory and turned the ball over on downs after redshirt freshman wide receiver Sam Gallahan was a yard short of a first down after his catch.

Towson got the ball back after Elon fumbled, but the team failed to convert its third fourth down conversion in scoring position after Frazier was sacked.

Elon was able to add a field goal on their next offensive possession and took a 17-13 lead into the fourth quarter.

Frazier finished the game with 151 passing yards and 132 rushing yards. Simpson finished with 72 rushing yards.

The Tigers will have a bye-week coming up and then will face the James Madison Dukes (4-0, 1-0 CAA) at Johnny Unitas Stadium. Kickoff is at 3 p.m.