Towson’s Comeback Falls Short as Stony Brook Hands Tigers 31-24 Defeat Despite Career Day From Jacob Davis
By Brian Hradsky Maryland Sports Blog | October 11, 2026
The Towson Tigers suffered another frustrating defeat Saturday afternoon, falling 31-24 to the Stony Brook Seawolves at Johnny Unitas Stadium during Family Weekend. True freshman quarterback Jacob Davis delivered an impressive performance in his first collegiate start, accounting for 403 yards of total offense as Towson attempted to overcome an early 17-point deficit. The Tigers outgained Stony Brook 433-320 and battled back within three points twice during the second half, but turnovers, seven sacks allowed and a costly kickoff return touchdown prevented them from completing the comeback. Towson dropped to 0-7 overall and 0-3 in Coastal Athletic Association play, while Stony Brook improved to 4-2 and 2-0 in the conference.
CAA FOOTBALL • OCTOBER 10, 2026 • FINAL
Stony Brook Seawolves
4-2 (2-0 CAA)
31
Towson Tigers
0-7 (0-3 CAA)
24
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stony Brook | 14 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
| Towson | 0 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 24 |
Stony Brook Builds Early 17-Point Advantage
Towson’s offense struggled to establish momentum during the opening quarter as Stony Brook’s defensive front consistently pressured Davis. The Seawolves forced a punt on Towson’s opening possession before quarterback Quinn Boyd directed a seven-play, 77-yard touchdown drive. Boyd connected with James Dely for a 15-yard touchdown with 9:12 remaining, giving Stony Brook an early 7-0 advantage. The drive demonstrated the Seawolves’ ability to create explosive plays against Towson’s defense, including a 28-yard quarterback run on third down.
The Tigers continued struggling offensively when Stony Brook’s pass rush forced another punt during their second possession. Towson later committed a costly fumble that gave the Seawolves favorable field position, allowing Boyd to capitalize with a 26-yard touchdown pass to Seth Sweitzer. The score extended Stony Brook’s advantage to 14-0 with 1:50 remaining in the first quarter, putting Towson in another difficult early situation. The Tigers entered the second quarter needing to establish offensive consistency while preventing additional defensive breakdowns.
Stony Brook extended its lead early in the second quarter when Michael Mannino converted a 40-yard field goal, increasing the advantage to 17-0. Towson finally responded late in the half as Davis began finding success through the air and moving the football against the Seawolves’ defense. Facing fourth-and-six, Davis connected with Aaron Enterline for a diving 19-yard touchdown reception with 1:44 remaining before halftime. The seven-play, 73-yard drive cut Stony Brook’s lead to 17-7 and gave Towson some momentum heading into the locker room.
Davis Sparks Towson’s Third-Quarter Comeback
Towson emerged from halftime with renewed energy, relying on Davis’ passing ability and mobility to challenge Stony Brook’s defense. The freshman quarterback scrambled for 33 yards during an early possession, helping the Tigers advance deep into Seawolves territory before a dropped fourth-down pass ended the drive. However, Towson’s defense responded by forcing a three-and-out, giving Davis another opportunity to cut into the deficit. The Tigers capitalized when Davis connected with Cleveland Charlton for a 62-yard gain, setting up an 18-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Pugh.
The touchdown reduced Stony Brook’s advantage to 17-14 with 7:53 remaining in the third quarter, bringing Towson within three points for the first time since the opening minutes. Unfortunately, the Tigers’ momentum disappeared almost immediately when DaMario Crawford returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. The special teams breakdown restored Stony Brook’s 10-point advantage, giving the Seawolves a 24-14 lead just 11 seconds after Towson’s touchdown. It proved to be one of the most costly plays of the afternoon, preventing the Tigers from maintaining pressure on their opponent.
Towson refused to surrender, responding with another impressive offensive possession behind Davis and Charlton. Davis connected with Charlton for a 49-yard gain, putting the Tigers in scoring position and giving Pugh an opportunity to finish the drive. Pugh scored on a two-yard touchdown run with 4:42 remaining in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 24-21. The six-play, 75-yard drive demonstrated Towson’s offensive potential and kept the Tigers within striking distance entering the final quarter.
Stony Brook Controls Fourth Quarter to Secure Victory
Stony Brook entered the fourth quarter holding a narrow three-point advantage but responded with its most important offensive possession of the second half. Boyd directed a 15-play, 71-yard touchdown drive that consumed nearly seven minutes and featured five successful third-down conversions. The Seawolves repeatedly extended the possession, preventing Towson’s defense from getting off the field despite several opportunities to force a punt. Boyd capped the drive with a 13-yard touchdown run on third-and-eight, extending Stony Brook’s advantage to 31-21 with 9:15 remaining.
Towson continued battling during the closing minutes, but Stony Brook’s defensive pressure made another comeback increasingly difficult. Davis threw an interception in Seawolves territory, ending one scoring opportunity, while additional sacks disrupted the Tigers’ offensive rhythm. Towson eventually assembled a 14-play, 73-yard drive that ended with Zaydaan Faridi converting a 43-yard field goal with 11 seconds remaining. The field goal reduced the deficit to 31-24, but Stony Brook recovered the ensuing onside kick to secure the seven-point victory.
Jacob Davis Delivers Outstanding First Collegiate Start
TOWSON’S TOP PERFORMERS
Jacob Davis
337 YDS
26/34 passing • 2 TD • 1 INT
Cleveland Charlton
142 YDS
4 receptions
Xavier Pugh
2 TD
1 receiving • 1 rushing
TJ Sands
11 TKL
Team-leading tackles
Davis provided Towson with one of its most encouraging quarterback performances of the season, completing 26 of 34 passes for 337 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. The true freshman also rushed for 66 yards on 19 attempts, finishing with 403 yards of total offense in his first collegiate start. His passing total was the highest by a Towson freshman quarterback since Sean Schaefer threw for 383 yards against Northeastern in September 2005. Davis became the first Towson freshman quarterback to surpass 300 passing yards since Ryan Stover accomplished the feat against Elon in November 2017.
Charlton delivered his best receiving performance of the season, catching four passes for a career-high 142 yards. His receptions of 62 and 49 yards during the third quarter helped spark Towson’s comeback and demonstrated his ability to create explosive plays downfield. Enterline added seven receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown, extending his streak of consecutive games with a receiving touchdown to seven. Enterline now has nine touchdown receptions this season, tying him for seventh place on Towson’s single-season receiving touchdown list.
Towson Outgains Stony Brook Despite Defeat
| Category | Towson | Stony Brook |
|---|---|---|
| Total yards | 433 | 320 |
| Passing yards | 337 | 175 |
| Rushing yards | 96 | 145 |
| First downs | 24 | 15 |
| Third-down conversions | 5/13 | 9/18 |
| Fourth-down conversions | 1/2 | 0/0 |
| Penalties | 4-33 | 5-60 |
| Time of possession | 30:34 | 29:26 |
Statistics: Towson University Athletics official game recap.
Towson’s statistical advantage made Saturday’s defeat particularly frustrating, as the Tigers outgained Stony Brook by 113 yards and generated nine more first downs. The passing attack produced 337 yards, while the defense limited the Seawolves to 175 yards through the air. However, Stony Brook’s seven sacks, two forced turnovers and kickoff return touchdown offset much of Towson’s offensive production. The Tigers repeatedly moved the football but struggled to protect Davis and capitalize on their opportunities.
Stony Brook quarterback Boyd completed 15 of 24 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns while adding 57 rushing yards and another score. Sweitzer contributed five receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown, while the Seawolves’ running game produced 145 yards. Defensive standout Khalid Bueno recorded eight tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, while also forcing a fumble. Stony Brook’s ability to create negative plays and convert critical third downs ultimately proved more important than the total yardage comparison.
Towson Defense Shows Improvement but Cannot Finish
Towson’s defense demonstrated encouraging improvement after allowing Stony Brook to establish an early 17-point advantage. The Tigers forced four consecutive three-and-out possessions during the middle portion of the game, providing Davis and the offense with opportunities to erase the deficit. Sands led Towson with 11 tackles, while Zion Copeland added eight tackles and two tackles for loss. Those performances helped the Tigers remain competitive despite falling behind by three possessions.
However, Towson could not make the critical defensive stop during Stony Brook’s lengthy fourth-quarter touchdown drive. The Seawolves converted five third downs during the possession, repeatedly extending the drive and keeping Towson’s offense on the sidelines. The inability to finish defensive possessions has become a recurring concern for the Tigers, particularly in close games against conference opponents. Towson needs to translate its improved defensive stretches into more consistent performances across all four quarters.
Towson Remains Winless Despite Competitive Performances
Saturday’s loss dropped Towson to 0-7, continuing a frustrating season filled with competitive performances that have not translated into victories. Four of the Tigers’ five games against FCS opponents have been decided by one possession, demonstrating how frequently Towson has remained within striking distance. The Tigers have also outgained their opponents in four of those five contests, making their winless record even more disappointing. Their inability to convert statistical advantages into victories highlights the importance of execution, turnovers and special teams.
The loss also marked Towson’s third consecutive CAA defeat, putting the Tigers in a difficult position entering the remainder of their conference schedule. Davis’ emergence provides some optimism, particularly considering his performance came in his first collegiate start against a Stony Brook team that entered Saturday riding a two-game winning streak. Towson has demonstrated enough offensive talent to compete with conference opponents, but protecting its quarterback and eliminating costly mistakes remain significant concerns. The coaching staff must find ways to turn competitive performances into victories before the season slips further away.
What’s Next for Towson?
Towson will travel to Buies Creek, North Carolina, on Saturday, October 17, to face Campbell in another CAA matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m., with the Tigers looking to secure their first victory of the season against a nationally ranked opponent. Davis’ performance against Stony Brook provides an encouraging foundation for the offense, particularly if Towson can continue creating explosive passing plays. However, the Tigers must improve their pass protection, eliminate special teams mistakes and finish scoring opportunities if they hope to end their losing streak.
MSB Take
Towson’s 31-24 loss to Stony Brook was another frustrating example of a team finding ways to lose despite producing enough offense to win. The Tigers gained 433 yards, received an outstanding performance from a true freshman quarterback and repeatedly battled back from a 17-point deficit. However, allowing seven sacks, committing two turnovers and surrendering a 90-yard kickoff return touchdown is simply unacceptable for a team trying to secure its first victory. Those mistakes completely erased the positives from one of Towson’s strongest offensive performances of the season.
Davis deserves considerable credit for stepping into the starting role and delivering 403 yards of total offense against a conference opponent. His ability to escape pressure, extend plays and connect with Charlton downfield gives Towson something to build around for the remainder of the season. However, the offensive line must provide better protection because allowing seven sacks puts any quarterback in an extremely difficult position. Towson cannot expect Davis to carry the offense every week while constantly facing pressure in the backfield.
The biggest concern remains Towson’s inability to finish games, particularly when the Tigers have opportunities to change momentum. After cutting Stony Brook’s lead to three points, the special teams unit immediately surrendered a kickoff return touchdown that completely shifted the game. The defense later allowed a nearly seven-minute touchdown drive featuring five third-down conversions, preventing Towson from getting the ball back with an opportunity to take the lead. These are fundamental mistakes that must be corrected if the Tigers hope to compete consistently in the CAA.
At 0-7, Towson’s season has become increasingly disappointing, and simply remaining competitive is no longer enough. The Tigers have demonstrated that they possess the offensive talent to challenge conference opponents, but execution in critical situations continues to separate them from winning teams. Davis provides a legitimate reason for optimism, and Charlton and Enterline have developed into reliable receiving threats. However, the coaching staff must find a way to turn those individual performances into complete team victories before another promising effort ends in defeat.
Sources: Towson University Athletics — Official Game Recap and Statistics · Stony Brook Athletics — Official Game Recap · ESPN — Stony Brook vs. Towson Box Score.
