Piloted by quarterback Tyler Knoop, the Stony Brook football team got back in the win column by dissecting a Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) rival.
The Seawolves (5-2, 2-1 CAA) were at Johnny Unitas Stadium in Maryland on Saturday afternoon for a matinee matchup with the Towson Tigers (3-4, 1-2 CAA). Unlike its other run-heavy wins this season, Stony Brook rode its passing game to a dominant, 52-24 victory.
Beginning the first quarter with possession of the ball, Towson wasted no time getting on the board. During the game’s first play from scrimmage, running back Devin Matthews found a hole up the middle of the field and delivered a 75-yard score, giving the Tigers a 7-0 lead.
Following a defensive stand, the Seawolves responded two drives later. Running back Roland Dempster and wide receiver Jasiah Williams were the main catalysts in a 93-yard touchdown drive that saw Dempster set the tone with a 52-yard run. A few plays later Knoop found Williams on a 10-yard out route to tie the game 7-7.
It did not take long for Williams to find the end zone again, as following another Stony Brook defensive stop, the Seawolves’ offense went back to work with a short field. Stony Brook pieced together a four-play, 54-yard touchdown drive that saw Knoop find Williams on a screen pass, allowing Williams to dance his way into the end zone on a 19-yard catch and run to give Stony Brook a 14-7 lead to close out the first quarter.
Immediately after Stony Brook’s score, Towson cut its deficit to start the second quarter. Towson quarterback Sean Brown orchestrated a 13-play, 62-yard drive, which eventually led to a 30-yard field goal by kicker Keegan Vaughan after a Seawolves defensive stand.
On the ensuing offensive possession, Stony Brook failed to get anything going and were ultimately forced to punt. However, a botched snap and a penalty by kicker Clayton Taylor allowed the Tigers to take over on Stony Brook’s one-yard line. They did not relinquish the golden opportunity, as running back Tyrell Greene Jr. plowed ahead for a touchdown to put Towson ahead 17-14.
A crucial chop-block penalty derailed the Tigers’ next drive, allowing the Seawolves to take over just before midfield once again. Knoop’s surgical day continued, as he conducted a seven-play, 55-yard touchdown drive that was capped off by a seven-yard house call from tight end Cal Redman on a crossing, giving Stony Brook the lead back at 21-17 with 4:24 to go until halftime.
The Seawolves got the ball back with 2:17 to play in the first half, but a crucial mistake on a fair catch by Williams forced them to start the drive from their own one-yard line. However, like it did through the entire first half, Stony Brook’s offense made something out of nothing. Knoop and company drove 98 yards down the field on just nine plays in 1:37. Knoop finished off the squad’s strong opening half by connecting with wide receiver Jayce Freeman on a 21-yard deep pass down the middle for a touchdown.
Knoop’s first half saw him average 11.1 yards per completion and convert on 23 of his 29 passing attempts for 256 yards and four touchdowns.
With possession to start the second half, the Seawolves briefly moved away from their aerial attack to showcase their ground game. Dempster and running back Johnny Martin combined for 53 yards during the third quarter’s opening drive, setting the stage for Knoop and Freeman to connect again for a 22-yard score.
With Towson desperate for a response on its ensuing drive, Brown began airing the ball out. However, cornerback Rudy Silvera had other ideas, as he intercepted a deep pass to give Stony Brook the ball back inside its own 10-yard line.
With the ball back in Knoop’s hands, he led the Seawolves 84 yards down field. Though Stony Brook failed to find the end zone, it killed 9:17 off the clock before kicker Enda Kirby booted a 29-yard field goal through the uprights to extend its lead to 38-17 going into the final quarter.
Things went from bad to worse for the Tigers on their opening fourth quarter possession, as defensive tackle Rushawn Lawrence strip sacked Brown, leading to the recovery and 38-yard return to Towson’s 20-yard line by linebacker Chayce Chalmers.
Immediately after the fumble, Knoop found Williams for his third touchdown of the day on a 20-yard reception to make it 45-17. Along with Williams completing the hat trick, the touchdown pass helped Knoop engrave his name into the Seawolves’ history books, as his sixth of the contest set a single-game, program record.
Despite its dominance on the scoreboard, Stony Brook’s defense showed no mercy. Safety Jordan Jackson forced a fumble with 11:27 remaining, marking the third consecutive drive that the Seawolves forced a turnover.
From there, Martin added the icing on the cake with a five-yard touchdown run, giving Stony Brook its first rushing touchdown of the day and its sixth consecutive scoring drive.
The Tigers finally found the scoreboard in the second half with 14 seconds left in the game, as running back Ike Daniels rushed for a 35-yard touchdown. Nevertheless, the Seawolves ended the game in victory formation, routing Towson 52-24.
Stony Brook’s offense was dominant, registering a season-high 512 yards and 52 points. During his record-setting day, Knoop threw for 387 yards and six touchdowns while going 34-for-40 when dropping back.
“Proud of our team’s performance today,” head coach Billy Cosh said in a postgame interview with Stony Brook Athletics. “I was really proud of the offense. I thought we threw the ball well. [Knoop] played outstanding and our receivers came alive.”
Knoop’s main targets were Williams and Freeman. Williams racked up a team-high nine catches, three touchdowns and 92 yards while Freeman caught five passes for 91 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Redman collected three receptions for a touchdown and 34 yards.
On the ground, Dempster rushed for 103 yards on 15 carries while also catching five passes for 61 yards. Martin scored a touchdown and rushed for 34 yards on 10 attempts.
Defensively, linebacker Anthony Ferrelli led the team with seven total tackles and also contributed a half sack. Lawrence’s two sacks and two tackles for loss led the team. Lawrence and Jackson each forced a fumble while Silvera notched his third pick of the season, putting him in a tie for the most in the CAA.
The Seawolves will return home to Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium for their homecoming game next Saturday against the William & Mary Tribe. The Tribe are 5-2 overall this season and 2-1 within the CAA. They are coming off a 35-28 win over Campbell. Opening kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
