Towson football's season opener turned into a near-comeback for the ages, but the Tigers came up just short, falling 21-18 to Maine on Thursday night at Unitas Stadium in a game delayed more than an hour by weather.
Maine scored touchdowns on three straight second-quarter drives to take a 21-0 lead before Towson found its footing. Quarterback Andrew Indorf, who finished 15-for-21 for 267 yards and two touchdowns, connected with Cleveland Charlton for a 56-yard gain that set up an Aaron Enterline touchdown catch just before halftime. Charlton became the story of the night, hauling in four catches for 136 yards and a score in his first career start — including a 59-yard touchdown early in the third quarter that pulled Towson within a single score.
Zaydaan Faridi, handling placekicking duties for the first time as Towson's primary kicker, drilled a 39-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to three. The Tigers' defense gave the offense one more chance when Seth Hampton forced Maine's Eddie Buehler out of bounds on fourth down, but a missed field goal and a lost fumble on Towson's final possession let the Black Bears escape with the win. Seth Chestnut and Jaydyn Johnson each led Towson with seven tackles.
Towson actually outgained Maine 379 yards to 329, but two second-half turnovers proved decisive. The loss opens the season 0-1 in the Coastal Athletic Association for a Towson team that made program history simply by kicking off this early — the earliest season start in school history, and just the second time the Tigers have opened a year with a conference game.
Towson hits the road next, facing Navy on Saturday, Sept. 5, at 3:30 p.m. in Annapolis.