TOWSON, Md. – After suffering a 42-3 loss to No. 8 Towson University on Saturday night, first-year North Carolina Central University head football coach Trei Oliver was asked what he has learned about his team following two tough defeats to start the season. "They won't quit," Oliver said with emphasis.
 
"We have a young football team. We have 37 true freshmen on the team," Oliver said. "For us to come in here and play the eighth-ranked team in the country and be down with our backs against the wall, 28-0; the guys came out of the locker room and still fought. I love my guys, and they'll go to war for us."
 
Of NCCU's 281 yards of total offense, 173 were posted after intermission, compared to 159 total yards in the second half by the nationally-ranked Tigers.
 
Near the end of the third quarter, NCCU linebacker Jerome Foster ripped the ball away from a Tiger and Eagles defensive back Stephen Stokes pounced on the fumble to force a turnover, the fourth takeaway of the season by the NCCU defense. Twelve plays later, NCCU cashed in on the fumble recovery with a 33-yard field goal off the foot of freshman kicker Adrian Olivo.
 
A balanced NCCU defensive performance was topped by senior safety Deonta Fair and Stokes with five tackles apiece, while defensive ends Darius Royster and Kawuan Cox each registered a sack.
 
Junior running back Isaiah Totten contributed 60 of NCCU's 111 rushing yards, while redshirt freshman Latrell Collier added 32 yards and junior Jordan Freeman 27 yards on the ground for the Eagles.
 
NCCU freshman quarterback Davius Richard came off the bench to complete 10 of 23 passes for 109 yards, along with an interception. Junior receivers Nique Martin and Ryan McDaniel collected five catches each, with Martin tallying a game-high 80 receiving yards.
 
Towson (2-0) quarterback Tom Flacco, the brother of NFL signal caller Joe Flacco, passed for 228 yards and three touchdowns, while also running for a score to top the Tigers.
 
Up next, NCCU (0-2) travels to Boiling Springs, North Carolina, to take of Gardner-Webb University on Sept. 14.