Stony Brook intent on stopping Towson's running game
Stony Brook defensive back Naim Cheeseboro celebrates after a Connecticut fumble for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Rentschler Field, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014, in East Hartford, Conn. Credit: AP / Jessica Hill
After leading Towson to the FCS title game last season, running back Terrance West graduated to the NFL, where he currently leads Cleveland in rushing. But West left a worthy successor in the Tigers' backfield, Darius Victor, who will have the undivided attention of Stony Brook's defense Saturday afternoon at Johnny Unitas Stadium.
Victor was offensive rookie of the year in the Colonial Athletic Association last season and ranks 17th in the FCS with 117.6 yards per game for the Tigers (2-3). The Seawolves (1-4) are second in total defense (227.4) and ninth in rushing defense (88.0), but had their numbers slip last week when Mikal Abdul-Saboor rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns in William & Mary's 27-21 overtime win.
"Victor definitely is a good running back and probably the best we're going to see this year,'' SBU safety Naim Cheeseboro said Thursday. "He's a hard runner. We are a run-stopping defense. We just have to do our job and contain this guy.''
Defense always starts with stopping the run, but that's especially true against the Tigers, who average 196.8 yards rushing per game. Towson quarterback Connor Frazier also is a running threat but has been more limited in the passing game with a long gain of 24 yards.
"Our key is to keep the running game to a minimum, the quarterback, too, because he's a running quarterback,'' Cheeseboro said. "We have a great defense. We feel like we can go in there and get a win. Our defense is better than their offense. We just have to rise to the challenge. Every game from here on out is a playoff game.''
Reaching the FCS playoffs is a long shot for the Seawolves, who must sweep their remaining seven CAA games to achieve the minimum qualifying standard of seven wins against Division I competition. But the offense improved markedly last week when coach Chuck Priore settled on Conor Bednarski as the regular starting quarterback.
However, victory slipped away when Cheeseboro missed a tackle on what turned into a 52-yard touchdown pass by William & Mary with 25 seconds left in regulation that sent the game into overtime. It was the only misstep for Cheeseboro, who led SBU with 11 tackles.
"It comes down to making the play,'' he said. "You have to finish.''
Coming back from offseason shoulder surgery, the junior leads the Seawolves with two interceptions and is second in tackles with 34. Cheeseboro made his reputation as a freshman with big hits on special teams and might get another chance this week against Towson punt returner Derrick Joseph, who is averaging 24.4 yards on five returns.
"They have a great punt returner,'' Cheeseboro said. "He's fast, but our mentality is, if we all play fast, there's only so much he can do.''
