Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - It felt like CAA Football night in Top 25 action on opening night of the 2012 FCS season Thursday.

Three of the five games within The Sports Network FCS Top 25 involved CAA teams.

The lone one to fall was last year's CAA champion, the No. 7-ranked Towson Tigers, whose 41-21 loss at Kent State marked the fourth time in five seasons that they opened with a defeat against an FBS opponent.

Meanwhile, the 14th-ranked New Hampshire Wildcats beat Holy Cross of the Patriot League, 38-17. Both of the Wildcats' inexperienced quarterbacks, Sean Goldrich and Andy Vailas, contributed well in the win.

No. 15 Delaware, which missed the FCS playoffs last season, beat Division II West Chester, 40-24, to extend its series win streak to 19 straight games. The series, however, mercifully ended for the visiting Golden Rams after Thursday's contest.

The Sports Network FCS Top 25

All Times ET

1. Sam Houston State (0-0), Idle

Last year's Southland Conference champion and FCS runner-up hosts Incarnate Word in its season opener Sept. 8.

2. North Dakota State (1-0), Robert Morris, 7 p.m. Saturday

3. Georgia Southern (0-0) vs. Jacksonville, 6 p.m. Saturday

4. Montana State (0-0) vs. Chadron State, 9:05 p.m. Thursday

5. James Madison (0-0) vs. St. Francis (Pa.), 6 p.m. Saturday

6. Appalachian State (0-0) at East Carolina, noon Saturday

7. Kent State (1-0) 41, Towson (0-1) 21

Towson couldn't find its run game - 2011 Jerry Rice Award winner Terrance West was held to 31 yards on 14 carries - and the Golden Flash never looked back.

8. Old Dominion (0-0) vs. Duquesne, 6 p.m. Saturday

9. Northern Iowa (0-0) at Wisconsin, 3:30 p.m. Saturday

10. Wofford (0-0) at Gardner-Webb, 6 p.m. Saturday

11. Montana (0-0) vs. South Dakota, 3:30 p.m. Saturday

12. Eastern Washington (0-0) at Idaho, 9 p.m. Thursday

13. Youngstown State (0-0) at Pittsburgh, 6 p.m. Saturday

14. New Hampshire (1-0) 38, Holy Cross (0-1) 17

Any questions the Wildcats had at the QB position were answered. Sean Goldrich and Andy Vailas combined to go 25-for-35 for 252 yards and three touchdowns.

15. Delaware (1-0) 41, West Chester (0-1) 21

Too close for comfort late, but the Blue Hens gladly took the win as Bowling Green transfer Trent Hurley threw for 310 yards and three touchdowns, with three interceptions.

16. Lehigh (0-0) vs. Monmouth, 12:30 p.m. Thursday

17. Stony Brook (0-0) vs. Central Connecticut State, 6 p.m. Saturday

18. Eastern Kentucky (0-0) at Purdue, 3:30 p.m. Saturday

19. Illinois State (0-0) vs. Dayton, 2 p.m. Saturday

20. Stephen F. Austin (0-0) vs. Southwestern Oklahoma, 7 p.m. Friday

21. Maine (0-0), Idle

The Black Bears, coming off a 9-4 season, visit Boston College in their opener Sept. 8.

22. Jacksonville State (0-0) at Arkansas, 7 p.m. Saturday

23. Indiana State (0-0) at Indiana, 8 p.m. Saturday

24. Central Arkansas (0-0) at Ole Miss, 7 p.m. Saturday

25. Harvard Crimson (0-0), Idle

When the Ivy League season begins Sept. 15, the defending champion Crimson will host San Diego in non-conference action.

The Sports Network