TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University defense forced four turnovers in pitching in pitching its first opening-day shutout since 1983 in a 10-0 victory over Morgan State in the Battle for Greater Baltimore Saturday night at Johnny Unitas® Stadium.
 
How it Happened

• Defensive back Monty Fenner helped set up the first touchdown of the season as he stepped in front of an Elijah Staley pass and returned the interception down to the two yard line.
• On the next play, Shane Simpson went over left tackle for the first touchdown of the season. 
• That would be al the defense would need as it recorded three first-half interceptions and help the Bears to just 31 yards of offense.
• After the Tigers offense turned the ball over with an interception in the second quarter, the defense got the ball right back two players later as Tyron McDade stepped in front of a pass for his first career interception.
• The Bears (0-1) next possession ended after just two plays on Fenner's interception.
• Junior Lyrics Klugh added the third first-half interception two series later.
• The Tiger (1-0) offense finally got going late in the first half as they executed the two-minute drill.
• Towson took over on its own 44 with 1:11 left in the first half.  Morgan Mahalak completed a pair of passes to start the drive and get the Tigers into Bear territory.
• Facing a third-and-long, Mahalak found Shane Leatherbury over the middle for a 15-yard gain.
• That play help set up Aidan O'Neill's 42-yard field goal with just nine seconds left in the half.
• MSU opened the second half with a 10-play drive, but it ended with a missed field goal. 
• The Towson defense may have had its best stance of the game early in the third quarter as the Bears got the ball at the Tiger 25 after an interception.
• After gaining nine yards on first down, Bryce Carter knifed into the backfield and made a stop for a four-yard loss.
• The Tiger defense forced a fourth down and Diondre Wallace made a stop in the backfield to end the drive.
• It was the first of two drives in the second half where the Tigers forced the Bears to turn the ball over on downs.

 
Inside the Numbers

• The shutout marked the fourth time in the 49-year history of Towson football the Tigers posted a shutout in the season opener.  It was the first time since 1983 that it happened.
• The shutout was the second in the all-time series.  The Tigers defeated the Bears, 21-0, on October 18, 1986.
• The Tigers defense recorded three interceptions for just the fifth time in the CAA era (2007).
• Towson improved to 18-6 all-time against Morgan State and has now won 13-straight home games in the series.
• Justice Pettus-Dixon, Diondre Wallace and Keon Paye each had a team-high eight tackles.
• Bryce Carter recorded six tackles, including a strip sack in his first career game.
• Malik Tyne registered three tackles-for-loss.

 
Up Next
The Tigers hit the road to take on Maryland on Sept. 9.  Game time is set for noon at Maryland Stadium.