The Game: #15 Towson (6-2, 4-1 CAA) vs. #23/RV Maine (5-3, 4-1 CAA)
When: Sat., Nov. 3, 4 p.m. kickoff
Where: Johnny Unitas® Stadium – Towson, Md.
Online Broadcast: CBS Interactive/CBS Digital
----Broadcasters: Scott Sudikoff (PxP), Brandon Noble (Analyst)
Radio: CBS Sports Radio 1300
----Broadcasters: Spiro Morekas (PxP), Gordy Combs (Analyst)
Series: Maine leads 7-6
 
TOWSON, Md. –  A top-25 matchup is the main event for the 2018 Homecoming as the No. 15 Towson University football team hosts No. 23/RV Maine in a battle of two teams tied atop the CAA standings on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 4 p.m.
 
Tickets are available now by calling 1-855-TU-TIGER or email 4tigertix@towson.edu.
 
The game will be broadcast online on College Sports Live/CBS Digital.  Scott Sudikoff and Brandon Noble will have the call in Towson.  Spiro Morekas, the Voice of the Tigers, will be on the call live from Unitas Stadium, joined by Gordy Combs on CBS Sports Radio 1300.
 
Towson had its five-game win streak snapped last Saturday after a narrow 40-36 defeat at #21 Delaware, coming in a 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the CAA.  Maine returned to the win column last weekend with a 28-9 home win over UAlbany to stand 5-3 overall and 4-1 in the CAA.  Towson and Maine are tied for first in the CAA along with Delaware and James Madison.
 
Towson and Maine will meet for the 16th time and first time since 2015.  Last time, Towson edged out Maine 10-7 in Orono on Nov. 17, 2015, the third win in the last four contests for the Tigers against the Black Bears.  All-time, Maine leads the series 7-6.
 
Towson Football Celebrating 50th Year
The Towson University football program is celebrating its 50th year this season.
 
Since its start in 1969, Towson has two national runner-up finishes (1976, 2013), two CAA titles (2011, 2012), an undefeated season in 1974 and 11 seasons, across Division III, II and I-AA (FCS), finishing in the top-26 nationally.
 
The celebration started with a meeting of all four Towson head coaches on June 20th: Carl Runk (1969-71), Phil Albert (1972-91), Gordy Combs (1992-2008) and Rob Ambrose (2009-present).
 
Towson Ranked Top-15 in Both Polls
Standing at 6-2 overall, including wins over then top-15 Villanova and Stony Brook, Towson stands in the top-15 in each major poll.  The Tigers are at #15 in the STATS FCS Poll and #15 in the AFCA Coaches Poll.
 
Towson has been ranked each of the past six weeks.  Towson had been ranked at some point in each season from 2011 through 2014, including as high as #2 in the 2013 season.
 
The CAA currently has six of its 12 teams ranked, the highest among all FCS conferences.  James Madison (#3 in STATS, #3 in Coaches), Elon (#8, #6), Delaware (#13, #16), Stony Brook (#16, #18) and Maine (#23, RV) are also in the rankings.  Rhode Island is also receiving votes.  Villanova and New Hampshire were ranked in previous weeks.
 
Flacco Named to Walter Payton Watch List
Tom Flacco has been added to the STATS FCS Walter Payton Award Watch List.
 
The Walter Payton Award is given annually, since 1987, to the top offensive player in FCS football.  Flacco was placed on this list by the first round of additions.
 
The last Tiger to be nominated for the Walter Payton Award was Terrence West in 2013.  West was one of three finalists that year, leading Towson to the FCS National Championship game.  In 1988, Dave Meggett was the second-ever winner of this award.  Along with West, Towson has had two other finalists: Joe Lee in 1999 and Tony Vinson, who finished third in the voting, in 1993.
 
Towson All-Time vs. Maine
Towson and Maine were two of the football programs that moved from the Atlantic 10 to the CAA in 2007.
 
All-time, Maine has a slight edge in the series at 7-6, including a five-game winning streak from all matchups between 1988 and 2010.  Towson has won three of the last four games, including each contest in Orono.
 
Under Rob Ambrose, Towson is 3-2 against Maine.  This is the first time Maine head coach  Joe Harasymiak will take on the Tigers while at the helm.
 
Though football was not part of the league, Towson and Maine each were America East members from 1995 to 2001.  They also played football as conference opponents in the Atlantic 10 from 2004-06.
 
Date           Location               Result
9/8/79____ Orono, Maine___ W, 13-7
10/2/82___ Towson, Md.___ W, 35-32
10/1/83___ Orono, Maine___ L, 16-23
10/3/87___ Orono, Maine__ W, 17-14
11/12/88__ Towson, Md._____ L, 7-44
11/16/91__ Orono, Maine___ L, 34-49
10/7/06___ Towson, Md._____ L, 7-28
11/3/07___ Orono, Maine___ L, 13-16
11/13/10__ Towson, Md.____ L, 18-28
11/5/11___ Orono, Maine__ W, 40-30
10/13/12__ Towson, Md.___ W, 24-19
9/27/14___ Towson, Md.____ L, 24-27
11/7/15___ Orono, Maine___ W, 10-7
 
Last Time vs. Maine (Towson 10, Maine 7)
(11/7/15 - Orono, Maine)
Towson held Maine without points in the opening 49:31 of the game, defeating the Black Bears 10-7 with Darius Victor earning 101 rushing yards.
Passing
Connor Frazier (TU): 16-24, 189 yards, 1 INT
Drew Belcher (MAINE): 23-31, 150 yards, 1 TD
Rushing
Darius Victor (TU): 24 rush, 101 yards, 1 TD
Drew Belcher (MAINE): 16 rush, 68 yards
Receiving
Andy Dessenberg (TU): 3 catches, 67 yards
Nigel Beckford (MAINE): 7 catches, 60 yards
Defense
Donnell Lewis (TU): 10 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 FF
Eddie Releford (TU): 8 tackles, 2 TFL
Michael Kozlako (MAINE): 9 tackles, 2 TFL
Connor Walsh (MAINE): 3 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FF
 
Last Time Out (Delaware 40, Towson 36)
(10/27/18 - Newark, Del.)
Towson nearly won on a final drive in a thrilling matchup of top-25 teams in Newark, but came up just short in a 40-36 defeat at Delaware.
Passing
Tom Flacco (TU): 21-42, 225 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Pat Kehoe (UD): 18-32, 305 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT
Rushing
Shane Simpson (TU): 21 rush, 123 yards, 1 TD
Kani Kane (UD): 18 rush, 68 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
Jabari Allen (TU): 9 catches, 86 yards, 2 TD
Vinny Papale (UD): 8 catches, 142 yards, 2 TD
Defense
Mantriel Reaves (TU): 9 tackles, 1 BrUp
Keon Paye (TU): 7 tackles, 1 INT
Troy Reeder (UD): 12 tackles,1 TFL
Nasir Adderley (UD): 10 tackles, 2 BrUp
 
Towson Picked 10th in CAA Preseason Poll
Towson was voted 10th in the CAA preseason poll, voted on by the league's head coaches and media relations directors.  Towson went 5-6 last season and finished tied for seventh in the CAA at 3-5.
CAA Preseason Poll (first place votes, points)
1. James Madison (21), 241
2. New Hampshire (2), 206
3. Delaware, 182
4. Stony Brook, 169
5. Elon (1), 168
6. Villanova, 164
7. Richmond, 127
8. Maine, 81
9. UAlbany, 78
10. Towson, 74
11. William & Mary, 55
12. Rhode Island, 39
 
Top Passing QB in the CAA........
Tom Flacco has turned heads this season, standing as the #1 QB in the CAA in passing yards a game with 275.1 and total offense with 346.4 yards a contest.  He is currently throwing 65.1% from the air.
 
Flacco's 275.1 passing yards a game stands 12th in all of FCS football, while his 22.3 completions a contest is 11th.
 
His 438 total offensive yards in the game vs. The Citadel is currently the second-highest single game total by a CAA player this season.  In that game, he had 253 passing yards and 185 yards on the ground.
 
....and Getting His Name in Towson Records
Tom Flacco completed 35 (out of 51) passes against Wake Forest on September 8th, tying for seventh all-time in Towson history in a single game.
 
Flacco was the first Tiger to earn over 30 completions in a game since Sean Schaefer in 2008.
 
Streaking Shane
Shane Leatherbury stands in the top-3 in the CAA in numerous categories, including being third with 82.9 receiving yards a game (29th in FCS) and second with 5.62 receptions a contest (30th in FCS).
 
Simpson Racking Up Yards
Shane Simpson has been a deadly weapon for Towson, standing first in all of FCS football with 189.9 all-purpose yards a game.
 
The redshirt junior is Towson's primary running back, kick returner and punt returner, totaling 1,519 all-purpose yards off 488 rushing, 212 receiving, 719 kick returning and 100 punt returning yardage.
 
He has also scored at least one touchdown in all seven Towson games.  He has nine touchdowns on the season.
 
Tigers in the NFL
With the National Football League starting on Sept. 9th, two Tigers made active rosters.  At the beginning of the season, Jordan Dangerfield '13 made the Pittsburgh Steelers roster while Jermon Bushrod '07 continues his career with the New Orleans Saints.
 
On October 7th, Ryan Delaire, joined the San Francisco 49ers active roster, but was waived two weeks later.
 
Tye Smith '15 is with the Tennessee Titans, but was injured and is not on the active roster.    Two other Tigers, Darius Victor '17 and Terrance West '14, were with the Colts and Saints respectively in the preseason.
 
In addition, Frank Beltre '13 competed with the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League in 2018.
 
Towson University Finishes 2nd in Helper Helper Community Service
As a university, Towson finished second nationally in the 2018 NCAA Team Works Helper Helper Community Service Competition from January to April 2018.
 
With football in the mix, Towson student-athletes participated in 44 events during the competitions, logging 6,427 hours of community service.
 
O'Neill Sets School Career FG Record
Junior Aidan O'Neill set a new school all-time record for career field goals made on September 1st.  In his career, O'Neill has connected on 47 field goals, including four on September 1st vs. Morgan State to set the new record.
 
This season, O'Neill has converted 16 field goals and stands first in FCS with two made field goals per game.  He is seventh in FCS with 10 points scored a game.
 
Wallace Stands #9 All-Time in Tackles at TU
Senior Diondre Wallace has 267 career tackles, including 149 unassisted, earning at least 45 tackles in all four seasons played.  He stands 9th all-time in Towson history.
 
Seven more tackles would place Wallace 8th all time in Towson history.  P.D. Moore, who made 274 tackles from 2001-04, currently is in 8th.
 
The all-time leader in tackles in Towson history is Jeff Boller, who had 382 from 1979-82.
 
Scouting Maine
Maine, at 5-3, has victories over FBS opponent Western Kentucky and wins over three then-ranked teams.
 
The Black Bears are coached by Joe Harasymiak, in his third season at the helm and seventh overall year with the program.  Upon hiring, he was the youngest head coach in all of DI, currently being 32-years-old.
 
Maine averages 23 points per game for eighth in the CAA in scoring, being ninth in total offense with 341 yards gained a game.
 
The team's primary quarterback is 6-foot-4 sophomore quarterback Chris Ferguson, who completes 59.9% of passes for 1,205 yards, eight touchdowns and six interceptions.
 
Ferguson's main target is junior wide receiver Earnest Edwards, with 32 catches to accumulate 494 yards and three scores.  Edwards is one of five with at least 23 catches.
 
On the ground, two players split the bulk of the carries: redshirt freshman Ramon Jefferson has 73 carries for 394 yards and two touchdowns, while redshirt junior Joe Fitzpatrick has taken the ball 96 times, picking up 372 yards and three touchdowns.
 
Maine ranks fourth in scoring defense at 21.1 points allowed a game, including the top rushing defense in the league, allowing just 60.4 yards on the ground per game.  The team has the two top sack leaders in the CAA: senior linebacker Sterling Sheffield has a league-best 8.5 sacks and 53 total tackles, while sophomore Deshawn Stevens has a team-high 70 tackles, adding seven sacks.
 
Junior Manny Patterson has defended a league-best 13 passes to lead the CAA, having 25 tackles and an interception.
 
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