The Game: Towson (0-0, 0-0 CAA) at Morgan State (0-0, 0-0 MEAC)

When: Sat., Sept. 1, 7 p.m. kickoff

Where: Hughes Stadium - Baltimore, Md.

TV: WBAL 11.2 MeTV (Baltimore), WHP 21.2 My Network (Harrisburg-Lancaster, Pa.), ENN+ (Erie, Pa.)

Online Broadcast: ESPN3/SportsFever TV

----Broadcasters: Phil Schoener (PxP), Emory Hunt (Analyst)

Radio: CBS Sports 1300

----Broadcasters: Spiro Morekas (PxP), Gordy Combs (Analyst)

Series: Towson leads 18-6 (Towson leads 1-0 in Battle for Greater Baltimore meetings)

BALTIMORE – The Towson University football team start its 50th football season on September 1st, taking on Morgan State for the second annual Battle for Greater Baltimore at Hughes Stadium at 7 p.m.
 
This is the 25th meeting between the two Division I college football teams of the city of Baltimore.  Towson has won the last two matchups to lead the all-time series 18-6, including the first Battle for Great Baltimore 10-0 last year at Johnny Unitas® Stadium on Sept. 2, 2017.  The last meeting at Morgan State came on Sept. 26, 2009: the Bears took a 12-9 victory that day, its last win in the series.  Towson is 6-1 vs. Morgan State since 2005.
 
Towson is celebrating its 50th year of football in 2018.  Towson established its first team in 1969, winning 272 games since its beginning under four total head coaches.   In its history, Towson has two national runner-up finishes (1976, 2013), two CAA titles (2011, 2012) and 11 seasons, across Division III, II and I-AA (FCS), finishing in the top-26 nationally.
 
Towson is 29-20 all-time in season openers, including last year's win over Morgan State.
 
Coverage of the Game
The game will be broadcast online on SportsFever TV.  In addition, the television networks of MeTV (Baltimore), WHP (Harrisburg) and ENN+ (Erie) will simulcast the game live.
 
Spiro Morekas, the Voice of the Tigers, will be on the call live from Baltimore, joined by Gordy Combs on CBS Sports Radio 1300.
 
About Hughes Stadium
Hughes Stadium is the home of Morgan State, holding 10,001 people.  The stadium was built in 1937, with a 14-million dollar renovation in 2001, and is nicknamed "The Den."   It is the oldest football stadium in the MEAC. 
 
$50 for 50 Years of Towson Football
This fall, fans can help the Tigers celebrate their 50th season with a special $50 season ticket package to all five home games. The Towson ticketing office is continuing to up the deal.  Those that purchase season tickets have the option of an equal number of road tickets for the Villanova game (Sept. 15, 3:30 p.m.) or Delaware (Oct. 27, 3:30 p.m.). In honor of the 50th year of football at Towson, fans can purchase season tickets for just $50. Additionally, season tickets in the Gaburick Gold Back Seats are priced at $75. 
 
Experience on Receiving...
Towson returns 11 players from last season who recorded at least four receptions, including the top five receiving targets.  Combined, these 11 had 188 catches for 1,963 yards.
 
Jabari Greenwood, in his first season with Towson after transferring from Kentucky, led all Tigers with 616 yards receiving last season.
 
....and on Rushing
The top four rushers from last season are back for Towson in 2018.  This quartet notched a combined 1,061 net yards last year.
 
Quarterback Ryan Stover had the most rushes with 335 yards on the ground.  The running back duties were split between Kobe Young (70 rushes, 328 yards), Adrian Feliz-Platt (69 rushes, 238 yards) and Shane Simpson (48 rushes, 160 yards).
 
Last year, Simpson surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark.  Along with 1,052 career rushing yards, he also has 2,356 all-purpose yards, serving as a kick and punt returner the past three seasons.
 
Towson Football Celebrating 50th Year
The Towson University football program is celebrating its 50th year this season.
 
Since its establishment 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).
 
As part of the celebration, Towson is offering $50 season tickets this year, good for all home games this season.
 
Quarterback Competition in Camp
Towson saw a pair of quarterbacks battle for the starting role in camp this season. 
 
Towson's starter last year, redshirt sophomore Ryan Stover, had 2,001 yards from the air and 335 more on the ground, having 13 total touchdowns.  He is being challenged by Tom Flacco, a graduate transfer from Rutgers with two years of eligibly remaining.
 
Defense Shaping Up
Towson's defense also returns much of its starting ranks, led by its top five tacklers from 2017.  The team's leading tackler, Baltimore's own Diondre Wallace, had 90 from the defensive line and 201 in his career.
 
Monty Fenner, serving as a redshirt senior, was the team leader in interceptions last year with three, adding 72 tackles. 
 
Redshirt sophomore linebacker Bryce Carter was second on the team with four sacks, tops among returners, adding 38 tackles, including eight for loss.
 
Ambrose Returns for 10th Season
Head coach Rob Ambrose returns at the helm of his alma mater for his 10th season.
 
Ambrose is the third head coach in Towson history to serve at least 10 seasons.  He formerly was an assist under Gordy Combs from 1992-2000.
 
All three coordinators return as well for 2018: Jared Ambrose on offense, Lyndon Johnson on defense and Joe Tricario on special teams.
 
Last Time vs. Morgan State
(9/2/17 - Towson, Md.)
Towson used a 10-point second quarter to defeat Morgan State 10-0, its first shutout since 2015 and first non-conference shutout since 2005.
Passing
Ryan Stover (TU): 5-12, 44 yards
Elijah Staley (MSU): 23-46, 185 yards, 3 INT
Rushing
Shane Simpson (TU): 9 rushes, 21 yards, 1 TD
Eric Harrell (MSU): 10 rushes, 45 yards
Receiving
Morgan Scroggins (TU): 1 catch, 24 yards
DuShon David (MSU): 6 catches, 56 yards
Defense
Keon Paye (TU): 8 tackles, 2 TFL
Bryce Carter (TU): 6 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 FF
Brandon Griffin (MSU): 8 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT
Malachi Washington (MSU): 5 tackles, 1.5 sacks
 
Two All-CAA Players Return
Of Towson's three 2017 All-CAA personnel, two come back for the 2018 season.
 
Rodney Dorsey's freshman campaign saw him earn All-CAA Second Team honors.  He averaged 24.2 yards per kickoff return, totaling 363 yards, adding 167 receiving yards.
 
Junior Aidan O'Neill was placed on the Third Team, kicking 68.4% (13-19) and knocking down 17 extra points.  It is his second year in a row on the All-CAA Third Team.
 
Towson's third All-CAA player, senior Kanyia Anderson, graduated last season.
 
Last Time Out (vs. Rhode Island)
(11/18/17 - Towson, Md.)
Towson sent out its 2017 senior class in style, finishing the game with 21 unanswered points in a 29-10 home victory over Rhode Island.
Passing
Ryan Stover (TU): 18-31, 218 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT
JaJuan Lawson (URI): 18-32, 150 yards, 1 INT
Rushing
Adrian Feliz-Platt (TU): 8 rushes, 54 yards
T.J. Anderson (URI): 9 rushes, 33 yards
Receiving
Shane Leatherbury (TU): 6 catches, 70 yards, 1 TD
Marven Beauvais (URI): 2 catches, 42 yards
Defense
Monty Fenner (TU): 7 tackles
D'Sean Cummings (TU): 6 tackles, 2 sacks
Rashod Dickerson (URI): 8 tackles
Momodou Mbye (URI): 5 tackles, 2 INT
 
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
 
Scouting Morgan State
Morgan State is set to begin its 2018 season under interim head coach Edward T. Jones, who takes over for Fred Farrier.
 
The Bears are coming off a 1-10 season, finishing 11th in the MEAC at 1-7.  Morgan State is seeking its first non-conference victory since 2015.  In 2017, Morgan State scored 19.5 points a game, tied for 8th in the MEAC, and allowed 36.8 points a contest, 10th in its league.
 
Competing with a now-graduated player at quarterback, junior DeAndre Harris played in 10 games for the Bears last season, completing 58.5% of passes for 781 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions.  He also averaged 25.3 rushing yards a game.
 
Morgan State lost both its primary running backs to graduation.  Junior Joshua Chase is the leading rusher among returning non-quarterbacks with 66 yards last year.
 
The team's top receiving threat is back in junior Manassah Bailey, who made 37 catches for 610 yards and six touchdowns last year.
 
Three 2017 All-MEAC players return to the Bear defense.  Senior Malachi Washington was  Second Team All-MEAC with 68 tackles and eight sacks on the defensive line.  On the Third Team: junior linebacker Rico Kennedy led the team with 70 tackles and 19.5 tackles for less, adding 7.5 sacks and four forced fumbles, while senior defensive back Carl Garnes had 38 tackles, four for loss.
 
Four Morgan State alumni are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Len Ford, Leroy Kelly, Willie Lanier and Rosey Brown.

Tigers in the Community
As part of the second annual Battle for Greater Baltimore, student-athletes from Towson and Morgan State united for a community event at the Weinberg YMCA in Baltimore on August 18th.

Athletes from both schools helped out with representatives from the Special Olympics of Central Maryland for the event.  Towson's women's cross country team were with Morgan State's track & field and softball programs.

During the afternoon, the student-athletes spent the day with children in Baltimore, playing numerous games including relay races, football tosses, balloon races and Duck-Duck Goose.

This event was part of Towson's Total Tiger Program: its goal is to educate, advocate, mentor and serve, giving Towson student-athletes an opportunity to engage and interact with the Greater Baltimore area through community service.