The Game: Towson (1-1, 0-0 CAA) at #10/10 Villanova (2-0, 0-0 CAA)

When: Sat., Sept. 15, 3:30 p.m. kickoff

Where: Villanova Stadium – Villanova, Pa.

TV: Fox College Sports Atlantic

Online Broadcast: Fox Sports Go (also available on CAA.tv via subscription) --See attached letter from the CAA Commissioner and Fox for more information.

----Broadcasters: Matt Janus (PxP), Ken Dunek (Analyst)

Radio: CBS Sports 1300

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

Series: Villanova leads 9-5

VILLANOVA, Pa. – The Towson University football team wraps up its three-game road slate with the beginning of CAA play, heading to Villanova for a 3:30 p.m. game on Saturday, September 15th.
 
The game will be broadcast on Fox College Sports Atlantic, available online via Fox Sports Go.  Matt Janus and Ken Dunek will have the call live from Villanova Stadium.
 
Spiro Morekas, the Voice of the Tigers, will be on the call live from Winston-Salem, joined by Gordy Combs on CBS Sports Radio 1300.
 
Towson fell at FBS opponent Wake Forest 51-20 on Saturday to come in at 1-1, while Villanova won 31-9 at Lehigh for a 2-0 record.  Each team has its conference opener on Saturday.
 
Conference rivals since the end of Atlantic-10 football and the move into the CAA, Towson and Villanova have played every year since 2004.  Villanova won last year's meeting in Towson 24-9, on September 30th, for its second straight victory vs. the Tigers, leading the overall series 9-5.
 
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 not currently ranked in either the STATS FCS or Coaches Polls.  Villanova stands at #10 in both polls.
 
After Saturday's contest, Towson will not be playing another road game until October 20th.  Towson has a bye week and then three home games.  It is the second straight season where Towson plays its third game of the year in Pennsylvania.  In 2017, the Tigers defeated St. Francis (Pa.) 16-14 in Loretto.
 
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.
 
Towson All-Time vs. Villanova
Towson and Villanova have played every year since 2004.
 
The Tigers first played Villanova upon entry into the Atlantic-10 for football.  After the 2006 season, each Towson and Villanova moved into the CAA for football, continuing the rivalry.
 
Villanova leads the all-time series 9-5, including taking the last two meetings.  Towson has won three of the last seven, with its last victory coming 28-21 in 2015.
 
Towson is 3-6 vs. Villanova under head coach Rob Ambrose.   Towson is 3-8 against Villanova in CAA play and 2-5 in Pennsylvania against the Wildcats.
 
Date              Location                     Result
10/23/04___ Villanova, Pa.______ L, 6-41
11/5/05____ Towson, Md._____ W, 40-19
10/21/06___ Villanova, Pa._____ W, 21-13
11/10/07___ Towson, Md.______ L, 12-14
11/15/08___ Villanova, Pa._____ L, 31-34
11/14/09___ Towson, Md._______ L, 7-49
9/18/10____ Villanova, Pa._______ L 7-43
9/10/11____ Towson, Md._____ W, 31-10
10/27/12___ Villanova, Pa._____ W, 49-35
10/12/13___ Towson, Md.______ L, 35-45
11/8/14____ Villanova, Pa._____ L, 14-42
10/24/15___ Towson, Md._____ W, 28-21
9/17/16____ Villanova, Pa._____ L, 21-40
9/30/17____ Towson, Md._______ L, 9-24
 
Last Time vs. Villanova (Villanova 24, Towson 9)
(9/30/17 - Towson, Md.)
Towson led Villanova with 6:41 left in the 3rd quarter, but fell after the Wildcats scored 17 unanswered points to win 24-9.
Passing
Ryan Stover (TU): 24-44, 202 yards, INT
Three QBs (VILL): 10-23, 106 yards, TD, 3 INT
Rushing
Adrian Feliz-Platt (TU): 13 rushes, 46 yards
Aaron Forbes (VILL): 16 rushes, 84 yards
Receiving
Jabari Greenwood (TU): 10 catches, 78 yards
Sam Shaud (VILL): 2 catches, 40 yards
Defense
Diondre Wallace (TU): 7 tackles
Monty Fenner (TU): 5 tackles, 2 INT
Ed Shockley (VILL): 13 tackles (4 solo)
Jeff Steeb (VILL): 7 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FF
 
Last Time Out (Wake Forest 51, Towson 20)
(9/8/18 - Winston-Salem, N.C.)
The Towson University football team earned touchdown in two of its opening three drives vs. FBS opponent Wake Forest but fell to the Demon Deacons 51-20.
Passing
Tom Flacco (TU): 35-51, 345 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
Sam Hartman (WAKE): 17-27, 242 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing
Shane Simpson (TU): 8 rush, 18 yards
Cade Carney (WAKE): 19 rush, 130 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Shane Leatherbury (TU): 8 catches, 88 yards, 1 TD
Greg Dortch (WAKE): 7 catches, 94 yards, 1 TD
Defense
Diondre Wallace (TU): 16 tackles, 1 FF
Mantriel Reeves (TU): 5 tackles, 1 INT
Essang Bassey (WAKE): 7 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 1 INT
Ja'Cquez Williams (WAKE): 6 tackles, 1 sack
 
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 already turned heads this season, standing as the #1 QB in the CAA in passing yards a game with 295 and total offense with 314 yards a contest.  He is currently throwing 67.1% from the air.
 
Flacco's 295 passing yards a game stands 12th in all of FCS football, while his 26.5 completions a contest is 8th.
 
His 345 passing yards in the game at Wake Forest is currently the top single game total by a CAA quarterback this season.  In that game, he had nine different Tigers earn multiple receptions.
 
....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-5 in the CAA in numerous categories, inclduing being tied for fourth with 90.5 receiving yards a game and tied for second with 6.5 receptions a contest.
 
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 35 field goals, including four on September 1st vs. Morgan State to set the new record.
 
His surpassed the mark set by Ed Kulic (1998-2001) and Randy Bielski (1976-79) for the previous all-time record of 32.  O'Neill also holds the single-season record with 18 made field goals in 2016.
 
Wallace Approaching Towson Top-10 in Tackles
Senior Diondre Wallace has 221 career tackles, including 126 unassisted, earning at least 45 tackles each of his first three seasons.
 
42 more tackles would place Wallace in the top-10 all time in Towson history.  Randy Bielski had 263 tackles from 1976-79.
 
The all-time leader in tackles in Towson history is Jeff Boller, who had 382 from 1979-82.
 
Scouting Villanova
Villanova was predicted to finish sixth in the CAA preseason poll after tying for seventh in the league last year.  The Wildcats are playing their home opener on Saturday, the first of two straight home games.
 
Mark Ferrante, a longtime assistant under former coach Andy Talley, is in his second season at the helm of Villanova, going 5-6 in 2017.
 
Leading the air attack is 2015 CAA Co-Rookie of the Year Zach Bednarczyk, throwing 65.2% for 469 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions.
 
Two players with double digit rushing attempts average over 5.5 yards a carry: senior Aaron Forbes has 168 yards on 27 carries, while backup freshman Jalen Jackson has 12 rushes for 69 yards.
 
Bednarczyk has a pair of receiving options with triple digit yards and multiple touchdowns: senior Jarrett McClenton has caught 11 for 177 yards and three touchdowns, with classmate Ryan Bell earning 143 yards on 14 receptions, having two scores.  Senior Ethan Greenridge, the left tackle, was named Preseason All-CAA.
 
Villanova's top three tacklers are in the secondary, including Preseason All-CAA Team safety Rob Rolle with eight and freshman defensive back Christian Bedford with a squad-best 11.  Sophomore Malik Fisher leads Villanova with three tackles for loss, having six total tackles.
 
In its history, Villanova won the 2009 FCS title and last made the playoffs in 2016. 
 
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.