WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Towson University football team continues its non-conference campaign with its annual game against an FBS opponent, playing at Wake Forest on Saturday, September 8th at noon.
 
The game will be broadcast online on ACC Network Extra, part of the ESPN3 lineup.  Shawn Kenney and Stan Lewter have the call from BB&T Field.
 
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.
 
Each side won its season opener on the road last week: Towson defeated Morgan State 36-10 on Saturday while Wake Forest won 23-17 in overtime over Tulane on August 30th.
 
This is the first-ever meeting between Towson and Wake Forest.  Towson is playing an ACC team for the first time since 2011 in a game at Maryland.  Wake Forest's last contest against a CAA opponent came at home against Delaware in 2016.
 
This is the second of three straight road games for Towson to begin the 2018 season.  This is also the second of three non-conference contests, with the final one coming vs. The Citadel on September 29th.
 
Towson is playing the first of two games in North Carolina this year, also playing at Elon on November 10th.
 
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 205 career tackles, including 114 unassisted, earning at least 45 tackles each of his first three seasons.
 
58 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.
 
Nice to Meet You
Towson has two games this season against opponents meeting the Tigers for the first time in program history.
 
Towson's game against an FBS opponent is against Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on September 8th, the first game against an ACC opponent since 2011, when the Tigers played Maryland.
 
In addition, the home opener will be played against the Citadel, a school in Charleston, South Carolina.
 
Towson Wins the Battle For Greater Baltimore
For the second straight season, Towson earned a victory over crosstown rival Morgan State, winning 36-10 to retain the Battle for Greater Baltimore trophy.   Towson scored 24 unanswered points in just over 26 minutes of play in the victory.
 
Last Time Out (vs. Morgan State)
(9/1/18 - Baltimore, Md.)
The Towson University football team, scored 24 unanswered to take down Morgan State 36-10 and earn its second victory in the Battle for Greater Baltimore series.
Passing
Tom Flacco (TU): 18-28, 245 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
DeAndre Harris (MSU): 12-21, 101 yards, 1 INT
Rushing
Kobe Young (TU): 7 rush, 66 yards, 1 TD
DeAndre Harris (MSU): 12 rush, 31 yards
Receiving
Shane Leatherbury (TU): 5 catches, 93 yards
Jack McCracken (MSU): 3 catches, 43 yards
Defense
Robert Hayward (TU): 7 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 FR
Diondre Wallace (TU): 4 tackles, 1 sacks, 1 INT
Damare Whitaker (MSU): 9 tackles, 1 sack
Rico Kennedy (MSU): 8 tackles, 2.5 sacks
 
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
 
vs. FBS Opponents
Towson, which competes in the football championship subdivision (FCS), has played at least one football bowl subdivision (FBS) team each season since 2008.  In 2012, Towson played two FBS opponents, Kent State and LSU.
 
This is the second year in a row, and third time in five seasons, where Towson's FBS game is the second contest of the year. 
 
All-time vs. FBS opponents, with all games coming on the road, Towson is 1-10, with the lone win coming in 2013 with a 33-18 victory at Connecticut.  All FBS games, with the exception of the first one at Navy, has occurred during Rob Ambrose's tenure at Towson.
 
Towson has played an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent once, a 28-3 defeat at Maryland in 2011.
 
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.
 
50 for $50 Season Tickets Available
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. 
 
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.