TOWSON, Md. – The No. 19/20 Towson University football team is back at Unitas to wrap up the 2019 regular season, hosting Elon on Saturday, Nov. 23rd at 2 p.m., the final regular season home game for the Tiger senior class.
 
Towson will honor the careers of 13 seniors, Brandon Allen, Chris Clark, Tom Flacco, Terrill Gillette-Rodgers, Robert Heyward, John Lambert, Shane Leatherbury, Keon Paye, Aidan O'Neill, Mantriel Reaves, Yeedee Thaenrat, Malik Tyne and Troy Vincent with a pregame ceremony on the field.
 
In addition, this game is Military Appreciation Day.  Towson will be honoring its service members, including a swearing in ceremony during halftime.
 
Tickets to Towson home games are available now by calling 1-855-TU-TIGER or email 4tigertix@towson.edu.
 
For those who cannot attend, the game will be broadcast online on FloFootball.com with Bruce Cunningham and Gerrard Sheppard on the call live from Johnny Unitas® Stadium.  Spiro Morekas and Gordy Combs will have the radio call on CBS Sports 1300.
 
Towson, ranked in the top-25 all season, went up a spot in each poll this week to be at #19 in the STATS FCS Top-25 and #20 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll.  Elon is not ranked in either poll.
 
Towson has won its last three games, coming off a 31-10 road victory over William & Mary, to stand tied for third place in the CAA at 4-3 and 7-4 overall.  Elon, coming off a bye week, has fallen in its last two games to enter the weekend at 3-4 in the CAA, tied for eighth place, and 4-6 overall.
 
Towson is making a final push for an at-large berth into the NCAA FCS Playoffs, which will reveal its bracket on Sunday, Nov. 24^th at 12:30 p.m. on ESPNU.  The Tigers are hoping to making the playoffs for a second straight year for the first time in the FCS era and the first time since the 1983 and 1984 playoff years.
 
This is the ninth meeting between Towson and Elon, including every year since 2014, when the Phoenix joined the CAA.  Towson won 41-10 on Nov. 10, 2018 in a matchup of top-20 teams, leading the all-time series 6-2.  This is the first game in Towson since Nov. 5, 2016, with the Tigers winning 23-6.
 
TOWSON: TOP-25 TEAM SINCE SEPT. 2018
Having won its past three games, Towson stands in the top-20 in both national polls, rising a spot to #19 in the STATS FCS Poll and to #20 in the AFCA Coaches Poll this week.  The Tigers have been in the top-25 since Sept. 2018.
   
On the week of Sept. 16, Towson earned its first top-5 ranking since 2013.  Towson was ranked in the top-12 in the 2019 preseason, the first preseason ranking since 2014.
 
In total, three CAA teams are in the top-25: Towson, James Madison (#2 STATS, #2 AFCA) and Villanova (#10, #14).  Several others are receiving votes.
 
FLACCO, SIMPSON PLACED ON WALTER PAYTON AWARD WATCH LIST
Two Towson players, Tom Flacco and Shane Simpson, have been placed on the Walter Payton Award preseason watch list.  The Walter Payton Award is given to the top offensive player in FCS football.
   
Flacco and Simpson were two of 25 players across all of FCS, and two of three in the CAA, to be honored on the preseason watch list.
 
Each were named to the preseason watch list for the first time.  Flacco was added to the 2018 watch list in October of last season, finishing fifth in the final voting and first among 2019 returners.
 
In the history of the honor, Dave Meggett won the award in 1988.  Flacco, Terrance West (2013), Joe Lee (1999) and Tony Vinson (1993) have all been finalists, all finishing in the top-10.
 
O'NEILL - CAA ALL-TIME FIELD GOALS LEADER
Aidan O'Neill, already Towson's all-time leader in field goals, became the Colonial Athletic Association all-time leader in field goals on Nov. 9th vs. Stony Brook with his 60th make.  O'Neill has 61 field goals as a Tiger in 84 attempts (72.6%), including eight makes in 2019.  O'Neill's 61 field goals stands 13th all-time in FCS history.
 
The current CAA record was formerly held by Greg Kuehn, who made 59 field goals from 2002-25 for William & Mary.
 
TIGERS IN THE PROS
Former Towson players are making their mark in the professional ranks, including Jordan Dangerfield and Tye Smith playing in the National Football League. 
 
Two Tigers, Darius Victor by the New York Guardians and Randall Harris by the DC Defenders, were drafted in the newly-formed XFL, which will begin play in 2020.
Tigers in the Pros - 2019
--Jordan Dangerfield: Pittsburgh Steelers, NFL
--Tye Smith: Tennessee Titans, NFL
--Matt Kauffman: New Orleans Saints minicamp, NFL
--Frank Beltre: Toronto Argonauts, CFL
--Darius Victor: Hamilton Tiger-Cats, CFL
--Gerrard Sheppard: Memphis Express, AAF
--Kanyia Anderson: Sioux Falls Storm, IFL
 
FOUR GRADUATES SUITING UP FOR TOWSON
In the true form of student-athlete, four Towson players take the field as college graduates.  Troy Vincent Jr. graduated from Towson in 2018 and is in his second year of graduate school.  Three others graduated from other institutions before coming to Towson, Tom Flacco from Rutgers, Ricky DeBerry from Oklahoma and Darian Bryant from Temple.
 
TOWSON PLAYERS APPROACHING RECORDS
Several Towson players are approaching the top-10 of records for the program.
Bryce Carter (R-Jr. DL)
--Sacks: 12.5
10th: Justin Yelverton, 16.0 (1999-2002)
 
Tom Flacco (R-Sr. QB)
Passing Touchdowns: 48 (4th in TU history)
--3rd: Dan Dullea, 49 (1973-76)
Passing Yards: 5,868 (7th in TU history)
--6th: Dan Dullea, 6,006 (1973-76)
Passing Attempts: 754 (7th in TU history)
--6th: Dan Dullea, 804 (1973-76)
Passing Completions: 469 (6th in TU history)
--5th: Ron Meehan, 529 (1977-80)
 
Robert Heyward (R-Sr. LB)
Tackles: 267 (10th in TU history)
--9th: P.D. Moore, 274 (2001-04)
 
Shane Leatherbury (R-Sr. WR)
Receptions: 146 (8th in TU history)
--7th: Sean Murphy, 154 (1982-85)
--6th: Dale Chipps, 157 (1984-87)
Receiving Touchdowns: 20 (t-4th in TU history)
--3rd: Jamal White, 21 (1998-2002)
Career Receiving Yards: 1,831 (10th in TU history)
--9th: Jason Galloway, 2,011 (2000-03)
 
Aidan O'Neill (Sr. K)
Field Goals: 61 (1st in TU history and CAA history)
--13th in FCS history
--12th in FCS: Dave Ettinger, Hofstra, 62 (1994-97)
--9th in FCS: Three players, 64
--FCS Record: Dan Carpenter, Montana, 75 (2004-07)
Field Goals Attempted: 84 (1st in TU history)
 
Keon Paye (R-Sr. LB)
Interceptions: 11 (tied for 5th in TU history)
--2nd: Three players, 13
 
Shane Simpson (R-Sr. RB)
All-Purpose Yards: 4,751
--1st: Jason Corle, 5,382 (1996-99)
Career Rushing Yards: 1,925 (9th in TU history)
--8th: Matt Romeo, 1,950 (2000-03)
Career Rushing Attempts: 376
--10th: Paul Cillo, 421 (1981-82)
100-Yard Rushing Games: 5
--10th: Three players, 7
 
Season Records - Towson:
Tom Flacco (R-Sr. QB)
Passing Completions: 200
--10th: Grant Enders, 208 (2012)
Passing Touchdowns: 20 (tied for 7th in TU history)
--6th: Joe Lee, 22 (1999)
Passing Yards: 2,617 (10th in TU history)
--9th: Sean Schaefer, 2,653 (2007)
 
Shane Leatherbury (R-Sr. WR)
Receiving Touchdowns: 11 (2nd in TU history)
--1st: Mark Orlando, 12 (1994)
 
Keon Paye (Sr. LB)
Interceptions: 5 (tied for 9th in TU history)
--5th: Four players, 6
 
Yeedee Thaenrat (Sr. RB)
Rushing Touchdowns: 14 (tied for 7th in TU history)
--5th: Darius Victor (2015)/Dan Ricker (1984), 15
--4th: Brian McCarty, 16 (1994)
 
Coby Tippett (Jr. DB)
Interceptions: 5 (tied for 9th in TU history)
--5th: Four players, 6
 
AMBROSE - 3RD LONGEST TENURED CAA COACH
Head coach Rob Ambrose, a Towson graduate of 1993, returns at the helm of the Tigers for his 11th season in 2019 and is the third-longest tenured head coach in the CAA.
 
Going into its 51st season, Towson football has had four head coaches, with three, including Ambrose, serving at the helm for at least 10 seasons.  Ambrose was formerly an assistant under Gordy Combs from 1992 to 2000.
 
Ahead of Ambrose in years is New Hampshire's Sean McDonnell (21st season) and Stony Brook's Chuck Priore (14th season).
 
ALUMNI BACK TO COACH THE TIGERS
Along with Ambrose, several Tiger assistant coaches are also Towson graduates. 
--Scott Van Zile (QBs Coach, Recruiting Coordinator): 1999
--Konstantinos Kosmakos (DL Coach): 2006
--Collin Bauer (OLB Coach): 2013
--Lance Yaniger (Director of Operations): 2011
 
Tigers in the Community
The Towson University athletics department deems community service as one of its highest priorities to give back to the Greater Baltimore area.
 
For the 7th consecutive year, the department exceeded 10,000 hours of community service to the Greater Baltimore region, finishing with 11,162 hours of community service in the 2018-19 academic season.
   
Towson ranked #1 nationally for community service and won the 2018 National Championship for Community Service through the Helper Helper NCAA Team Works Competition.
 
Towson had a 97% participation rate, attended 118 community service opportunities and volunteered with 19 organizations.
 
Towson won the 2018 Volunteer of the Year Award from Susan G. Komen of Maryland.
 
LAST GAME (#20/21 TOWSON 31, W&M 10)
(11/16/19, WILLIAMSBURG, VA.):
Towson outscored William & Mary by 28 points in the opening three quarters to win its third game in a row with a 31-10 victory on the road.
Important Stat:
Towson - Scored points on five of its first six drives
W&M - Returned a fumble for a TD
Top Passer:
Towson - Tom Flacco: 20-29, 191 yards, 2 TD
W&M - Hollis Mathis: 10-22, 127 yards, 1 INT
Top Rusher:
Towson - Yeedee Thaenrat: 24 rush, 158 yards, 1 TD
W&M - Donavyn Lester: 7 rush, 32 yards
Top Receiver:
Towson - Shane Leatherbury: 5 catches, 49 yards, 2 TD
W&M - Kane Everson: 6 catches, 109 yards
Standout Defensive Player:
Towson - Robert Heyward (LB): 9 tackles, 2.5 TFL
W&M - Isaiah Laster (DB): 13 tackles, 0.5 TFL
 
INTERNATIONAL TIGERS
Towson's influence is growing across the world with four international players in 2019, including three from Europe.
 
Redshirt senior linebacker Malik Tyne, from Canada, has played 41 career games for Towson, standing with 74 tackles, including 21.5 for loss and 8.5 sacks.
 
From Belgium comes Tibo Debaillie who, despite injury last season, has played in 22 games on the defensive line.
 
Two new players from Europe will serve as offensive linemen this year: Roman Wahrheit from Germany and Vaino Paakkonen from Finland.  From 2014-17, Towson had another offensive lineman from Europe, KJ Brandal, who hailed from Norway.
 
SCOUTING ELON:
Elon has been an NCAA FCS Playoff team the past two seasons.  Head coach Tony Trisciani, who had spent the previous two years as the team's defensive coordinator, was elevated to his current role after Curt Cignetti left for James Madison.
 
Elon is fourth in the CAA with a +6 turnover margin, also having a CAA fewest 11 turnovers.  The Phoenix rank last in the league in total offense but rank eighth in scoring offense, earning 25.1 points a game, also being fifth in passing completion percentage, led by junior QB Davis Cheek throwing 58.6%.
 
LAST TIME VS. ELON (#20 TOWSON 41, #7/5 ELON 10)
(11/10/18, ELON, N.C.):
At 7-3 early in the second quarter, Towson outscored Elon 34-7 the rest of the way for a decisive 41-10 victory, its third win over a then-top-15 opponent in 2018.
Important Stat:
Towson - Held Elon to 30 passing yards
Elon - Ran for 208 total yards
Top Passer:
Towson - Tom Flacco: 26-43, 326 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
Elon - Jalen Greene: 5-19, 30 yards
Top Rusher:
Towson - Kobe Young: 7 rush, 59 yards, 1 TD
Elon - Jalen Greene: 13 rush, 73 yards, 1 TD
Top Receiver:
Towson - Jabari Allen: 9 catches, 143 yards
Elon - Cole Taylor: 2 catches, 26 yards
Standout Defensive Player:
Towson - Robert Heyward (LB): 13 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1 sack
Elon - Cole Coleman (DB): 12 tackles
 
FIRST 3-0 START SINCE 2013
With victories over The Citadel, N.C. Central and Maine, Towson started 3-0 for the first time since 2013.
In 2013, the Tigers began the year 6-0, including a victory over Connecticut, eventually going to the FCS National Championship game.
 
IMPORTANT DATES: TOWSON VS. ELON
--Nov. 1, 2014:
In the first matchup as CAA opponents, Towson used a 21-3 second quarter lead to win 21-19 over Elon, holding off the Phoenix on a failed two-point conversion attempt with 1:11 left.  Darius Victor earned 153 yards on the ground off 28 rushes, adding a touchdown.
 
--Nov. 4, 2017:
Towson rallied from down 17 in the fourth quarter to force overtime against the #7-ranked Phoenix, but Elon blocked a field goal in the second overtime and hit one of its own to win 33-30.  Ryan Stover passed for 303 yards and two touchdowns, plus received a touchdown.
 
--Nov. 10, 2018:
#20 Towson defeated its third top-15 opponent of the year in dominant fashion, winning 41-10 at #7/5 Elon, finishing the game on a 34-7 run.  Four different Tigers combined for five touchdowns while the defense held Elon to 30 passing yards.
 
TOWSON EARNS SCHOOL RECORDS VS. BUCKNELL
In the victory vs. Bucknell on October 19th, Towson's passing game set a couple of new single game school records.  Tom Flacco set a new program record with six passing touchdowns, all coming in the first half, with Shane Leatherbury tying a team record with five receiving touchdowns.
 
FLACCO UNVEILED ON CFL NEGOTIATION LIST
In August, Tom Flacco was unveiled on the Canadian Football League (CFL) negotiation list for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. 
 
Being on a CFL negotiation list, for international players and non-drafted Canadians, means that team has exclusive rights to negotiate a contract.  All CFL teams release 10 names on their negotiation lists twice a year.
 
INTERCEPTORS
With 16 interceptions this season, Towson is tied for fifth in all of FCS in that category, leading to a turnover margin of +9 for the team, 13th in FCS and tied for first in the CAA.  Keon Paye and Coby Tippett each have five interceptions, the first time a Tiger has had at least five picks since 2004.
 
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