The Game: Towson (4-4, 3-2 CAA) at Richmond (3-5, 1-4 CAA)
When: Sat., Nov. 6 – 2 p.m.
Where: E. Claiborne Robins Stadium – Richmond, Va.
Online Broadcast: NBC Sports Washington/FloSports ($)
----Broadcasters: Bob Black (PxP), Chris Anderson (analyst), Allison Gaskins (sideline)
Radio/Online Broadcast: Towsontigers.com
----Broadcasters: Spiro Morekas (PxP), Gordy Combs (Analyst)
Series: Richmond leads 7-4
RICHMOND, Va. – For the first time since 2017, the Towson University football team will take on Richmond for the next CAA road game, heading back to Virginia for a 2 p.m. game on Saturday, Nov. 6.
The game will be broadcast on NBC Sports Washington as well as FloSports, available via subscription, with Bob Black, Chris Anderson and Allison Gaskins on the call live from E. Claiborne Robins Stadium. Visit FloSports.tv/CAA to view the full Colonial Athletic Association schedule and sign up today. Spiro Morekas and Coach Gordy Combs will also have the audio call on towsontigers.com.
This is Towson's second of three planned trips to its southern neighbor state, having previously played at William & Mary. Towson plays at JMU on Nov. 20. Richmond will be playing its Homecoming in this contest.
Towson got back in the win column on Saturday with a 38-24 victory over UAlbany, its third straight victory at home, to stand at 4-4 overall and 3-2 in the CAA. Richmond also returned to winning ways last Saturday off a 38-24 road victory at New Hampshire, returning with 3-5 overall and 1-4 CAA records.
Towson and Richmond will meet for the 12th time on Saturday and for the first time in Virginia since 2016. Richmond has won the last two meetings, 23-3 on Oct. 14, 2017 in Towson and 31-28 on Oct. 1, 2016 in Richmond, and leads the all-time series 7-4. Towson's last win in the series came on Oct. 26, 2013 on the road, a 48-32 victory.
TOWSON RETURNS TO THE FIELD
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Towson did not play football during the 2020-21 academic year. The CAA suspended the fall season, then Towson opted out of the spring season.
When Towson took the field on Sept. 4, 2021 against Morgan State, it was 651 days (93 weeks) since its previous game vs. Elon on Nov. 23, 2019.
Towson was one of 35 FCS teams across the country that opted out of the 2021 spring season. Eight more FCS programs would opt out of the spring by season's end. All players retained their year of eligibility with the NCAA.
When Towson announced its opt out from the spring on Oct. 19, 2020, head coach
Rob Ambrose said the following: "In today's world, there are no easy decisions anymore, everything is a long, planned out decision. The first thing we did is we took a step back once we knew there was going to be a plan for this, and we asked the players, and we listened. It is amazing how aware, broad-minded, forward-thinking and how intelligent our student-athletes really are. We surveyed the guys, more than 75% of the team did not want to trade a full season next year for a six-game season this spring. After listening to the players, I could not come up with a good reason on why we should do this."
Towson Director of Athletics
Tim Leonard added: "With football being a high-contact sport, the student-athletes and coaches agree that potentially sacrificing a normal fall season for a shortened spring year is not the safest course of action. We support our student-athletes and coaches in this decision, and we look forward to a return to the field for the 2021 season."
DIXON SELECTED AS CAA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Leading the defense in the victory over #12/14 Rhode Island,
Christian Dixon was selected as the CAA Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 18. The redshirt senior linebacker tallied up 11 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble in the game. His forced fumble in the first quarter led to Towson's second touchdown drive.
THREE TIGERS RECOGNIZED IN 2021 CAA PRESEASON AWARDS
Three Tigers were recognized with preseason honors from the CAA:
D'Ago Hunter is the 2021 CAA Preseason All-Conference Team kick returner while linebacker
Christian Dixon and punter
Shane McDonough were each honorable mention.
Hunter became Towson's primary special teams returner in 2019, earning 26.7 yards a kick return on average, just under two yards behind the CAA leader in that category that season.
In his first year as Towson's punter in 2019, McDonough finished second in the CAA in punt average with 43.6 yards per punt, having nine punts of over 50 yards and 14 punts placed inside the 20.
Dixon moved into a starting role at linebacker in 2019, finishing in the top-25 in tackles in the league. He tallied up 77 tackles, two forced fumbles and nine tackles for loss on the year plus tied for the team lead with 4.5 sacks.
GRZYMKOWSKI NAMED SEMIFINALIST FOR CAMPBELL TROPHY®
Aaron Grzymkowski was honored as a semifinalist for the 2021 William V. Campbell Trophy®, one of the most prestigious awards in college football.
The Campbell Trophy recognizes an individual as the best football scholar-athlete for combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. 176 players across all divisions, including 36 FCS players, were named semifinalists.
Grzymkowski, a team captain and two-time All-CAA guard, earned his undergraduate degree with a 3.67 GPA and has a 4.0 GPA currently, working on a Master's Degree in applied information technology.
BATTLE FOR GREATER BALTIMORE SERIES EXTENDED THROUGH 2027
In July, Towson and Morgan State announced an extension of the Battle for Greater Baltimore series through the 2027 season. With Morgan State being the home team in 2021, the two teams will alternate hosting rights each year.
The teams are separated by five miles, the closest pair of teams in all of FCS play. 2021 will be the 26th meeting between Towson and Morgan State.
TOWSON PICKED SEVENTH IN CAA PRESEASON POLL
Towson was predicted to finish seventh in the CAA preseason poll, voted on by the league's head coaches and media relations directors.
Before sitting out the 2020-21 academic year, Towson had its second straight winning season in 2019, going 7-5. Wins included four victories against teams either ranked or receiving votes in the polls at the time of the game.
2021 CAA Football Predicted Order of Finish (1st-place votes, points)
1. James Madison (15), 231
2. Delaware (7), 222
3. Villanova, 194
4. Richmond (2), 169
5. New Hampshire, 135
6. Rhode Island, 121
7. Towson, 115
8. UAlbany, 114
9. Maine, 99
10. Stony Brook, 73
11. William & Mary, 61
12. Elon, 50
TIGERS IN THE PROS
Former Towson players are making their mark in the professional ranks, including Tye Smith playing in the National Football League. After playing three seasons with the Tennessee Titans, Smith signed a free agent contract with the Minnesota Vikings in the offseason and was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster for their game on Oct. 9.
The 2020 NFL season saw two Tigers in the NFL postseason: Smith and Jordan Dangerfield. Dangerfield served as the special teams captain of the Pittsburgh Steelers in his fourth year with the team.
Several Tigers looked to make their debut in the Canadian Football League this year, with a pair earning spots on the Edmonton Elks. In April 2020, Malik Tyne was the first-ever draft pick from Towson into the Canadian Football League, taken 24th overall by Edmonton.
Tigers in the Pros - 2021
--Tye Smith (CB): Minnesota Vikings (practice squad), NFL
--Frank Beltre (DL): Ottawa Redblacks, CFL
--Tom Flacco, Ottawa Redblacks (CFL)
--
Tibo Debaillie (DL): Edmonton Elks, CFL
--Malik Tyne (LB): Edmonton Elks, CFL
--Robert Heyward (LB): Marburg Mercenaries, German Football League
-----------
--Shane Leatherbury, BC Lions preseason camp (CFL)
BRINGING BACK TWO 2019 ALL-CAA PLAYERS
Despite the nearly two years between playing a football season, two all-CAA players for Towson return for 2021.
Aaron Grzymkowski is a two-time All-CAA guard, including Second Team in 2019, while punter
Shane McDonough earned All-CAA Third Team in his first year with the team in 2019.
ALLEN APPROACHING RECORDS
Jabari Allen is approaching the top-10 of several receiving records for the program.
Jabari Allen (R-Sr. WR)
Receiving Yards: 1,216
--10th: Shane Leatherbury, 1,848 (2017-19)
Receiving Touchdowns: 12
--9th: Many players, 14
Receptions: 99
--10th: Mike Deal, 138 (1996-99)
QUARTERBACK COMPETITION.....
Needing a new QB this season, three players were in the mix during camp for the starting role (in order of last name):
Vincent Amendola (6-3, 215 R-So.)
--Backup QB for North Carolina in 2019
Chris Ferguson (6-3, 230 Grad.)
--Three-year starter at Maine, spent 2020 at Liberty
Jeff Miller (6-6, 235 R-Jr.)
--Reserve QB with Towson since 2018
.....WITH AN EXPERIENCED WR CORPS
Towson's QB will have plenty of potential targets in the air with four players back from 2019 with at least 200 receiving yards.
WR (yards) - 2019 2021 Career
A DIFFERENT LOOKING DEFENSE
Two years is changing up the Towson defense with just three starters,
S.J. Brown II (S),
Christian Dixon (LB) and
Sam Gyeni (DL) returning from 2019 on the first two-deep of the year.
Of the 22 defensive players on the two-deep, nine are entering their first season with the team. 12 are transfers from other four-year colleges while three others are junior college transfers.
AMBROSE - 3RD LONGEST TENURED CAA COACH
Head coach
Rob Ambrose, a Towson graduate of 1993, returns at the helm of the Tigers for his 12th season in 2019 and is the third-longest tenured head coach in the CAA.
Going into its 52nd 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 (22nd season) and Stony Brook's Chuck Priore (16th season).
NEW FACES ON THE COACHING STAFF
Several Towson assistant coaches enter their first season with the team.
--
Almondo Curry: cornerbacks
--
Drew Rodriguez: quarterbacks
--
Christian Runza: outside linebackers
--
Alex Stadler: offensive line
FOUR GRADUATES SUITING UP FOR TOWSON
Several Tigers are playing as college graduates. Towson has 23 total graduate players, one behind Northern Colorado for the most in FCS this season.
Towson graduates (11) -
Jabari Allen Aaron Grzymkowski
Marcus Bowman Ryan Rutkowski
Conrad Brake Robert Schwob
Brendan Cassels Caleb Smith
Jason Epps Darian Street
Andrew Garnett
Graduates of other schools (12) -
Keyvone Bruton (Temple)
Marcus Joyner (ODU)
Darian Bryant (Temple)
Elorm Lumor (Rutgers)
Mason Cholewa (UCF)
Tatah Njoka (Glenville St.)
Mark Collins Jr. (South Dakota)
DJ Pratt (Virginia)
Chris Ferguson (Maine)
Tramar Reece (Indiana)
Jerry Howard Jr. (Georgia Tech) Darian Reynolds (Gardner-Webb)
LAST GAME (TOWSON 38, UALBANY 24)
(10/30/2021, TOWSON, MD.):
Including its best first half of the season, Towson earned a 31-3 run to begin the game to take down UAlbany 38-24 at Johnny Unitas® Stadium.
Important Stat:
Towson - 259 rushing yards, most in a CAA game since 2016
UA - Had two receivers with at least 124 yards
Top Passer:
Towson -
Chris Ferguson: 11-19, 128 yards
UA - Jeff Undercuffler: 29-42, 350 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Top Rusher:
Towson -
Jerry Howard Jr.: 19 rush, 145 yards, 1 TD
UA - Karl Mofor: 19 rush, 88 yards, 1 TD
Top Receiver:
Towson -
Caleb Smith: 3 catches, 32 yards
UA - Roy Alexander: 9 catches, 162 yards, 1 TD
Standout Defensive Player:
Towson -
Mark Collins Jr. (CB): 7 tackles, 1 INT (pick-six), 1 FR
UA - Danny Damico (LB): 14 tackles, 1 TFL
INTERNATIONAL TIGERS
Towson's influence is growing across the world. Two Towson offensive linemen are from Germany:
Roman Wahrheit and
Florian Staehler. Towson has other ties to Germany: Konstantinos Kosmakos is an assistant coach for the Marburg Mercenaries, which includes Towson graduate Robert Heyward at linebacker.
In Ambrose's time, Towson has had players from Belgium, Canada, Finland, Germany, and Norway.
FROM UP AND DOWN THE EAST COAST...
The Towson roster nearly covers every state along the coastline from New York to Florida. 13 states, plus the District of Columbia, are represented by the Tigers. Away from the Eastern Seaboard, Towson has players from California, Illinois and Missouri.
...AND REPPING THE HOME STATE
The Towson roster represents the Old Line State well, sporting 39 players from the home state of Maryland. This includes five players from the Baltimore City/County area:
Anthony Delle Donne (Baltimore),
Chris Gross (Baltimore),
Dion Crews-Harris (Baltimore),
Vinnie Shaffer (Middle River) and
Scott Smith III (Brooklandville).
COACH PHIL ALBERT (1944-2020)
On Dec. 8, 2020, former Towson head football coach Phil Albert passed away. He was the program's second-ever head coach and served that role for 20 years from 1972-91, earning 117 victories, including a perfect 10-0 season in 1974, and coaching 28 All-Americans.
SCOUTING RICHMOND:
Richmond's victory over New Hampshire stopped a five-game losing streak.
Returning from injury, graduate student quarterback Joe Mancuso stands in the top-10 in the program in passing and total offense, having a 60.3% completion rate, 1155 passing yards and 10 touchdowns this year. Richmond ranks third in the CAA in scoring defense at 19.9 points allowed per game. Reigning Co-CAA Defensive Player of the Year Kobie Turner leads the defensive line with 39 tackles, including nine for loss and 3.5 sacks.
LAST TIME VS. RICHMOND (RICHMOND 23, TOWSON 3)
(10/14/2017, TOWSON, MD.):
Despite Towson holding Richmond to its then-lowest score against a league opponent thus far in 2017, the Tigers fell to the #12 Spiders 23-3.
Important Stat:
Towson - Had seven drives into Richmond territory
Richmond - Led 17-0 through the third quarter
Top Passer:
Towson -
Triston Harris: 15-28, 153 yards, 1 INT
Richmond - Kyle Lauletta: 22-36, 325 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Top Rusher:
Towson -
Adrian Feliz-Platt: 8 rush, 24 yards
Richmond - Deontez Thompson: 8 rush, 46 yards
Top Receiver:
Towson - Jabari Greenwood: 8 catches, 108 yards
Richmond - Dejon Brissett: 7 catches, 101 yards
Standout Defensive Player:
Towson - Diondre Wallace (LB): 9 tackles, 0.5 sack
Richmond - Daniel Jones (DB): 5 tackles, 2 INT
IMPORTANT DATES: TOWSON VS. RICHMOND
--Oct. 6, 2007 (Towson, Md. - Towson 23-21):
After #14 Richmond scored a touchdown with 29 seconds left, Sean Schaefer led the Tigers 67 yards in four plays, finding Demetrius Harrison on a 14-yard reception on the last play of the game to send Towson to a 23-21 victory. Schaefer would be named the National Player of the Week, throwing 29-for-33 (87.9%) for 287 yards and two touchdowns.
--Oct. 8, 2011 (Towson, Md. - Towson 31-28):
A wild fourth quarter with a combined 32 points came down to a key final play, with D.J. Soven converting the 27-yard field goal to send #25 Towson to a 31-28 victory vs. #14 Richmond. The Tigers earned their first 2-0 CAA start in program history. Terrance West finished with 128 yards on 21 carries, scoring all four of Towson's touchdowns.
--Oct. 1, 2016 (Richmond, Va. - Richmond 31-28)
Towson gave a battle to #6 Richmond and led after three quarters, but a David Broadus touchdown with 10:16 left led to a Spiders 31-28 victory. Shane Simpson broke for 106 yards on 12 carries while Darius Victor had 99 yards on 19 rushes, scoring four touchdowns.
BUSHROD, SCHAEFER, O'CONNELL INDUCTED INTO TOWSON ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME
Among the inductees into the Towson Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2021 include three members of the Towson football program: Jermon Bushrod, Sean Schaefer and Dan O'Connell.
Bushrod was a four-year starter at offensive tackle from 2003-06, going from walk-on to scholarship player and being a three-time All-Atlantic 10 honoree. His led him to be taken in the fourth round of the NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints, which he would be a starter for the Super Bowl XLIV champion.
Schaefer was a four-year starting quarterback for Towson from 2005-08, finishing his career as the program's all-time passing leader with 11,644 yards. The 2008 All-CAA selection also holds program records in total offense, passing attempts, passing completions and completion percentage.
O'Connell served in the Towson media relations office for 35 years from 1979-2014 and was the football SID and scorekeeper. He served on the CoSIDA Academic All-America committee for 27 years and works statistics for the Baltimore Ravens.
