The Game: Towson (1-1, 0-1 CAA) vs. No. 5/4 North Dakota State (2-0, 0-0 MVFC)
When: Sat., Sept. 18 – 6 p.m.
Where: Johnny Unitas® Stadium – Towson, Md.
Online Video Broadcast: FloSports ($)
----Broadcasters: Spiro Morekas (PxP), Gordy Combs (Analyst)
Online Radio Broadcast: Towsontigers.com
----Broadcasters: Spiro Morekas (PxP), Gordy Combs (Analyst)
Series: North Dakota State leads 2-0
TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University football team is back at Johnny Unitas® Stadium for the first time in 95 weeks, hosting #5/4 North Dakota State in a rematch of the FCS title game in 2014 on Saturday, Sept. 18 at 6 p.m.
The game will be broadcast on FloSports, available via subscription, with Spiro Morekas and Coach Gordy Combs on the call live from Unitas. Visit FloSports.tv/CAA to view the full Colonial Athletic Association schedule and sign up today. Morekas and Combs will also have the audio call on towsontigers.com.
2021 football season tickets, flex plans, group tickets and single game tickets are now on sale. For more information, interested parties may contact the Towson Athletics ticket office by visiting
www.towsontigers.com, calling 1-855-TU-TIGER or emailing
jbehringer@towson.edu.
This is Towson's first home game since Nov. 23, 2019. The Tigers are back home for the first time after sitting out the 2020-21 academic year.
Towson, predicted to finish seventh in the Colonial Athletic Association this season, is coming off a 26-14 road defeat in its league opener at New Hampshire to stand at 1-1 overall. North Dakota State, predicted to get second in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, defeated Valparaiso 64-0 to begin at 2-0.
Towson is not currently ranked in either national poll. North Dakota State is at #5 in the STATS FCS Poll and #4 in the AFCA Coaches Poll.
Playing its first home game since Nov. 23, 2019, Towson will play North Dakota State for the first time in a regular season game. NDSU leads the all-time series 2-0, taking the FCS title game 35-7 on Jan. 4, 2014 in Frisco, Texas and 24-17 on Nov. 26, 1983 in Fargo in the Division II NCAA Tournament First Round.
TALE OF THE TAPE
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."
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 EARNS COSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT® SELECTION
Aaron Grzymkowski was honored as a College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District® Division I Football Team selection,
Grzymkowski earned his undergraduate degree with a 3.671 grade point average (GPA) and is currently enrolled in graduate school with a 4.0 GPA in applied information technology.
This is the third straight academic year where a Towson football player has been recognized on the CoSIDA Academic All-District® teams. Tom Flacco earned the award in 2019 while each Grant Udinski and Zane Ventimiglia were honor in 2018.
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 is on the team's practice squad.
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, NFL (practice squad)
--Frank Beltre (DL): Ottawa Redblacks, CFL
--
Tibo Debaillie (DL): Edmonton Elks, CFL
--Malik Tyne (LB): Edmonton Elks, CFL
--Robert Heyward (LB): Marburg Mercenaries, German Football League
-----------
--Tom Flacco, Saskatchewan Roughriders preseason camp (CFL)
--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: 1,060
--10th: Shane Leatherbury, 1,848 (2017-19)
Receiving Touchdowns: 10
--9th: Many players, 14
Receptions: 82
--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 vs. Morgan State, nine are entering their first season with the team. 11 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 (15th 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 (NEW HAMPSHIRE 26, TOWSON 14)
(9/11/2021, DURHAM, N.H.):
Towson got to within one score in the final quarter on a comeback attempt on the road, but fell to New Hampshire 26-14 in the CAA opener.
Important Stat:
Towson - Held UNH to 1-for-8 on third down conversions
UNH - +3 turnover margin, forcing four interceptions
Top Passer:
Towson -
Jeff Miller: 12-27, 147 yards, TD, 2 INT
UNH - Bret Edwards: 24-32, 261 yards, 2 TD
Top Rusher:
Towson -
Jerry Howard Jr.: 18 rush, 97 yards
UNH - Dylan Laube: 11 rush, 77 yards, TD
Top Receiver:
Towson -
Ryan Rutkowski: 4 catches, 74 yards
UNH - Sean Coyne: 9 catches, 113 yards, TD
Standout Defensive Player:
Towson -
Keyvone Bruton: 8 tackles, 1 fumble recovery
UNH - Elijah Lewis: 9 tackles, 2 sacks
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 NEW HAMPSHIRE:
New Hampshire has been predicted to finish fifth in the CAA this season. Sean McDonnell is the longest tenured coach in the league, being in season 22 with his alma mater.
Sophomore Bret Edwards leads the offense, going 17-for-25 with three touchdowns the opening weekend, handing off to Carlos Washington Jr. 16 times, who ran for 63 yards. On the defense side, senior safety Pop Bush is the reigning FCS National Defensive Player of the Week after having 10 tackles, two forced fumbles and an interception last week. Up front, junior Niko Kvietkus got six tackles and a sack last Saturday.
SCOUTING NORTH DAKOTA STATE:
North Dakota State has won the FCS national title eight times, all coming since 2011. Head coach Matt Entz, the 2019 MVFC Coach of the Year, is in his third season at the helm and with the program since 2014.
Through two games, NDSU has the top rushing offense in FCS with 358.5 yards on the ground a game, led by sophomore Dominic Gonnella with 146 yards off 9.1 yards a rush. Junior Quincy Patterson, a Virginia Tech transfer, is 16-for-21 at quarterback with 217 yards and two touchdowns. The leading tackle for the second-ranked scoring defense in FCS is senior safety Michael Tutsie with nine.
LAST TIME VS. NDSU (NDSU 35, TOWSON 7)
(1/4/14, FRISCO, TEXAS):
Tied after the first quarter, NDSU scored 28 unanswered points to win the FCS title game 35-7 over Towson.
Important Stat:
Towson - Earned 373 yards of total offense to NDSU's 345
NDSU - Four rushing TDs, all by different players
Top Passer:
Towson - Peter Athens: 28-44, 267 yards, INT
NDSU - Brock Jensen: 13-18, 135 yards, TD
Top Rusher:
Towson - Terrance West: 22 rush, 99 yards, TD
NDSU - John Crockett: 9 rush, 86 yards, TD
Top Receiver:
Towson - Derrick Joseph: 5 catches, 61 yards
NDSU - Zach Vraa: 3 catches, 51 yards, TD
Standout Defensive Player:
Towson - Christian Carpenter: 7 tackles, 1 TFL
NDSU - Colten Heagle: 6 tackles, 1 FG blocked
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.
