The Game: Towson (0-0, 0-0 CAA) at Morgan State (0-0, 0-0 MEAC)
When: Sat., Sept. 4 – 4 p.m.
Where: Hughes Stadium – Baltimore, Md.
Online Broadcast: ESPN+ ($)
----Broadcasters: Phil Shoener (PxP), Emory Hunt (color)
Radio/Online Broadcast: Towsontigers.com
----Broadcasters: Spiro Morekas (PxP), Gordy Combs (Analyst)
Series: Towson leads 19-6
BALTIMORE – After 93 weeks/651 days, the Towson University football team is finally playing a game, heading to Cold Spring Lane to take on Morgan State on Saturday, Sept. 4 at 4 p.m. for the next chapter of The Battle for Greater Baltimore.
Tickets are available for the game through the Morgan State TicketMaster site.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN+, available via subscription, with Phil Shoener and Emory Hunt on the call live from Hughes Stadium in Baltimore. Spiro Morekas and Coach Gordy Combs will have the audio call on towsontigers.com.
For those seeking tickets for Towson home games, 2021 football season tickets, flex plans, group tickets and single game tickets are 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. Information for promotions will be announced at a future date.
Neither team competed during the 2020-21 academic year, opting out due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Both teams are playing their first game since Nov. 23, 2019.
Towson has been predicted to finish seventh in the Colonial Athletic Association this season, going 7-5 overall and 4-4 in its league during the 2019 season. In the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference preseason poll, Morgan State is predicted to take fifth, being 3-9 overall and 2-6 in conference play in 2019.
This is the 26th meeting between the closest teams in FCS play, being five miles apart. The rivals last played on Sept. 1, 2018 in Baltimore with the Tigers taking a 36-10 victory, Towson's third straight win in the series. Towson leads the all-time series, which began in 1979, 19-6. Morgan State's last win in the series came on Sept. 26, 2009, a 12-9 victory in Baltimore.
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 takes the field on Sept. 4, 2021 against Morgan State, it will have been 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: 1,005
--10th: Shane Leatherbury, 1,848 (2017-19)
Receiving Touchdowns: 10
--9th: Many players, 14
Receptions: 77
--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, 10 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 (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 24 total graduate players, tying with Northern Colorado for the most in FCS this season.
Towson graduates (12) -
Jabari Allen Aaron Grzymkowski
Marcus Bowman Ryan Rutkowski
Conrad Brake Robert Schwob
Brendan Cassels Caleb Smith
Jason Epps Aaron Speight
Andrew Garnett Darian Street
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 (ELON 25, #19/20 TOWSON 23)
(11/23/2019, TOWSON, MD.):
Towson's 15-point lead late in the third quarter did not hold as Elon came back to defeat Towson 25-23, with Elon going ahead on a field goal with 41 seconds remaining.
Important Stat:
Towson - Led for 52:03 of the game
Elon - Took advantage of four Towson turnovers
Top Passer:
Towson - Tom Flacco: 15-27, 214 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Elon - Davis Cheek: 12-24, 209 yards, TD
Top Rusher:
Towson - Yeedee Thaenrat: 11 rush, 103 yards
Elon - Brelynd Cyphers: 10 rush, 41 yards
Top Receiver:
Towson -
Daniel Thompson IV: 5 catches, 80 yards
Elon - De'Sean McNair: 3 catches, 71 yards, TD
Standout Defensive Player:
Towson -
Christian Dixon (LB): 8 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 sack
Elon - Marcus Willoughby (DE): 6 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 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 MORGAN STATE:
Morgan State has been predicted to finish fifth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference this season. Tyrone Wheatley enters his second season with Morgan State after the Bears opted out of the 2020-21 season.
In 2019, Morgan State averaged 18.7 points per game and will have San Diego State transfer Neil Broudreau at quarterback, protected by preseason all-league lineman Marvin Atuatasi. On defense, two preseason all-league players lead the way: defensive lineman Merinio Dendoe, a Holland native, and linebacker Devan Hebron, the leading tackle among 2019 returners.
LAST TIME VS. MORGAN (TOWSON 36, MSU 10)
(9/1/18, BALTIMORE, MD.):
Down 7-3 after the first quarter, Towson scored 24 unanswered points in over 27 minutes of play to win 36-10 and keep the Battle for Greater Baltimore trophy.
Important Stat:
Towson - Finished the game on a 36-3 run
MSU - Scored the first touchdown on a punt fumble recovery
Top Passer:
Towson - Tom Flacco: 18-28, 245 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
MSU - DeAndre Harris: 12-21, 101 yards, 1 INT
Top Rusher:
Towson -
Kobe Young: 7 rush, 66 yards, 1 TD
MSU - DeAndre Harris: 12 rush, 31 yards
Top Receiver:
Towson - Shane Leatherbury: 5 catches, 93 yards
MSU - Jack McCracken: 3 catches, 43 yards
Standout Defensive Player:
Towson - Diondre Wallace: 4 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT
MSU - Damare Whitaker: 9 tackles, 1 sack
IMPORTANT DATES: TOWSON VS. MORGAN STATE
--Sept. 29, 2001 (Baltimore, Md.):
Towson and Morgan State entered the fourth quarter tied at 7-7. Following a Towson field goal, Morgan State took the lead with a touchdown with 5:16 left, then a seven-play, 93-yard drive ended on a Noah Read TD to push Towson ahead 17-14. Morgan State forced overtime with a last second field goal. Ed Kulic hit an 18-yard field goal to give Towson the lead; a Morgan State fumble ended its OT chance as Towson took a 20-17 overtime victory.
--Sept. 1, 2005 (Towson, Md.):
Down 26-13 late in the third quarter, Towson rallied with 16 unanswered points, with Ron Halbruner's 29-yard field goal with one second left to give Towson the 29-26 victory. In his first-ever collegiate game, Sean Schaefer (Hall of Fame Class of 2021) threw for 344 yards while Nick Williams rushed for 141 yards.
--Sept. 2, 2017 (Towson, Md.):
The revival of the Battle for Greater Baltimore series at Towson saw a defensive battle at Unitas, with the Tigers taking a 10-0 victory. All points came in the second quarter. The Towson defense forced four turnovers and held Morgan State from scoring on three red zone appearances.
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.
