TOWSON, Md. – The Battle for Greater Baltimore trophy is staying in Towson as the Towson University football team defeated Morgan State 29-21 to improve to 2-0 on the season in front of 9,784 fans at Johnny Unitas® Stadium.
 
Towson (2-0) outscored its Baltimore rival 16-7 in the second half to rally from a one-point halftime deficit to Morgan State (0-2).  Towson held the ball for 20:26 of the second half to Morgan State's 9:34.
 
With the win, Towson has been victorious in six home openers in the last seven seasons.
 
Key Stats:

• Towson outgained Morgan State 385-302 on offense, including 221-98 in the second half.  Towson powered its way to 228 rushing yards, averaging 5.1 yards a carry.
• The Tigers had a big advantage in time of possession, holding the ball for 35:37 on offense while Morgan State had possession for 24:23.
• Tyrrell Pigrome led the Towson offense all game, going 14-for-25 for 157 yards and three touchdowns while rushing 19 times for 124 yards, averaging 6.5 yards a carry.  He found Darian Street twice for a pair of touchdowns and 48 yards.
• Also on the ground, Devin Matthews ran the ball 11 times for 54 yards.
• Keegan Vaughan was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals, including a long of 37 yards in the second quarter.
• On the defensive side, Mason Woods had a strong day with six tackles plus his first career sack and interception.  Ryan Kearney had a team-best seven tackles, also breaking up a pass.
• For Morgan State, quarterback Carson Baker was 10-for-24, getting 152 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.  Alfonzo Graham rushed 17 times for 89 yards and a score.  Linebacker Lawrence Richardson racked up 13 tackles, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble.

Postgame Quote:
Towson head coach Rob Ambrose: "It is great to be 2-0 and really great to have about 10,000 people in the stands for the home opener.  I am proud of the resilience of this football team, we didn't get rattled and we found a way to win a game.  Hats off to the Morgan State players and coaching staff, they are on the right track."
 
How It Happened:

• Morgan State got off to a fast start, rushing down the field with multiple 10+ yard rushes and aided later by a Towson holding penalty on fourth down.  Alfonzo Graham bolted for a 16-yard rushing score to put Morgan State up 7-0 in the opening four minutes.
• A Towson fumble gave the ball back to Morgan State on the Towson 24.  Towson held with three incompletions, then Ryan Kearney and Jamal Gay combined to stop Carson Baker on a rush to force a turnover on downs.
• Towson turned to the running game in the next drive as Devin Matthews and Tyrrell Pigrome grinded down the field.  The pair aided Towson getting to the Morgan State red zone, breaking through on a 17-yard dart to Brady McElhaney.  A few more rushes got Towson to the seven, where a field goal brought Towson within four at 7-3 Morgan State.
• A holding penalty ended Morgan's next drive around midfield, sending a punt to midfield.  Towson got back the ball but punted later.  At midfield for Morgan, a deflected pass was intercepted by Mason Woods at the Towson 49.  A few passes later, a 19-yard reception by Isaiah Perkins for a touchdown put Towson ahead 10-7.
• The visitors responded in a big way, putting together a 75-yard drive for a touchdown, capped by a 31-yard reception by Avery Jones for a 14-10 Bears lead.
• A 60-yard kickoff return by Juwan Burgess put Towson on the Morgan State 18 to begin the next drive.  Towson was stifled but kicked a 37-yard field goal to pull within one at 14-13, the eventual halftime score.
• Short passes and rushes fueled Towson out of the locker room of the second half.  A Matthews 10-yard rush got Towson into the Morgan State red zone, then two plays later, Pigrome found Darian Street in the end zone for the 20-yard score, sending Towson up 20-14.
• After a first down conversions, plays of 18 yards, 15 yards and 18 yards, capped by a Baker 18-yard score to Graham, put Morgan State back in front 21-20.
• The Tigers stayed with the running game and made dividends, having Pigrome and D'Ago Hunter rush down the field.  But the pass proved the final victor of the 68-yard drive as Pigrome again found Street for a 28-yard touchdown.  Towson failed on the two-point conversion attempt but led 26-21.
• Woods sacked Baker to conclude the third quarter to enter the final period.  The penalty stopped the drive as the Bears punted.  Towson chewed up 7:26 of clock with rush after the rush from Pigrome, Hunter and Matthews.  Towson got all the way to the Morgan 10 and kicked a third field goal to lead 29-21, 6:31 to play.
• Morgan State attempted a final push, using a pass interference and a couple of rushes to get to the Towson 23.  Jesus Gibbs came up with a big sack for 13 yards on second down, then Kearney finished the day with a tackle in the secondary then hurrying the quarterback to force a bad throw and end the game.  Pigrome and Hunter rushed the ball for first downs to run out the clock and give Towson the 29-21 victory.

Inside the Numbers

• Tyrrell Pigrome earns Towson's first 100-yard passing and 100-yard rushing game combined since Tom Flacco passed for 304 yards and ran for 110 vs. Villanova on Sept. 21, 2019.
• Towson improves to 21-6 all-time vs. Morgan State, including winning the last five games.  This was the first time since 2017 when Towson-Morgan State was at Unitas.
• Towson starts the year 2-0 for the second time in the last three seasons.
• 9,784 fans make up the ninth largest crowd in Johnny Unitas® Stadium football history.

Next Game:

• Towson's next game will be a challenge against Big 12 Conference member West Virginia on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 1 p.m. in Morgantown.

- TowsonTigers.com –