The Game: Towson (2-4, 1-2 CAA) @ No. 13 William & Mary (4-2, 2-1 CAA)
When: Sat., Oct. 21 – 3:30 p.m.
Where: Zable Stadium – Williamsburg, Va.
Online Broadcast: FloFootball ($)
----Broadcasters: Jay Colley (PxP), Mike Leach, Shawn Knight (analysts)
Audio Broadcast: Towsontigers.com
----Broadcasters: Spiro Morekas (PxP), Gordy Combs (Analyst)
Series: William & Mary leads 11-7
 
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The Towson University football team hits the road to Virginia to play at #13 William & Mary on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 3:30 p.m.
 
The game will air live on FloFootball.com, with Jay Colley, Mike Leach and Shawn Knight on the call live from Wildcat Stadium.  In addition, Spiro Morekas and Gordy Combs will have the radio call on towsontigers.com.
 
Both teams are coming off a bye week.  Towson fell to UAlbany 21-14 on Oct. 7 at home to stand at 2-4 overall and 1-2 in the CAA.  William & Mary is back home after falling in a pair of road games, the last a 27-13 defeat at Virginia, to be 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the league.
 
This will be meeting 19 between Towson and William & Mary.  The two teams have played every fall season since 2011 (except 2020 due to COVID).  William & Mary has won the last two meetings, including a 44-24 victory on Oct. 22, 2022, to lead the all-time series 11-7.  Towson's last win in the series came on Nov. 16, 2019, a 31-10 victory in Williamsburg.
 
A NEW ERA OF TOWSON FOOTBALL BEGINS IN 2023
It is a new year for Towson as the Tigers are set for their 54th season.  It is also the first season for new head coach Pete Shinnick.
 
It is a new look Towson team with 44 new players joining in their first year with Towson, including 28 transfers and 16 true freshmen or first-year players.  The offense returns six starters while the defense returns five.
 
GIBBS NAMED TO SHRINE BOWL 1000, REESE'S SENIOR BOWL WATCHLIST
Jesus Gibbs was selected to the 2024 Shrine Bowl 1000, being named one of the top NFL draft eligible college players in the country.  The 1,000 players, selected by NFL scouts and college personnel, are in contention to play in the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl in Texas. He was also selected to the Reese's Senior Bowl Watchlist for the second consecutive year.
 
In 30 games in his Towson career since transferring in from South Carolina, Gibbs stands with 93 total tackles, 21.0 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks.  Gibbs will look to be the second Towson player in the Shrine Bowl, with Tye Smith being the first in 2015.
 
HUNTER HONORED AS STATS PERFORM PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN
D'Ago Hunter was recognized as a 2023 STATS Perform Preseason All-American Third Team as a punt returner.
 
Last season, Hunter became Towson's first All-American was 2018, amassing 1,207 all-purpose yards off 639 kickoff yards, 195 punt return yards, 262 rushing yards and 111 receiving yards, adding three special teams touchdowns of at least 74 yards each.
 
In 2022, Hunter was third in FCS in yards per punt return (16.2) and fourth in FCS in combined kick return yardage (834).
 
THREE TIGERS RECOGNIZED IN 2023 CAA PRESEASON AWARDS
Three Tigers were recognized on the CAA preseason awards: D'Ago Hunter earned 2023 CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Team at kick returner while Jesus Gibbs and Robert Javier were preseason all-conference honorable mention.
 
JAVIER NAMED FCS NATIONAL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORABLE MENTION
With a stellar performance in the Towson secondary against Morgan State on Sept. 16, Robert Javier was selected as an FCS National Defensive Player of the Week Honorable Mention.
 
Javier earned his first-ever two-interception game, also breaking up four passes and making three tackles.  His eight passes defended are currently second-most in the CAA.
 
BATTLE FOR GREATER BALTIMORE SERIES EXTENDED THROUGH 2027
In July 2021, Towson and Morgan State announced an extension of the Battle for Greater Baltimore series through the 2027 season.  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.
 
Towson defeated Morgan State 20-10 in Baltimore on Sept. 16.  Towson leads the all-time series 22-6, winning the last six.
 
GAY NAMED CAMPBELL TROPHY® SEMIFINALIST
Towson linebacker Jamal Gay was honored as a semifinalist for the 2023 Campbell Trophy®, announced by the National Football Foundation on Sept. 27.  The Campbell Trophy® recognizes an individual as the absolute best scholar-athlete in the nation for combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.
 
Gay earned his undergraduate degree from Towson in May 2022 in business administration with a 3.69 grade point average and is currently working on his Master's Degree in marketing intelligence, currently having a 3.81 GPA in graduate school.  On the field, he has 35 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a pass break-up through six games.
 
20 GRADUATES SUITING UP FOR TOWSON
Several Tigers are playing as college graduates. Towson has 20 total graduate players.
Towson graduates (10) -
Matthew Akuchie        Malik Jackson
Alex Desire                 Robert Javier
Jamal Gay                   Charles Peeples
Jesus Gibbs                Frank Stettner
D'Ago Hunter              Daniel Thompson
           
Graduates of other schools (10) -
Antonio Howard (Northern Michigan)
Kamari Jackson (Delaware State)
Da'Kendall James (Norfolk State)
Daviyon Johnson (Monmouth)
Mike Police (West Florida)
Jabari Reddock (Stony Brook)
Justin Ritter (James Madison)
Josh Roberts (Lafayette)
Justin Toler (Norfolk State)
Tylen Wallace (Missouri Western State)
 
TOWSON PICKED NINTH IN CAA PRESEASON POLL
The Tigers were predicted to finish ninth in the league in the preseason coaches poll.  Towson received 85 points in the poll.  2022 CAA co-champions William & Mary and New Hampshire ranked first and second in the poll with 195 and 179 votes respectively.
 
2023 CAA Football Predicted Order of Finish (first-place votes)
1. William & Mary (13), 195
2. New Hampshire (1), 179
3. Richmond, 159
4. Delaware (1), 149
5. Elon, 146
6. Rhode Island, 135
7. Villanova, 129
8. Monmouth, 94
9. Towson, 85
10. North Carolina A&T, 70
11. UAlbany, 64
12. Campbell, 62
13. Maine, 40
14. Stony Brook, 38
15. Hampton, 30
 
TIGERS IN THE PROS
Towson made its mark in the Canadian Football League, with four former Towson players being part of CFL rosters in week one.  Three players have competed in multiple games this season: Tibo Debaillie, Andrew Garnett and Tyrrell Pigrome.
 
In 2022, Darius Victor was the Offensive Player of the Year in the reformed United States Football League (USFL).  He returned to the New Jersey Generals in 2023, finishing third in the league with 554 rushing yards, adding seven combined touchdowns.
 
Two more Towson players played in the XFL in 2023, including Tye Smith, who played five seasons in the National Football League.
 
Tigers in the Pros – 2023
Canadian Football League
--Tibo Debaillie, DL: BC Lions
--Andrew Garnett, OL: Edmonton Elks
--Tyrrell Pigrome, QB: Ottawa Redblacks
--Roman Wahrheit, OL: Ottawa Redblacks (practice squad)
 
Indoor Football League
--Shane Simpson, RB: Quad City Steamwheelers
--Caleb Smith, WR: Iowa Barnstormers
 
United States Football League
--Darius Victor, RB: New Jersey Generals
 
XFL
--Elorm Lumor, DL: St. Louis Battlehawks
--Tye Smith, DB: Orlando Guardians
 
QUARTERBACK COMPETITION.....
With Tyrrell Pigrome finishing his collegiate career last season, the Tigers had a quarterback position battle with several competitors.           (numerical order below)
 
#9 Sean Brown, R-Jr.
Spent last three years at Liberty University
#14 Zack Jackson, R-So.
University of Maryland transfer after 2021 redshirt season
#15 Nathan Kent, R-Jr.
Played in four career games from 2021-22
#16 Scott Smith III, R-So.
Starting quarterback in 2022 season opener
#18 Jack Pellicciotti, Fr.
Led MPSSAA in passing yards last two years of high school
 
EXPERIENCED WR CORPS
Towson has strong, returning depth on the WR unit, with six of the top seven wide receivers in receiving yards in 2022 returning this season.
 
Wide Receivers (in order of leaders of receiving yards)

Name	Seasons/Games	Career Stats (TU)
Da'Kendall James	2022-pres. | 15 games	64 rec., 725 yds., 5 TD
Zay Perkins	2022-pres. | 16 games	42 rec., 488 yds., 7 TD
Brady McElhaney	2021-pres. | 27 games	18 rec., 148 yds.
Daniel Thompson IV	2019-pres. | 35 games	40 rec., 540 yds., 3 TD
Lukkas Londono	2021-pres. | 18 games	27 rec., 290 yds., 1 TD
Sam Reynolds	2022-pres. | 11 games	11 rec., 51 yds.

 
PETE SHINNICK - NEW TOWSON HEAD COACH
On Dec. 11, 2022, Pete Shinnick was announced as the new head coach of Towson football.  He becomes the fifth coach in program history.
 
Shinnick comes to Towson after starting the program at West Florida, leading the Argonauts to the 2019 NCAA DII national title and the 2017 NCAA DII title game.  Including going 56-21 in six seasons at West Florida from 2016-22 (no season in 2020 COVID year), Shinnick has a career record of 161-71, including being the head coach at UNC Pembroke and Azusa Pacific.
 
Shinnick takes over for Rob Ambrose, who served as Towson's head coach from 2009-22.  Towson has had five head coaches in program history: Carl Runk (1969-71), Phil Albert (1972-91), Gordy Combs (1992-2008), Ambrose (2009-22) and Pete Shinnick (2023-pres.).
 
LAST GAME (UALBANY 21, TOWSON 14)
(10/7/2023 - TOWSON, MD.):
Towson took the lead in the third quarter off 14 straight points, having a 17-14 advantage on Homecoming, but fell to UAlbany 24-17.
Important Stat:
Towson - Held UAlbany to 74 rushing yards
UAlbany - Averaged 5.5 yards per offensive play
Top Passer:
Towson - Nathan Kent: 19-31, 217 yards, 1 INT
UAlbany - Reese Poffenbarger: 18-25, 225 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Top Rusher:
Towson - Devin Matthews: 25 rush, 48 yards, 1 TD
UAlbany - Griffin Woodell: 17 rush, 76 yards
Top Receiver:
Towson - Carter Runyon: 7 catches, 74 yards
UAlbany - MarQeese Dietz: 7 catches, 58 yards, 1 TD
Standout Defensive Player:
Towson - Dion Crews-Harris (DL): 6 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 FR
UAlbany - Dylan Kelly (LB): 23 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 BrUp
 
INTERNATIONAL TIGERS
Towson's influence is growing across the world. Three Towson players hail from outside the United States, including two from Canada.
--Sahil Bhullar, OL: Thornhill, Ontario, Canada
--Samuel Obiang, DL: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
--Florian Staehler, OL: Köln, Germany
 
Towson has also had former players from Belgium, Finland and Norway.
 
REPPING THE HOME STATE
The Towson roster represents the Old Line State well, sporting 41 players from the home state of Maryland.  This includes five players from Baltimore City/County: Dion Crews-Harris (Baltimore), Anthony Delle Donne (Baltimore), Tyrell Greene Jr. (Baltimore), Rishon Holmes (Baltimore) and Scott Smith III (Brooklandville).
 
TOWSON TO APPEAR ON MONUMENTAL SPORTS NETWORK
Four Towson football home games will be appearing on Monumental Sports Network this season.
 
The home of the Washington Capitals, Mystics and Wizards, Monumental Sports Network is based out of Bethesda and is aired across the DMV, spanning from Pennsylvania, West Virginia and North Carolina.
 
In addition, all Towson home games and road games at CAA opponents will be aired on FloFootball, the exclusive streaming home of the CAA.  Spiro Morekas and Gordy Combs return as the Towson football radio team.
 
SCOUTING WILLIAM & MARY:
William & Mary stands third in FCS, and first in the CAA, in scoring defense, allowing 13.5 points per game, including three games allowing single digit points.
 
Senior defensive lineman Nate Lynn and junior linebacker John Pius stand in the top-four in the CAA in sacks with eight and six respectively, while senior linebacker Kevin Jarrell leads the team in tackles with 38.  On offense, junior quarterback Darius Wilson has tallied 738 passing yards, 250 rushing yards and five total touchdowns.  Junior Malachi Imoh and senior Bronson Yoder have combined for 908 rushing yards.
 
LAST GAME (#12/13 W&M 44, TOWSON 24)
(10/22/2022 - TOWSON, MD.):
Despite 291 yards of total offense from Tyrrell Pigrome, Towson fell to #12/13 William & Mary 44-24 on Homecoming Weekend.
Important Stat:
Towson - Second 100+ yard passing, rushing game for Tyrrell Pigrome
W&M - Earned 300 yards rushing
Top Passer:
Towson - Tyrrell Pigrome: 16-28, 179 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
W&M - Darius Wilson: 8-15, 164 yards, 2 TD
Top Rusher:
Towson - Tyrrell Pigrome: 22 rush, 112 yards, 1 TD
W&M - Malachi Imoh: 8 rush, 94 yards
Top Receiver:
Towson - Da'Kendall James: 5 catches, 77 yards, 1 TD
W&M - Caylin Newton: 4 catches, 47 yards, 1 TD
Standout Defensive Player:
Towson - Mason Woods (LB): 5 tackles, 1 TFL
W&M - Tyler Freeland (CB): 9 tackles, 3 FF, 1 TFL
 
IMPORTANT DATES: TOWSON VS. W&M
--Sept. 15, 2012 (Towson, Md. - Towson 20-17):
Towson's first game in defense of its 2011 CAA championship was a thriller, with the Tigers holding off a W&M comeback attempt to take a 20-17 victory.  Towson needed 422 yards of total offense and a 35:52 time of possession, with quarterback Grant Enders having 234 yards of total offense himself.
 
--Nov. 16, 2013 (Williamsburg, Va. - Towson 15-9):
#10 Towson was tasked with taking on the top ranked defense in FCS in #16 W&M, winning its 10th straight road game with a 15-9 victory.  Terrance West ran for 157 yards and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score in the third quarter to give Towson the lead for good.  Donnell Lewis finished with 10 tackles and a key fourth quarter interception.
 
--Oct. 13, 2018 (Towson, Md. - Towson 29-13)
In its last game against W&M under Jimmye Laycock, Towson overcame a three-point halftime deficit with a 19-0 second half to defeat the Tribe 29-13.  Towson nearly doubled up W&M on total offense with 456 yards to its opponent's 233, including Tom Flacco throwing for 188 yards and rushing for 109 more.
 
RANDY BIELSKI ENTERS TOWSON ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME
Among the inductees into the Towson Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2023 includes former defensive back and kicker Randy Bielski.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame on Oct. 6.
 
The two-time All-American left Towson with then-program records in tackles (288), interceptions (13) and scoring (169), playing from 1976-79.  He led Towson to the 1976 Stagg Bowl for an NCAA DIII national title game appearance.
 
He was the first-ever Towson Tiger to be drafted into the National Football League, being taken as a kicker in the 12th round by the Baltimore Colts in 1980.
 
CAA FOOTBALL SHAKEUP
CAA Football has undergone changes for the 2023 season, beginning with a new name.  The CAA is now the Coastal Athletic Association, officially changing its name on July 20, formerly the Colonial Athletic Association.
 
CAA Football also welcomed in two new members: Campbell, which joined as a full member this year, and North Carolina A&T, which was a full member last season but joins the CAA Football ranks this year. 
 
The CAA now has 15 football members.  A 16th, Bryant, will join starting in the 2024 season.
 
SAM REYNOLDS
Wide receiver Sam Reynolds will be on the sideline Saturday after having a general medical condition on Aug. 15.  The redshirt sophomore played all 11 games last season.