The Game: Towson (4-5, 3-3 CAA) at #t13/18 Villanova (7-2, 5-1 CAA)
When: Sat., Nov. 11 – 1 p.m.
Where: Villanova Stadium – Villanova, Pa.
Online Broadcast: FloFootball ($)
----Broadcasters: Sam Kuperman (PxP), Steve Pinone (analyst)
Audio Broadcast: Towsontigers.com
----Broadcasters: Spiro Morekas (PxP), Gordy Combs (Analyst)
Series: Villanova leads 11-6
 
VILLANOVA, Pa. – The Towson University football team will seek a perfect road record against FCS teams in 2023 on Saturday, Nov. 11, taking on #t13/18 Villanova at 1 p.m. in Philadelphia.
 
The game will air live on FloFootball.com, with Sam Kuperman and Steve Pinone on the call live from Villanova Stadium.  In addition, Spiro Morekas and Gordy Combs will have the radio call on towsontigers.com.
 
Both teams are coming off road victories.  Towson defeated North Carolina A&T in Greensboro 42-32 last Saturday to stand at 4-5 overall and 3-3 in the CAA.  Villanova, in a five-way tie for first in the CAA at 5-1 and 7-2 overall, has won its last four, coming off a 45-33 victory at New Hampshire.  Villanova, which will have Senior Day on Saturday, is tied for 13th in the FCS Stats Poll and 18th in the AFCA Coaches Poll.
 
This will be the 18th all-time meeting between these two teams, with Villanova leading 11-6.  The last four meetings have were split, with Towson winning 27-3 on Nov. 5, 2022.
 
This season, Towson is 4-1 in road games, with the only loss coming in the opener at (FBS) Maryland.
 
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 43 new players joining in their first year with Towson, including 27 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 32 games in his Towson career since transferring in from South Carolina, Gibbs stands with 100 total tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks.  Gibbs will look to be the second Towson player in the Shrine Bowl, with Tye Smith being the first in 2015.
 
TAKING DOWN THE CAA PRESEASON FAVORITES
In the early going of the Pete Shinnick era, Towson has already earned a pair of big wins, defeating the two 2022 CAA champions on the road.  The Tigers won at then-#14/17 New Hampshire 54-51 (OT) and then-#13 William & Mary 34-24, the two teams predicted to finish first in the league in 2023.
 
This is the second year in a row where Towson defeated the CAA favorite in the preseason coaches poll.  The 2022 CAA preseason favorite was Villanova; Towson won 27-3 on Nov. 5, 2022 at home.
 
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.
 
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 44 tackles, two tackles for loss and a pass break-up through seven games.
 
19 GRADUATES SUITING UP FOR TOWSON
Several Tigers are playing as college graduates. Towson has 19 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 (9) -
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 Towson players played in the XFL in 2023, including Tye Smith, who played five seasons in the National Football League.
 
On Oct. 23, 2023, it was announced that Caleb Smith will play for the Albany Firebirds in 2024 for the new Arena 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
 
MATTHEWS APPROACHING TOP-10 IN RUSHING TDS
Devin Matthews has moved into the top-10 all-time in Towson history in career rushing touchdowns, standing tied for eighth.  In his third year with Towson, he has 22 career rushing touchdowns.
Career Rushing Touchdowns - Towson History
1. Terrance West - 84 (2011-13)
2. Darius Victor - 41 (2013-16)
.......
6. Dan Ricker - 26 (1983-87)
7. David Meggett - 23 (1987-88)
t8. Devin Matthews - 22 (2021-pres.)
t8. Paul Cillo - 22 (1981-82)
 
HUNTER BREAKS 4,000 ALL-PURPOSE YARD MARK
On Oct. 7, D'Ago Hunter broke the 4,000 all-purpose yards mark.
4,067 all-purpose yards (363 plays)
2,491 kickoff return yards (103 kickoff returns)
415 punt return yards (46 punt returns)
723 rushing yards (160 rush attempts)
438 receiving yards (54 receptions)
 
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 163-72, 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 (TOWSON 42, N.C. A&T 32)
(11/4/2023 - GREENSBORO, N.C.):
The balanced offense of Towson led the Tigers to a 42-32 victory at North Carolina A&T for the team's fourth road win of the season.
Important Stat:
Towson - Scored at least one touchdown every quarter
N.C. A&T - Finished with 501 yards of total offense
Top Passer:
Towson - Nathan Kent: 18-28, 263 yards, 2 TD
N.C. A&T  - Eli Brickhandler: 10-16, 181 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Top Rusher:
Towson - Devin Matthews: 17 rush, 98 yards, 3 TD
N.C. A&T  - Kenji Christian: 22 rush, 140 yards
Top Receiver:
Towson - Lukkas Londono: 6 catches, 126 yards
N.C. A&T  - Amonte Jones: 5 catches, 98 yards
Standout Defensive Player:
Towson - Xavier Terry (DB): 9 tackles, 1 FF
N.C. A&T  - Ty Williams Jr. (DB): 9 tackles, 1 TFL
 
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 VILLANOVA:
Villanova has had a winning season in all fall campaigns since 2019 and is umblemished at home this season with a 4-0 record.
 
On offense, Villanova leads the CAA with 7.06 yards per play on offense, led by graduate student quarterback Connor Watkins, who throws 56.9% for 1,811 yards, 14 touchdowns and seven picks.  The duo of graduate students Jalen Jackson and DeeWill Barlee averages 6.6 yards per rush, combining for 10 touchdowns.  The team is third in the CAA in scoring defense at 19.7 points allowed a game.  Sophomore defensive back Devon Marshall is tied for third in the CAA with eight pass break-ups.
 
LAST GAME (TOWSON 27, VILLANOVA 3)
(11/6/2022 - TOWSON, MD.):
Towson had one of its best defensive efforts ever in a CAA contest, taking down league preseason favorite Villanova 27-3 at home.
Important Stat:
Towson - Held Villanova to 153 total offensive yards
Villanova - Allowed one touchdown in first three quarters
Top Passer:
Towson - Tyrrell Pigrome: 11-21, 125 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Villanova - Connor Watkins: 7-21, 68 yards, 1 INT
Top Rusher:
Towson - Joachim Bangda: 17 rush, 107 yards
Villanova - TD Ayo-Durojalye: 17 rush, 49 yards
Top Receiver:
Towson - Isaiah Perkins: 4 catches, 60 yards
Villanova - Rayjuon Pringle: 4 catches, 45 yards
Standout Defensive Player:
Towson - Jesus Gibbs (DL): 4 tackles, 1 sack, 1 QBH
Villanova - Brendan Bell (LB): 10 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 BrUp
 
IMPORTANT DATES: TOWSON VS. VILLANOVA
--Sept. 10, 2011 (Towson, Md. - Towson 31-10):
Towson won its first home CAA game under coach Rob Ambrose with a 31-10 victory over #20 Villanova, shutting out the Wildcats in the first half with a 14-0 advantage and not trailing the rest of the way. It was Towson's first win against a ranked opponent since 2007.
 
--Oct. 27, 2012 (Villanova, Pa. - Towson 49-35):
Towson earned a game with 590 yards of total offense, breaking away in the third quarter to win 49-35 over Villanova, at the time tied for first place in the CAA.  The Tigers had 321 rushing yards, including 144 yards and two touchdowns from Terrance West.
 
--Sept. 15, 2018 (Villanova, Md. - Towson 45-35)
Towson came back from down 14 early with 35 consecutive points for a 45-35 victory at #10 Villanova, its first win over a top-10 opponent since 2013.  Tom Flacco had a second-straight 300+ yard passing game.  After this win, Towson will be ranked for the first time since 2014 and will stay ranked the rest of the year.
 
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.