The Game: Towson (1-3, 0-1 CAA) at #14/17 New Hampshire (2-2, 0-1 CAA)
When: Sat., Sept. 30 – 3 p.m.
Where: Wildcat Stadium – Durham, N.H.
Online Broadcast: FloFootball ($)
----Broadcasters: Joe Weil (PxP), Sean McDonnell (Analyst)
Audio Broadcast: Towsontigers.com
----Broadcasters: Spiro Morekas (PxP), Gordy Combs (Analyst)
Series: UNH leads 11-3
TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University football team will compete in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) games the rest of the regular season, starting with a trip north to #14/17 New Hampshire, reigning CAA champion, on Saturday, September 30 at 3 p.m.
The game will air live on FloFootball.com, with Joe Weil and Sean McDonnell on the call live from Wildcat Stadium. In addition, Spiro Morekas and Gordy Combs will have the radio call on towsontigers.com.
Towson fell in its final non-conference game on Saturday to Norfolk State 21-14 to stand at 1-3 overall and 0-1 in the CAA. New Hampshire, currently ranked #14 in the STATS FCS Poll and #17 in the AFCA Coaches Poll, fell in its CAA opener at Delaware 29-25 on Saturday to be 2-2 overall and 0-1 in the league.
This will be the 15th all-time meeting between Towson and New Hampshire, playing for the third-straight season. UNH won last year 37-14, its fourth straight win in the series, to lead the all-time meetings 11-3. Towson's last win in the series came on Oct. 5, 2013, a 44-28 victory at home.
This will be Towson's first game of the season outside the state of 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 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 28 games in his Towson career since transferring in from South Carolina, Gibbs stands with 86 total tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 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 seven passes defended is currently the 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.
21 GRADUATES SUITING UP FOR TOWSON
Several Tigers are playing as college graduates. Towson has 21 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 (11) -
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)
Makye Smith (Stony Brook)
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
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 24 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a pass break-up through the first four games.
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)
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 160-69, 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 (NORFOLK STATE 21, TOWSON 14)
(9/23/2023 - TOWSON, MD.):
Towson's final pass in the red zone to potentially tie the game was broken up to stop the comeback attempt as the Tigers fell 21-14 to Norfolk State.
Important Stat:
Towson - Had 201 yards passing, held opponent to 93 yards passing
Norfolk State - Ran the ball for 350 yards, averaging 6.5 yards a carry
Top Passer:
Towson -
Nathan Kent: 21-36, 201 yards, 1 INT
Norfolk State - Otto Kuhns: 5-14, 38 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Top Rusher:
Towson -
D'Ago Hunter: 9 rush, 57 yards
Norfolk State - Kevon King: 11 rush, 97 yards
Top Receiver:
Towson -
Carter Runyon: 6 receptions, 62 yards
Norfolk State - Aaron Moore: 2 receptions, 19 yards, 1 TD
Standout Defensive Player:
Towson -
Mason Woods (LB): 9 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FF
Norfolk State - Terron Mallory (DB): 8 tackles, 1 FF, 1 INT
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 NEW HAMPSHIRE:
New Hampshire, which shared the CAA regular season title last year with William & Mary, was predicted to finish second in the league in the preseason coaches poll.
The Wildcats have the second-highest scoring offense in the CAA at 35.5 points per game, led by senior Dylan Laube, 2022 All-American, who has racked up 307 rushing yards, 381 receiving yards, 298 special teams returns yards and nine touchdowns this year. The scoring defense is fifth in the CAA at 24.5 points allowed per game. 2022 All-American defensive end Josiah Silver leads the team with four tackles for loss, having 19 total tackles.
LAST GAME (NEW HAMPSHIRE 37, TOWSON 14)
(9/24/2022 - TOWSON, MD.):
Towson scored 14 points in the third quarter in a comeback attempt but fell to New Hampshire 37-14 in the 2022 CAA opener.
Important Stat:
Towson - Scored both touchdowns in third quarter
UNH - Dylan Laube - 250 all-purpose yards, including 92-yard TD punt return
Top Passer:
Towson -
Tyrrell Pigrome: 14-28, 142 yards, 1 TD
UNH - Max Brosmer: 17-23, 194 yards, 3 TD
Top Rusher:
Towson -
Devin Matthews: 4 rush, 41 yards, 1 TD
UNH - Dylan Laube: 23 rush, 114 yards
Top Receiver:
Towson -
Da'Kendall James: 3 catches, 52 yards
UNH - Joey Corcoran: 6 catches, 71 yards, 1 TD
Standout Defensive Player:
Towson -
Ryan Kearney (LB): 11 tackles
UNH - Dylan Ruiz (DE): 4 tackles, 3 sacks
IMPORTANT DATES: TOWSON VS. NEW HAMPSHIRE:
--Sept. 26, 1981 - UNH 31 - Towson 29 (Durham, N.H.):
Towson overcame a 17-point deficit with 22 straight points in the third quarter, but a UNH TD pass with 3:11 left gave the Wildcats the 31-29 victory. Joe Anderson passed for 178 yards and two touchdowns, including five catches by Hernando Mejia for 84 yards and a score.
--Nov. 17, 2012 - Towson 64, UNH 35 (Durham, N.H.):
Towson secured a share of its second-straight CAA title with its highest scoring output since 2005, defeating UNH 64-35 in Durham. Towson rushed for 415 yards in the game, including Terrance West carrying the ball 19 times for 236 yards and two scores. The Tigers had at least two touchdowns every quarter and have not scored as many points since.
--Oct. 5, 2013 - Towson 44, UNH 28 (Towson, Md.):
Towson overcame a 20-3 first quarter deficit with 41 unanswered points to secure a 44-28 home victory over UNH. Peter Athens threw for 343 yards and two touchdowns while Terrance West rushed 28 times for 238 yards and three touchdowns.
RANDY BIELSKI TO ENTER 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 will be 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.
