Tag Archive | "Derrick Joseph"

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Towson’s Joseph named CAA Special Teams Player of the Week

Posted on 24 September 2012 by WNST Staff

DERRICK JOSEPH NAMED AS CAA SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF WEEK
Tiger Sophomore Leads CAA In Kickoff Return Average

TOWSON, Md. – Sophomore Derrick Joseph (McDonough H.S./LaPlata, Md.) of Towson University has been named as the Colonial Athletic Association Special Teams Player of the Week, it has been announced by CAA officials.

Joseph, the CAA leader in kickoff returns, was also named as the National Kickoff Returner of the Week by College Sports Performance. This marks the second time in his career he has been named as the CAA Specialist of the Week.

In the Tigers’ 46-17 victory over St. Francis (Pa.) on Saturday night, Joseph had two kickoff returns for 148 yards and a touchdown.After the Tigers fell behind, 7-0, Joseph took the ensuing kickoff at the Towson one-yard line and ran down the near sideline for a touchdown to tie the game.

It was the second-longest kickoff return in school history, topped only by David Meggett’s 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the Tigers’ 45-34 win over Northeastern in the 1988 season.

In the second quarter, Joseph had a 49-yard kickoff return to set up a 39-yard touchdown drive that resulted in a three-yard TD run by sophomore Terrance West (Northwestern H.S./Baltimore, Md.).

A second team All-Colonial Athletic Association selection last year, Joseph is averaging 34.7 yards per kickoff return this season, tops in the CAA. He also ranks fifth in NCAA FCS in kickoff return average.

In his brief career, he has returned 42 kickoffs for 1,221 yards and a 29.1 average.

When he returned a kickoff for a touchdown against St. Francis, he became the second player in school history to return a pair of kickoffs for touchdowns in his career. Joseph, who had a 93-yard kickoff return for a TD in 2011, tied the record for career kickoff returns for touchdown, a mark set by Meggett and matched by Maurice Sydnor.

Joseph’s kickoff return marked the seventh time in school history that a Tiger had a kickoff return for a TD.

In 1985, Mike Barth became the first Towson player with a kickoff return for a touchdown when he had a 96-yard return for a touchdown in a win over American International.

In 1988, Meggett had a 100-yard return against Northeastern and an 84-yard return at Howard, helping the Tigers to a pair of wins.
Sydnor had a pair of kickoff returns for touchdowns in his career. In 1993, he had an 86-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Charleston Southern. Two years later, he accomplished the feat again as his 89-yard kickoff return for a TD helped the Tigers trim Butler, 34-3.

Towson is 7-0 when someone returns a kickoff for a touchdown.

The Tigers, now 2-1, return to action on Saturday night, Sept. 29 when they visit No. 2 Louisiana State.
– TowsonTigers.com –

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West leads way for Towson in Homecoming victory

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West leads way for Towson in Homecoming victory

Posted on 22 September 2012 by WNST Staff

TOWSON, Md. – Sophomore running back Terrance West ran for three scores to set a new Towson touchdown rushing record as the 13th-ranked Tigers handled St. Francis, 46-17, Saturday night in front of a homecoming crowd of 9,828 fans at Johnny Unitas® Stadium.

West, who rushed for 62 yards on just eight carries, now owns the school touchdown rushing record with 34 scores in just 14 career games.

West wasn’t the only star of the game though as senior quarterback Grant Enders completed 14-of-18 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore Derrick Joseph piled up 148 yards on a pair of kickoff returns, including a 99-yard touchdown return in the first quarter. It marked the second longest kickoff return in Towson history, just one yard behind David Meggett’s 100-yard touchdown return in 1988.

Towson (2-1) fell behind early as St. Francis (2-2) took advantage of an Enders interception which gave the Red Flash the ball in Tiger territory. Senior running back Keion Wade capped off the short St. Francis drive with a two-yard touchdown scamper to give the Red Flash a 7-0 lead less than five minutes into the game.

The Tigers would respond though with 29 consecutive points, sparked by the Joseph return that tied the game. West scored his first touchdown of the game on a two-yard run at the 8:11 mark of the first quarter and he then broke free on a 25-yard scoring run to put the Tigers up 21-7 with 2:15 remaining in the opening period.

The first West score was set up by a St. Francis fumble which was caused by junior Arnold Farmer and recovered by sophomore Tye Smith. The fumble recovery was the first turnover forced by the Towson defense this season.

Towson capped off its impressive scoring run on a Tom Ryan eight-yard touchdown reception from Enders. The Tigers pulled off a trick play after the Ryan score as junior kicker D.J. Soven took the direct snap on the point-after try and ran it in for a two-point conversion that put the home team up 29-7 at the 8:12 mark of the second quarter.

St. Francis’ Dan Conley scored on a six-yard touchdown run to halt the Towson scoring spurt on the ensuing drive for the Red Flash. However, a  49-yard kickoff return from Joseph set up the record-setting touchdown from West. The sophomore scored his fifth touchdown of the season and 34th of his career on a three-yard dash with 5:47 remaining in the opening half to put the Tigers ahead 36-14.

Towson scored the final touchdown of the half, and game, with just 23 second remaining in the second quarter as Enders found senior wide receiver Gerrard Sheppard for a 23-yard strike to send the Tigers into the intermission with a 43-14 lead.

In a low-scoring second half, each team connected on a field goal. The Tigers attempted just two passing plays in the second half.

Towson outgained St. Francis 441-233 in total yards and scored all four times it reached the red zone.

Senior Jordan Dangerfield and freshman Bryton Barr led the Tigers with eight tackles each, while senior Romale Tucker paced the defense with a pair of sack.

The Tigers will travel to Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) foe Louisiana State on Saturday, Sept. 29. The game is scheduled to kickoff at 7 p.m. and can be seen on ESPNU.

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