TOWSON, Md. – Coming off back-to-back Colonial Athletic Association championship seasons, the Towson University football team will hold Tiger Bowl III on Saturday, April 27 at 11:30 a.m. on Minnegan Field at Johnny Unitas® Stadium.

Last year, the Tiger Bowl attracted more than 1,500 fans to Unitas Stadium. Admission to the Tiger Bowl is free and it is open to the public.

Current 2013 season ticket holders are invited to a prime location to enjoy Tiger Bowl III. Held in the back of the East end zone opposite the videoboard, this special area will feature complimentary sandwiches provided by Chick-fil-A at Towson Town Center and 2013 football posters.

A registration table will be located by the entrance of this premium location for all current season ticket holders to gain entrance into this area.

New season tickets can be purchased at the box office of Johnny Unitas® Stadium or online here. Only current or new season ticket holders will be allowed into this area.

As the season ticket renewal deadline approaches on April 27, fans are encouraged to contact the Towson Athletics Ticket Office at 1-855-TU-TIGER or renew online here.

Tiger Bowl III will conclude the Tiger football team’s spring season. The Tigers, who have posted a 16-7 record the last two seasons and have posted a 13-3 two-season CAA record, have a very strong nucleus returning. On offense, the Tigers will rely on an experienced offensive line which includes three All-CAA selections, rising seniors Eric Pike, Randall Harris and Doug Shaw. Running back Terrance West also returns after earning first team All-CAA honors twice.

Senior linebacker Monte Gaddis, cornerback Jordan Love and defensive tackle Arnold Farmer are some of the top veterans returning on the defense, a unit that led the CAA last season.

After the conclusion of Tiger Bowl III, the Tiger men’s lacrosse team will honor its seniors when the Tigers host St. Joseph’s in a vital CAA matchup in Unitas Stadium at 7 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 1-855-TU-TIGER or click here.

SCHEDULE

Saturday, April 27

7 a.m.               Tiger Football Captain’s Breakfast

11:30 a.m.          Tiger Bowl III; Admission is Free

2 p.m.               Towson Softball (second game of doubleheader) vs. George Mason; Admission is Free

2 p.m.               Towson Baseball vs. UNC Wilmington; Admission is Free

7 p.m.               Towson Men’s Lacrosse vs. St. Joseph’s; Senior Night

TIGERS TO OPEN SPRING SEASON ON THURSDAY MORNING

Tigers To Conduct Early Morning Practice Sessions 

TOWSON, Md. – For the third year in a row, Coach Rob Ambrose and the Towson University will be getting an early start to their Spring Football practices. The Tigers will hold their weekday sessions at 5:30 a.m. for the next five weeks.

The Tigers will practice at 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday and Thursday during the week. On Saturday, the Tigers will hold practice sessions at various times. The Tigers’ spring season will conclude with Tiger Bowl III on Saturday, April 27.

Despite the loss of 16 seniors from last year’s team, Coach Ambrose and his staff will welcome 58 returning letter winners when the Tigers open their spring practice session on Thursday, March 28 at 5:30 a.m.

Coach Ambrose and his staff have been conducting early morning practices the last two years, and the results have been noticeable.

In 2011, the Tigers were the most-improved team in FCS football as they posted a 9-3 record and won their first Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) championship. They finished the season as the ninth-ranked team in the nation and earned a berth in the FCS playoffs.

Last year, the Tigers won their last four games of the season and finished with a 7-4 record. They also earned a share of the CAA championship as they tied for the title with New Hampshire, Richmond and Villanova. However, the Tigers did not receive an at-large bid to the NCAA playoffs.

“It is a common belief in the CAA that we have one of the toughest teams in the conference and I think it all starts with our early-morning practices,” says Ambrose. “It has been said that ‘the strong steel comes from the hottest fire’ and that’s part of what we are doing.

“The things that we are doing before many people eat breakfast help to make us who we are now,” he adds. “We also feel that this schedule is tremendous from the ‘student’ aspect. Our players are done with their football obligations by 10 a.m. every day and that leaves them the rest of the day to be regular students.”

Despite some significant losses to graduation, Coach Ambrose has high hopes for the Tigers. The Tigers return all five starters on the offensive line and All-American running back Terrance West (Northwestern H.S./Baltimore, Md.). On defense, the Tigers have all three starting linebackers returning in addition to a pair of All-CAA cornerbacks.

“We are looking forward to a very productive spring,” says Ambrose. “Everybody has a bad taste in their mouth after the way last season ended. Although we were hoping for an at-large berth to the playoffs, we were disappointed that we didn’t take care of business when we had the opportunity.

“Winning a CAA championship is extremely difficult,” he adds. “Winning back-to-back championships is darn near impossible. We have had a 13-3 record in the CAA the last two years, but there has been zero conversation in the locker room about what we’ve done. This team is focused on what we need to get it done again.”

According to Ambrose, the Tigers have several needs to address.

“We need to find our quarterback and figure out who our wide receivers will be,” he said. “Defensive line is also an area where we have to figure out who will play. We lost three starters on the defensive line.

“But, we are not concerned,” he adds. “We have quality players in all of these areas, but we need people to step up and claim the positions.”

Senior Peter Athens (Huntingtown H.S./Huntingtown, Md.), junior Joe Brennan (Camden Catholic H.S./Audubon, N.J.) and sophomore Connor Frazier (Damascus H.S./Gaithersburg, Md.) are the top candidates for the starting position at quarterback. Athens has started seven games in his career while Brennan is a transfer from the University of Wisconsin. Frazier appeared in three games as a back-up last year.

Sophomore Price Litton (Providence Day School/Matthews, N.C.) and red-shirt freshman Ryan Egolf (Bishop Shanahan H.S./Phoenixville, Pa.) will also receive a long look.

The quarterback who emerges as the Tigers’ starter will have the luxury of working behind a talented and experienced offensive line. The Tigers could have a veteran senior starting at all five positions.

Seniors Eric Pike (DuVal H.S./Landover, Md.) and Randall Harris (DuVal H.S./Lanham, Md.) return as the two tackles.  Pike and Harris were each named All-CAA first team selections as juniors. Pike is the more experienced of the two tackles and he has started all 34 games of his career.

Senior Doug Shaw (Loyola Blakefield H.S./Woodbine, Md.) returns at offensive center. A third-year starter, he was named second-team All-CAA last season. Seniors Anthony Davis (Clover Hill H.S./Richmond, Va.) and Charles Johnson (Poly H.S./Baltimore, Md.) could be the team’s starting guards. However, they will be pressured by some talented young linemen who will be trying to impress the coaching staff this spring.

For the last two years, the Tigers have had one of the top running games in FCS football, averaging 229.0 yards per game. With the return of West, that shouldn’t change. In two seasons, West has run for 2,376 yards in 21 games and has scored an amazing total of 43 rushing touchdowns. Senior Sterling Phifer (Landstown H.S./Virginia Beach, Va.) and junior Trea Jones (Wake Forest Rolesville H.S./Wake Forest, N.C.) will back him up.

Linebackers Monte Gaddis (Central Catholic H.S./Cleveland, Ohio), Telvion Clark (Granby H.S./Norfolk, Va.) and Bryton Barr (Mechanicsburg Area H.S./Camp Hill, Pa.) return as the heart of a defense that was top-ranked in the CAA last year.

Gaddis earned second-team All-CAA honors last season after making 74 tackles in 10 games. He ranked among the CAA leaders with 12 tackles for lost yardage and five sacks. A transfer from Virginia Tech, Clark made 49 tackles and recovered a fumble. As a first-year freshman, Barr made an immediate impact. A starter in 11 games, he had 74 tackles with two sacks. He also led the team with two fumble recoveries.

Senior Jordan Love (Deep Run H.S./Glen Allen, Va.) and junior Tye Smith (Wakefield H.S./Raleigh, N.C.) return at the cornerback positions. A transfer from Georgia, Love had 35 tackles and intercepted two passes. He was named second team All-CAA. A two-year starter at cornerback, Smith was a third team All-CAA selection. He led the Tigers with 75 tackles and had two forced fumbles.

TIGER BOWL III SET FOR APRIL 27 IN UNITAS STADIUM

Tiger Bowl To Conclude Tigers’ Spring Season

 

TOWSON, Md. – Coming off back-to-back Colonial Athletic Association championship seasons, the Towson University football team will hold Tiger Bowl III on Saturday, April 27 at 11:30 a.m. on Minnegan Field at Johnny Unitas® Stadium.

Last year, the Tiger Bowl attracted more than 1,500 fans to Unitas Stadium. Admission to the Tiger Bowl is free and it is open to the public.

Current 2013 season ticket holders are invited to a prime location to enjoy Tiger Bowl III. Held in the back of the East end zone opposite the videoboard, this special area will feature complimentary sandwiches provided by Chick-fil-A and 2013 football posters.

A registration table will be located by the entrance of this premium location for all current season ticket holders to gain entrance into this area.

New season tickets can be purchased at the box office of Johnny Unitas® Stadium. Only current or new season ticket holders will be allowed into this area.

As the season ticket renewal deadline approaches on April 27, fans are encouraged to contact the Towson Athletics Ticket Office at 1-855-TU-TIGER.

Tiger Bowl III will conclude the Tiger football team’s spring season. The Tigers, who have posted a 16-7 record the last two seasons and have posted a 13-3 two-season CAA record, have a very strong nucleus returning. On offense, the Tigers will rely on an experienced offensive line which includes three All-CAA selections, rising seniors Eric Pike, Randall Harris and Doug Shaw. Running back Terrance West also returns after earning first team All-CAA honors twice.

Senior linebacker Monte Gaddis, cornerback Jordan Love and defensive tackle Arnold Farmer are some of the top veterans returning on the defense, a unit that led the CAA last season.

After the conclusion of Tiger Bowl III, the Tiger men’s lacrosse team will honor its seniors when the Tigers host St. Joseph’s in a vital CAA matchup in Unitas Stadium at 7 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 1-855-TU-TIGER.

SCHEDULE

Saturday, April 27

7 a.m.               Tiger Football Captain’s Breakfast

11:30 a.m.          Tiger Bowl III; Admission is Free

2 p.m.               Towson Softball (second game of doubleheader) vs. George Mason; Admission is Free

2 p.m.               Towson Baseball vs. UNC Wilmington; Admission is Free

7 p.m.               Towson Men’s Lacrosse vs. St. Joseph’s; Senior Night

WEST, DANGERFIELD, PIKE NAMED AS PHIL STEELE ALL-AMERICA PICKS

West Honored As Second Team Honoree; Dangerfield, Pike Named To Fourth Team

 

TOWSON, Md. – Sophomore running back Terrance West (Northwestern H.S./Baltimore, Md.), senior free safety Jordan Dangerfield (Royal Palm Beach H.S./Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) and junior offensive tackle Eric Pike (DuVal H.S./Landover, Md.) of Towson University have been named to the 2012 Phil Steele Magazine  Football Championship Subdivision All-America team.

West, who led the Colonial Athletic Association in rushing with 1,046 yards in 10 games, earned second team honors. Dangerfield and Pike were named as fourth team All-American selections.

A two-time All-CAA first team selection, West ran for 1,046 yards on 195 carries in 2012. He averaged 5.4 yards per carry and scored 14 rushing touchdowns. He also caught five passes for 102 yards and a touchdown. With 15 touchdowns scored, he led the CAA for the second year in a row. The 23^rd-leading rusher in NCAA FCS, he was ninth in the nation.

In two seasons with the Tigers, West has rushed for 2,340 yards and he is already the fifth-leading rusher in school history. He has scored 44 touchdowns in his 21-game career, just three shy of the school record held by Jason Corle, ’01.

A two-year co-captain for the Tigers, Dangerfield was a defensive leader for the top defensive team in the CAA. A starter in 10 games, he was third on the team with 69 tackles. A two-time All-CAA first team honoree, Dangerfield also led the Tigers with six pass breakups. He also forced one fumble and recovered another.

As a junior, Dangerfield made a team high 93 tackles despite missing two games with an injury. He was ranked seventh in the CAA in tackles and placed second among CAA defensive backs. Dangerfield also intercepted two passes last year and tied for the CAA lead with two fumble recoveries. He finished his three-year career with the Tigers with 258 tackles, tied for 11^th on Towson’s all-time list. He also broke up 13 passes and recovered four fumbles.

Led by Dangerfield, the Tiger defense led the CAA by allowing 313.2 yards of total offense per game. Towson also led the CAA in pass defense, surrendering 174.27 passing yards per game. Towson ranked 16^th in NCAA FCS in total defense.

As a senior, Dangerfield helped the No. 15 Tigers post a 7-4 record against a very difficult schedule that included Kent State and Louisiana State, a pair of bowl-bound NCAA FBS Top 25 teams. He also led Towson to its second straight CAA championship as the Tigers shared the championship with New Hampshire, Richmond and Villanova.

The 6-5, 298-pound Pike has been a fixture at left tackle for the last three years. In fact, he has started 34 consecutive games and has been a key to the Tigers’ offense. In 2012, the Tiger offensive line allowed only 14 sacks in 11 games to rank 21^st in NCAA FCS. The Tiger offense averaged 441.0 yards per game to rank 14^th in the nation while the Tigers’ rushing offense averaged 229.0 yards per contest, 13^th in the nation.

In addition, 12 Tigers were named to Phil Steele’s 2012 All-CAA team. Five Tigers were named to the All-CAA first team, including West, Dangerfield and Pike. Junior cornerback Jordan Love (Deep Run H.S./Washington, D.C.) and junior offensive center Doug Shaw (Loyola H.S./Woodbine, Md.) were also named to the All-CAA first team.

Junior offensive tackle Randall Harris (DuVal H.S./Largo, Md.), senior defensive end Frank Beltre (Randolph H.S./Randolph, N.J.), senior defensive end Romale Tucker (Ballou H.S./Washington, D.C.) and junior linebacker Monte Gaddis (Cleveland Central Catholic H.S./Cleveland, Ohio) were named second team All-CAA.

Senior quarterback Grant Enders (Old Mill H.S./Millersville, Md.), freshman fullback Emmanuel Holder (Calvert Hall H.S./Baltimore, Md.) and sophomore cornerback Tye Smith (Wakefield H.S./Raleigh, N.C.) were named third team All-CAA.

Towson finished the season with four consecutive wins, beating No. 19 Villanova, No. 23 Delaware, Rhode Island and No. 7 New Hampshire to earn a share of the CAA championship. The Tigers have compiled a 13-3 record in CAA games the last two years.

ALL-CAA FOOTBALL TEAM INCLUDES CONFERENCE HIGH 14 TIGERS

CAA Co-Champions Place Five On First Team

RICHMOND, Va. – A group of 14 standouts from Colonial Athletic Association co-champion Towson University, including five first team selections, has been named to the All-CAA team, it has been announced by CAA officials.

The Tigers led all CAA teams with 14 selections as Towson placed five players on the first team, five players on the second team and four players on the third team.

Villanova, one of the CAA’s other co-champions, had 12 players honored while New Hampshire and Richmond each had 11 players on the team.

Old Dominion, James Madison and William & Mary each placed 10 players on the All-CAA teams.

Senior defensive end Frank Beltre (Randolph H.S./Randolph, N.J.), senior safety Jordan Dangerfield (Royal Palm Beach H.S./Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) and sophomore running back Terrance West (Northwestern H.S./Baltimore, Md.) were named to the All-CAA first team for the second year in a row.

A pair of offensive linemen, junior tackles Randall Harris (DuVal H.S./Lanham, Md.) and Eric Pike (DuVal H.S./Landover, Md.), were also selected to the first team. Harris earned All-CAA honors for the first time while Pike was named to the All-CAA third team last year.

The Tigers’ five All-CAA first team selections are one more than Towson had during the last six seasons combined. Last year, Towson had three first team picks. Towson and Old Dominion were the only programs with five first team selections.

Senior quarterback Grant Enders (Old Mill H.S./Millersville, Md.) and junior offensive center Doug Shaw(Loyola Blakefield H.S./Woodbine, Md.) represented the Tigers on the second team, along with senior defensive end Romale Tucker (Ballou H.S./Washington, D.C.), junior linebacker Monte Gaddis (Cleveland Central Catholic H.S./Cleveland, Ohio) and junior cornerback Jordan Love (Deep Run H.S./Washington, D.C.).

The All-CAA third team included senior wide receiver Tom Ryan (Father Judge H.S./Philadelphia, Pa.), sophomore kick return specialist Derrick Joseph (Maurice J. McDonough H.S./Waldorf, Md.), senior defensive tackle Matt Morgan (Horseheads H.S./Horseheads, N.Y.) and sophomore cornerback Tye Smith (Wakefield H.S./Raleigh, N.C.).

Towson’s 14 all-conference selections are the most the Tigers have had in one season in program history.

“The greatest respect is earned from one’s peers,” said Towson Coach Rob Ambrose. “To have this many young men earn these impressive accolades speaks to their work ethic and their desire to achieve excellence.  I could not be happier to see these men celebrated for their hard work.  Towson University is thankful and grateful to have such fine representatives.”

A two-time first team All-CAA selection and an honorable mention All-American, Beltre was seventh on the team with 36 tackles this season. He also tied for the team lead with five quarterback sacks and had 7.5 tackles for lost yardage. A three-year starter on the defensive line, Beltre finished his career with 232 tackles, 20^th on Towson’s all-time list.

A two-year co-captain and a three-year starter at free safety, Dangerfield was named first team All-CAA for the second time. Despite missing the final game of the regular season, he was fourth on the team with 69 tackles. Dangerfield, who earned pre-season All-America honors, led the Tigers with six pass breakups and had one fumble recovery. The Tigers’ top tackler as a sophomore and junior, Dangerfield finished his career with 258 tackles, 11^thon Towson’s career list.

The second-leading rusher in the CAA, West rushed for 1,046 yards on 195 carries for a 5.4 average. He ran for more than 100 yards in five games and he led the CAA in touchdowns for the second year in a row. Honored as the CAA Pre-Season Offensive Player of the Year, he is already the fifth-leading rusher in school history with 2,340 yards. He has scored 44 touchdowns in his 21-game career, just three shy of the school record held by Jason Corle, ’01.

The Tigers’ two starting tackles were also named to the first team. Harris was one of the keys to the Tigers’ offensive success as he started nine games at right tackle. The 6-4, 285-pound veteran started the first two games of the season at left guard. In his career, he has made 19 career starts.

A third team All-CAA pick last year, the 6-5, 298-pound Pike has been a fixture on the Tigers’ offensive line for the last three years. A tremendous team leader, he has started all 34 games of his college career.

Enders leads the Tigers’ group of second team honorees. The third-leading passer in the CAA, he completed 208 of 317 passes for 2,332 yards and 19 touchdowns with only eight interceptions. The Tigers’ second-leading rusher with 615 yards on 105 carries, he also finished second in the CAA in total offense, averaging 267.9 yards per game. In his career, Enders made 22 starts and won 16 of them. In Saturday’s win at New Hampshire, he became the first quarterback in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in his career. He finished his career with 5,415 yards of total offense, the seventh-highest total in school history. His 4,413 passing yards place him ninth.

A second-year starter at offensive center, Shaw is one of three offensive linemen to be honored by the CAA. The 6-1, 265-pound center was one of the Tiger co-captains this season. Over the last two years, he has started 22 of 23 games.

A fixture on the defensive line, Tucker was a four-year starter who earned All-CAA notice for the first time. He made 42 tackles in 10 games as a senior and ranked eighth among all CAA defensive linemen. He was third on the team with four sacks and ranked 11^th in the CAA. He finished his career with 191 tackles and 10 sacks.

A pair of newcomers, Gaddis and Love, were also named to the second team. A transfer from Dean Junior College, Gaddis stepped in to the middle linebacker spot and led the Tigers with 74 tackles, tenth in the CAA. Gaddis also led Towson with 12 tackles for lost yardage, a mark that placed him second in the CAA. He also tied for the team lead with five sacks.

A transfer from the University of Georgia, Love made an immediate impact on the Tigers’ defense from his cornerback position. He made 35 tackles and was second on the team with five pass breakups. Love also had a team high two interceptions and averaged 20.6 yards on nine kickoff returns.

The Tiger defense, which led the CAA by allowing 313.2 yards per game, had a total of seven All-CAA players. Morgan and Smith complete the defensive contingent. A four-year starter on the defensive line, Morgan made 30 tackles as a senior defensive tackle. He also had three sacks. He finished his career with 97 tackles, including 10.5 sacks. After starting at defensive end in 2009 and 2010, he started at tackle the last two seasons.

A two-year starter at cornerback, Smith was second on the team with 74 tackles. He was fifth among all CAA defensive backs in tackles and broke up five passes. He also had one interception and forced two fumbles.

A second team All-CAA selection in 2011, Joseph made the third team as a kick returner. He averaged 26.3 yards per kickoff return and had a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the Tigers’ win over Saint Francis. In his career, he has two kickoff returns for touchdowns.

The Tigers’ top pass receiver the last two years, Ryan completes Towson’s All-CAA honorees. As a senior, he caught 44 passes for 533 yards and three touchdowns. He finished his career as the 13^th-leading receiver in Towson history with 127 receptions for 1528 yards and eight touchdowns.

Towson finished the season with a 7-4 record and shared the CAA championship with New Hampshire, Richmond and Villanova. All four teams posted 6-2 records in CAA play.

2012 CAA Football Major Awards

Coach of the Year:                                             Andy Talley, Villanova

Offensive Player of the Year:                         Taylor Heinicke, Old Dominion, Soph., Quarterback
Defensive Player of the Year:                        Stephon Robertson, James Madison, Jr., Linebacker
Special Teams Co-Player of the Year:         B.W. Webb, William and Mary, Sr., Punt Returner

Special Teams Co-Player of the Year:         Albert Wilson, Georgia State, Jr., Kick Returner
Offensive Rookie of the Year:                        John Robertson, Villanova, R-Fr., Quarterback
Defensive Rookie of the Year:                        Jeff Williams, Delaware, R-Fr., Linebacker

 

2012 All-CAA Football First Team (as voted on by the head coaches)

OFFENSE

Position            Player                                  School                               Class

QB                           Taylor Heinicke                              Old Dominion                              Sophomore

RB                           Kevin Monangai                             Villanova                         Sophomore

RB                    Terrance West                       Towson                             Sophomore

FB/HB                     Kendall Gaskins                             Richmond                        Senior

WR                          Ben Edwards                                  Richmond                        Junior

WR                          R.J. Harris                                       New Hampshire             Sophomore

WR                          Nick Mayers                                    Old Dominion                  Senior

TE                            Justin Perillo                                  Maine                               Junior

OL                    Randall Harris                       Towson                     Junior

OL                           Chris Howley                                  Maine                               Senior

OL                           Seamus O’Neill                              New Hampshire             Junior

OL                    Eric Pike                              Towson                     Junior

OL                           Earl Watford                                   James Madison             Senior

PK                           Jarod Brown                                  Old Dominion                  Junior

KR                           Albert Wilson                                  Georgia State                Junior

PR                           Ryan Smith                                     James Madison             Senior

                                                                          

DEFENSE

Position            Player                                  School                      Class

DL                    Frank Beltre                         Towson                              Senior

DL                           Chris Burnette                               Old Dominion                  Senior

DL                           Rakim Cox                                       Villanova                         Junior

DL                           Antoine Lewis                                Villanova                         Junior

DL                           Jared Smith                                   New Hampshire           Senior

LB                            Donte Dennis                                 Maine                          Senior

LB                            Matt Evans                                     New Hampshire           Senior

LB                            Stephon Robertson                      James Madison           Junior

LB                            Paul Worrilow                                 Delaware                     Senior

CB                           Eric Loper                                       Villanova                      Senior

CB                           B.W. Webb                                        William and Mary         Senior

S                      Jordan Dangerfield                  Towson                        Senior

S                              Dean Marlowe                                James Madison           Sophomore

S                              Cooper Taylor                                Richmond                    Senior

P                              Jonathan Plisco                            Old Dominion               Senior

                                                                          

2012 All-CAA Football Second Team (as voted on by the head coaches)

OFFENSE

Position            Player                                  School                      Class

QB                    Grant Enders                        Towson                     Senior

RB                           Dae’Quan Scott                             James Madison           Junior

RB                           Nico Steriti                                     New Hampshire           Sophomore

FB/HB                     Brian Barlow                                   James Madison           Senior

WR                          Tre McBride                                    William and Mary         Sophomore

WR                          Antonio Vaughan                          Old Dominion               Sophomore

WR                          Nihja White                                     Delaware                     Senior

TE                            Kevin Finney                                   Richmond                    Senior

OL                           David Born                                     Old Dominion               Junior

OL                           Josh Bucci                                      Villanova                      Junior

OL                           Bobby Kennedy                             Delaware                     Junior

OL                           Mike Salazar                                   William and Mary         Senior

OL                    Doug Shaw                               Towson                        Junior

OL                           Josh Spearin                                  Maine                          Senior

PK                           Cameron Starke                            James Madison           Junior

KR                           Justin Grant                                   Richmond                    Sophomore

PR                           B.W. Webb                                        William and Mary         Senior

                                                                          

DEFENSE

Position            Player                                  School                   Class

DL                           Marlon Johnson                            Villanova                      Senior

DL                           Evan Kelly                                       Richmond                    Sophomore

DL                           Zach Kerr                                        Delaware                     Junior

DL                    Romale Tucker                          Towson                        Senior

LB                            Devon Bridges                               Villanova                      Senior

LB                    Monte Gaddis                           Towson                        Junior

LB                            Darius McMillan                             Richmond                    Senior

LB                            Jabrel Mines                                  William and Mary         Senior

LB                            Craig Wilkins                                   Old Dominion               Senior

CB                           Darlos James                                 Maine                          Senior

CB                    Jordan Love                              Towson                        Junior

CB                           Dontra Peters                                New Hampshire           Senior

S                              Manny Asam                                   New Hampshire           Junior

S                              Brian Thompson                            William and Mary         Senior

P                              Matt Hubbard                                Georgia State              Sophomore

                                                                          

2012 All-CAA Football Third Team (as voted on by the head coaches)

OFFENSE

Position            Player                                  School                   Class

QB                           John Robertson                            Villanova                      Freshman

RB                           Andrew Pierce                               Delaware                     Junior

RB                           Donald Russell                               Georgia State              Senior

WR                          Stephen Barnette                         Richmond                    Sophomore

WR                          Brandon Johnson-Farrell           Rhode Island               Senior

WR                    Tom Ryan                                  Towson                        Senior

WR                          Norman White                                Villanova                      Senior

WR                          Albert Wilson                                  Georgia State              Junior

TE                            Harold Spears                                New Hampshire           Sophomore

OL                           Mike Coccia                                     New Hampshire           Sophomore

OL                           Brandon Heath                              Delaware                     Junior

OL                           Vince Kowalski                               Villanova                      Sophomore

OL                           Jack Lowney                                  Old Dominion               Junior

OL                           Nick Ritcher                                    Richmond                    Sophomore

OL                           Chris Zarkoskie                             New Hampshire           Senior

PK                           Mike MacArthur                            New Hampshire           Junior

KR                    Derrick Joseph                          Towson                        Sophomore

PR                           Poppy Livers                                  Villanova                      Sophomore

                                                                          

DEFENSE

Position            Player                                  School                      Class

DL                           Dominique Guinn-Bailey              Old Dominion               Sophomore

DL                    Matt Morgan                                                         Towson                        Senior

DL                           Tyler Snow                                      James Madison           Junior

DL                           Nick Zaremba                                 William and Mary         Senior

LB                            Andrew Bose                                  Rhode Island               Sophomore

LB                            Luke Rhodes                                  William and Mary         Freshman

LB                            Jeff Williams                                   Delaware                     Freshman

LB                            Eric Wright                                      Richmond                    Sophomore

CB                           Jamaal Bess                                   Rhode Island               Junior

CB                           Darryl Hamilton                             Richmond                    Senior

CB                    Tye Smith                                  Towson                        Sophomore

S                              Jerome Couplin                             William and Mary         Junior

S                              Jakarie Jackson                            James Madison           Senior

S                              Joe Sarnese                                   Villanova                      Sophomore

P                              Drake Kuhn                                     William and Mary         Junior

P                              David Skahn                             James Madison           Senior

DURHAM, N.H. - Riding a three-game winning streak, the Tigers will be seeking to stake their claim to a share of the Colonial Athletic Association championship when they visit Cowell Stadium to face CAA co-leader New Hampshire …A Tiger win over UNH would throw the entire CAA into a mad scramble because it would create the possibility of a six-way tie for first place in the CAA … Wins by Towson over UNH, James Madison over Old Dominion, Richmond over William & Mary and Villanova over Delaware would leave Towson, UNH, JMU, Richmond and Villanova all tied for first place at 6-2 and would force the utilization of a tie-breaker scenario.

For Towson to have its best shot at its second straight CAA championship, the Tigers would like a three-way tie with New Hampshire and Villanova because Towson would hold the tie-breaker over both teams.

The Tigers, who are the defending CAA champions, have won 12 of their last 15 CAA games … Towson was 7-1 in 2011 and has a 5-2 record this year … From 2007 to 2010, the Tigers were 3-29 in CAA games.

Towson is also seeking its second straight appearance in the NCAA FCS playoffs … Last year, the Tigers earned the CAA’s automatic bid as conference champion … Towson earned a first-round bye and dropped a 40-38 heartbreaker to Lehigh in the second round of the playoffs before a sellout crowd at Unitas Stadium.

TIGERS vs. NEW HAMPSHIRE: Towson and New Hampshire are meeting for the ninth time in a series that began in 1980 … UNH has a 7-1 series lead and didn’t lose a game to the Tigers until last year.

The two teams first met in 1980 when Towson was a Division II program … UNH won that contest, 10-6 despite a 51-yard field goal by future NFL All-Pro punter Sean Landeta … In 1981, Towson and New Hampshire met in Durham and the Wildcats pulled out a 31-29 victory … The teams did not meet again until 2004 when they were conference rivals … In seven games as conference rivals, UNH has averaged 43.3 points per game … In conference games, their average margin of victory has been 29.3 points … UNH has a 4-0 record at home against Towson.

On its way to its first CAA championship last season, the Tigers finally beat UNH for the first time ever, handing the Wildcats a 56-42 loss at Unitas Stadium … The two teams combined for 98 points and 1,128 total yards.

ROAD WARRIORS: The Tigers, who are seeking their first-ever win at Cowell Stadium, have been a very good road team the last two seasons … In fact, Towson has won six of its last seven CAA road games … In 2011, Towson earned CAA road wins at No. 17 Old Dominion (39-35), No. 14 William & Mary (38-27), No. 7 Maine (40-30) and Rhode Island (28-17) … Towson has a 2-1 CAA road record this year … On Oct. 6, the Tigers lost at No. 5 James Madison (13-10) … But, Towson bounced back with a 49-35 win at No. 19 Villanova and a 34-27 overtime victory at No. 23 Delaware one week later.

NEWARK, Del. – Facing a nationally-ranked Colonial Athletic Association opponent on the road for the second consecutive week, the No. 19 Tigers (4-4, 3-2) will face No. 23 University of Delaware (5-3, 2-3) on Saturday, November 3 at Tubby Raymond Field at Delaware Stadium at 12 noon.

The game will be nationally-televised on the NBC Sports Network with Ari Wolff and Anthony Herron calling the action while Carolyn Manno is the sideline reporter. The game will also be aired on the Tigers’ web site,www.TowsonTigers.com with Spiro Morekas and Ron Meehan handling the broadcast. The Tigers’ internet broadcast also features a one-hour pre-game show.

When the No. 19 Tigers face No. 23 Delaware, it will mark Towson’s fourth game of the season against a nationally-ranked NCAA FCS program. According to the NCAA, Towson is playing the fourth-toughest schedule of any FCS program. The Tigers have played two NCAA FBS programs, Kent State (6-1) and Louisiana State (8-1), in addition to their tough FCS slate.

Towson is coming off its best game of the season, a 49-35 victory over CAA co-leader Villanova last week on the road. In the victory, the Tigers rolled up a seasonal high 590 yards of total offense. Sophomore Terrance West,the Pre-Season CAA Offensive Player of the Year, had his best game of the season at Villanova. He ran for 144 yards on 23 carries and scored two rushing touchdowns. West also gave Towson a 21-7 first quarter lead when he caught a 78-yard touchdown pass.

In seven games this season, West has scored 11 touchdowns, including 10 rushing TD’s. Only a sophomore, West has scored 40 touchdowns in 18 career games.

Senior quarterback Grant Enders, the CAA Offensive Player of the Week, has been the catalyst for the Tigers’ offense. Enders has become the best two-way threat that the Tigers have ever had at quarterback. He ranks third in the CAA in total offense, averaging 275.8 yards per game. As a passer, he has completed 148 of 235 passes for 1,689 yards and 11 touchdowns. He is fourth in the CAA, averaging 208.6 passing yards per game. He is also the ninth-leading rusher in the CAA with 537 yards on 74 carries and four touchdowns.

Enders has already set the Towson single season record for rushing yards by a quarterback and he also holds the career record for rushing yards by a quarterback (924). He needs 76 more yards to become the first Tiger quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards in his career.

In the win over Villanova, Enders had a career high 391 yards of total offense. In addition to passing for 269 yards and a career high four touchdowns, he also ran for a career best 122 yards on 12 carries with a touchdown.

Saturday’s game matches two of the top defenses in the CAA. Towson leads the CAA in total defense (308.0 yards per game) and pass defense (164.2 yards per game). Meanwhile, the Blue Hens are first in the CAA in rushing defense (115.2 ypg) and rank third in scoring defense (21.8 ppg).

Towson and Delaware are meeting for the 14th time in a series that started in 1982 when the Tigers were a nationally-ranked NCAA Division II program. The Blue Hens own a 9-4 lead in the series and have won five games in a row against Towson. Last season, Delaware handed Towson a 35-30 loss at Johnny Unitas® Stadium. It was Towson’s only conference loss en route to the CAA championship.

 “Delaware has been doing things the right way for a long time,” says Towson Coach Rob Ambrose. “Over the last few years, we have been striving to cut down the difference between our two programs. It’s an emotional game, partly because of the geography of the two schools. Our players know their players and their players know our players. Both schools recruit the same areas, for student-athletes as well as regular students.

“To win this game, I feel we are going to have to establish our running game,” Ambrose admits. “Delaware has a big, strong, veteran defensive line and it is going to be a challenge for us.”

Junior linebacker Monte Gaddis leads the Tiger defense. In eight games this season, he has made 62 tackles and ranks seventh in the CAA. With 10.5 tackles for lost yardage, he is second in the CAA behind freshman linebacker Jeff Williams of Delaware. Williams has made 12 tackles for lost yardage.

Senior safety Jordan Dangerfield and sophomore cornerback Tye Smith have also played well for the Tigers’ defense. A pre-season All-American, Dangerfield has 52 tackles and ranks eighth among CAA defensive backs. Smith has 51 tackles, ninth among CAA defensive backs.

Led by senior defensive end Romale Tucker, the Tigers top the CAA in quarterback sacks with 25 sacks. Those 25 sacks have been divided up among 11 different players. While Tucker has four sacks in seven games, senior defensive end Frank Beltre and Gaddis have four sacks in eight games.

This will be 10th time that Towson and Delaware have played at Delaware Stadium. The Blue Hens have won six of the nine previous games in Newark. The Tigers posted wins in 1983 (13-4), 1993 (32-30) and 2006 (49-35) while Delaware beat Towson in 1982 (51-7), 1984 (56-23), 1992 (55-27), 2004 (21-17), 2008 (31-21) and 2010 (48-0).

The Tigers, who were 4-0 in CAA road games last season, are 1-1 in CAA road games this year. Towson lost to James Madison on Oct. 6 (13-10) before beating Villanova last week.

Dating back to last season, Towson has won 10 of its last 13 CAA games.

After the Tigers’ trip to Delaware, they return to Unitas Stadium for their home finale against Rhode Island at 3:30 p.m.

TIGER TALES:  This week’s game will be Towson’s sixth appearance in a televised game this season … Previously, the Tigers made two appearances on NBC SportsNet, beating William & Mary and losing at James Madison … Towson’s season-opening loss at Kent State was televised on Comcast SportsNet-Plus … When Towson played at Louisiana State, the game was aired nationally on ESPNU … The Towson-Villanova game was aired on Comcast Mid-Atlantic.

The Tigers have done an excellent job controlling the time of possession this season … In their first eight games of the season, the Tigers have controlled the time of possession seven times … While averaging 33:29 in time of possession, Towson ranks sixth in NCAA FCS in time of possession … National champion North Dakota State leads FCS football in time of possession at 35:44 per game … Montana State (34:23) is second while Liberty (34:20) is third … Eastern Kentucky is fourth at 34:04, just ahead of San Diego (33:54)  … For the season, Towson has 178 first downs while its opponents have 142 … The Tigers have 3,354 total yards while allowing 2,464 total yards … Towson has run 554 plays while its opponents have run 496 offensive plays.