Saturday proved to be a big day for more than one local college football team in search of postseason life.
Towson?s win over Delaware has placed them back in the top 25 in Division I-AA, and with a strong finish, the No. 21 Tigers could be looking at a playoff spot, as well.
“We?ve got to win out,” Towson coach Gordy Combs said. “As we get closer to the end of the season, every game gives us a bit better barometer of how we are.”
Combs feels that it?s up to his team to determine its playoff fate. With a 6-2 overall mark, the Tigers are in second place in the Atlantic 10 Conference?s South Division, with a 3-2 record in conference.
The Tigers host William & Mary (2-6) Saturday in search of their first-ever win against the Tribe. Towson then travels to No. 15 Richmond (5-3) before closing the season at home with No. 3 James Madison (7-1).
“Our goals are to win all three games and get in the national playoffs,” Combs said.
“If we win two of three, we put ourselves at the mercy of someone else. If we win all three, we control what we do.”
In Towson?s brief A-10 history, dating back to 2004, the Tigers are a combined 0-6 against this year?s final three opponents.
“We?ve got a very, very tough schedule,” junior tailback Nick Williams said. “They?re probably the three toughest teams we?ll have to beat all year.”
The first stage is Saturday, as Towson hosts the Tribe, which has beaten the Tigers 41-16 and 44-13 the past two seasons. But the Tribe is having a down year, and things will only get tougher for Towson, building up to the season finale with James Madison.
“If we have any entertaining of the ideas of the postseason, we have to win this one,” Combs said of Saturday?s 1 p.m. game. “There?s a tremendous amount for us to play for.”
“We?re happy to be controlling our own destiny,” Williams said.
TIGERS IN THE POSTSEASON
» Towson went to the NCAA playoffs once (1976) as a Division III team, under current offensive coordinator Phil Albert.
» In their Division II era, the Tigers were in the playoffs three times, reaching the semifinals in 1984 and the quarterfinals in 1983 and 1986.
» Towson narrowly missed the playoffs in current coach Gordy Combs? second season in 1993 and has never gone to the NCAA playoffs at the I-AA level.
» After completing 27 of 37 passes for 435 yards and five touchdowns in Saturday?s 49-35 victory at Delaware, Towson quarterback Sean Schaefer was named The Sports Network?s national offensive player of the week.
