By the looks of things, Saturday?s football game against William & Mary is the least important of Towson?s final three contests. But in reality, this Atlantic 10 Conference showdown means a lot to Towson.
“It punches our ticket to keep our playoff hopes alive and to be 7-2 at this point in time, which is great,” Tigers coach Gordy Combs said.
Towson enters Saturday?s game at 6-2 and riding a wave of two big conference road wins. And the playoffs are within reach.
“Here it is,” Combs said, referring to the first weekend in November, “and we can talk about that. It?s an opportunity to win our fourth conference game.”
Towson, which hasn?t won four conference games in its past two seasons of A-10 play, is going into uncharted waters against a tough schedule. William & Mary (2-6) is 0-5 in conference this season but has beaten Towson in each of the last two meetings since the Tigers joined the conference.
“If we win, it assures us of a non-losing season in our third year in the league,” Combs said. “It?s been a while since we?ve won seven games.”
In 2004, the Tribe won, 41-16, and last fall, they drubbed the Tigers, 44-13.
Towson will be without linebacker Brian Bradford (knee), but defensive lineman T.J. Foley (back) and receiver Andrae Brown (leg) are expected to play.
The Tigers toppled traditional powers Villanova and Delaware on the road with a potent passing attack led by sophomore quarterback Sean Schaefer, and Combs expects the Tribe to be aware of Towson?s high-powered offense.
Tribe senior running back Elijah Brooks (Largo, Md.) has rushed for 693 yards and eight touchdowns, including 142 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Villanova last weekend.
The Tigers will again ride Schaefer?s right arm. Last week, he threw for 435 yards and five touchdowns against Delaware.
TRIBE AT TIGERS
» When: 1 p.m., Saturday
» Where: Unitas Stadium, Towson University
» What: Tune in for the live broadcast on WTMD 89.7 FM
