Towson coach Gordy Combs took a deep breath and looked over the stat sheet before addressing the media following a 21-16 win over Morgan State.
It was one of the few times any Tiger had a chance to relax on Saturday night.
“The job that [Coach Donald Hill-Eley] has done over the past five years is fantastic,” he said. “I was probably disappointed when I heard he got a contract extension and will still be here the next couple of years when we play them. It’s always a dogfight with them, especially the past three years and comes down to a play here or there. I couldn’t say that a couple of years ago because we played much better and the score indicated that.”
Towson has won its past four games against Morgan State, but since 2001, five of the past seven meetings have been decided by seven points or fewer. The Tigers (1-1) demonstrated they are clearly better than the squad that lost to Navy by four touchdowns in their season opener, but also much improved from the team that went 3-8 last fall.
Towson has a chance to maintain its momentum at third-ranked Richmond (1-1) on Saturday at 3 p.m. The Tigers stunned the defending Colonial Athletic Association champion Spiders last year at Johnny Unitas Stadium when Sean Schaefer threw a 14-yard touchdown pass with no time remaining for a 23-21 win.
“We heard some of the players after the game last year talking,” Combs, whose team won, 31-7, in Richmond in 2006, said. “They were saying ‘Towson has our number.’”
Five miles south, Morgan State looks to regroup for a matchup at Hughes Stadium against North Carolina Central on Saturday at 4 p.m. The Bears’ passing game appeared greatly improved by dual-threat quarterback Carlton Jackson. The junior transfer from Akron completed 11-of-16 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 46 yards on nine carries. North Carolina Central (0-2) lost to James Madison, 56-7, on Saturday.
The offensive weapons around Jackson also appear to be developing. Sophomore running back Devan James ran for a career-high 178 yards on 33 carries, and junior receiver James Surratt set career-highs in receptions (eight) and yards (110) to go with a touchdown.
“The guys played together, but you have those first game woes, those small penalties or things like that,” Hill-Eley said. “But we will make sure we are prepared and add up those differences by next week.”
[email protected]
