TOWSON, Md. - Senior Day has never meant so much.

Towson has faced New Hampshire seven times, including five meetings since 2004. In those five games, UNH has averaged 53.4 points per game and the closest margin was last season when the Wildcats won, 38-19, in the season finale in Durham.

Both teams come into this game at 7-2 overall and 5-1 in the CAA. While Towson's ascend to five conference wins from zero last year has been a major surprise, the No. 7 Wildcats have been a presence near the top of the Colonial Athletic Association over the last six years.

While both programs have prolific offenses (Towson averages 438.9 yards per game, UNH averages 434.8 yards per game), the Wildcats usually go to the air (278.2 passing yards per game) while Towson has been a dominant force on the ground and leads the CAA by averaging 238.4 rushing yards per outing.

UNH opened the season with three straight road games, starting off at another very high-scoring team in Toledo, which overwhelmed the Wildcats, 58-22. New Hampshire followed the loss with four straight wins, including a 48-41 overtime win at Lehigh and a 45-53 road win at then No. 3 Richmond. On Oct. 1, UNH upended Holy Cross, 39-32, and followed that with a dominant win over Villanova at home, 47-17.

On Oct. 15, UNH's only conference loss took place at William & Mary with a 24-10 setback. In that game, the Wildcats put up 517 yards of total offense but scored just one TD partially due to four turnovers. They also allowed 262 yards rushing and two long TD passes to Tribe star running back Jonathan Grimes.

The Wildcats followed that loss with three straight wins, including a 27-21 road win at UMass, a 31-24 home win against Rhode Island and last week, they pulverized No. 13 James Madison, 28-10, at Durham. UNH's defense allowed just 277 total yards and less than three yards per carry on the ground.

This is an offensive-minded team that averages 33 points per game and has allowed 30 points per game. The team has amassed 45 plays of 25-or-more yards this season, including interceptions, kick and punt returns. The Wildcats' defense has been similar to Towson in that they've been a 'bend-but-not-break' defense that has forced 13 interceptions and 19 turnovers, but they are -2 in turnover ratio with nine interceptions and 12 fumbles lost.

This is a team with a ton of talent on both sides of the ball, but it's anchored on the offensive end by senior quarterback Kevin Decker (6-2, 205), who leads the CAA with 2,480 passing yards and is also on the Walter Payton Award Watch List.

Decker is also ranked third in the nation in total offense (315.9 yards per game), fifth in pass efficiency (159.5), 10th in passing yards per game (275.6 yards per game) and 10th in total passing yards. Decker has completed 70.1% of his passes with 16 TDs and has just eight interceptions on the season, which is not bad considering he's thrown 274 passes.

At wide receiver, the Wildcats have two of the best in the CAA in junior Joey Orlando (5-11, 195) and redshirt freshman R.J. Harris (6-0, 194). Orlando has 44 catches for 563 yards while Harris adds 37 receptions for 534 yards and five TDs. Harris is a local Maryland product from Arundel H.S. and is not even listed as a starter.

Senior Mickey Mangieri (25 catches for 305 yards) and senior Chris Chandler (14 catches for 128 yards) are listed as starters.

The Wildcats are not known as a running team, but they can get the job done because Decker is also a threat to run the ball. He has 363 rushing yards with seven TDs, which is good for second on the team. The leading rusher is junior Dontra Peters (5-11, 195), who has 536 rushing yards (5.2 yards per carry) with 6 TDs. He's also very dangerous as a receiver and kick returner.

Up front, senior TE Sean Cullen (6-4, 235) has 10 catches for 186 yards and two TDs. He can be a real threat downfield or blocking.

The offensive line is young but strong. The group has allowed 20 sacks, but when you put up 434.8 yards per game on offense, a lot of that has to do with the strength of the line. Junior left guard Chris Zarkowskie (6-1, 288) anchors the line with his experience and intelligence.

On defense, UNH allows 163.1 yards per game on the ground and 267.8 yards per game in the air.

Up front, the Wildcats have an excellent pair of defensive ends in seniors Brian McNally (6-3, 272) and James Jenkins (6-1, 243). McNally is considered one of the nation's top end and is a pro prospect. He was named to several pre-season All-Conference and All-American teams. McNally has earned those accolades with 6.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss, 22 tackles, one pass breakup and one fumble recovery. Jenkins adds 3.5 sacks, 37 tackles and one fumble recovery.

At tackle, junior Jared Smith (6-3, 295) has the size to take on two blockers but also can make plays (24 tackles, 4,5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble). Sophomore DT Sean McCann (6-2, 262) adds 17 tackles and a sack.

Junior MLB Matt Evans (6-0, 227) leads the team and CAA with 124 tackles, adding two interceptions, three pass brekaups, two QB hurries, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Evans' 13.7 tackles per game places him second in the nation.

At strongside linebacker, Alex Buzbee (6-3, 242) is third on the team with 62 tackles. The big junior also has five tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, four pass breakups and one fumble recovery.

At the other linebacker/hybrid safety spot, senior Rod Walker (6-0, 212) has 43 tackles, one sack, one INT and one pass breakup.

The secondary is led by sophomore free safety Chris Beranger (5-11, 194), who is eighth in the nation by averaging 11.7 tackles per game (105 total). He also has three pass breakups, one interception, one sack and two forced fumbles.

Senior cornerback Kyle Flemings (5-10, 180) was a second team FCS Senior Scout Bowl All-American coming into this season. He has two interceptions, three pass breakups and 44 tackles in eight games. Sophomore Chris Houston (5-9, 172) also has 44 tackles and two interceptions.

On special teams, Peters averages 25.3 yards per kick return while Orlando averages 10.7 yards per punt return, which includes a touchdown. Sophomore punter Mike MacArthur is one of the best in the CAA, averaging 41.6 yards per punt with a long of 59; he has placed five inside the 20. MacArthur is also a very good field goal kicker, making 13 of 16 tries this year with a long of 47 yards.