While the Towson Tigers were off this past weekend, let's take a look at how the Tigers' success in the first two weeks has been rewarded and where it ranks nationally.
With a 2-0 record and a share of first place in the Colonial Athletic Association standings, Towson has garnered several accolades early on this season. Sophomore quarterback Grant Enders has already been named CAA Offensive Player of the Week after his first start in FCS, a 42-3 win over Morgan State on Sept. 3. He leads the CAA and is seventh in the nation with a 168.8 passer rating.
Freshman tailback Terrance West didn't play in the first game but ran for 40 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Tigers' win over 20th-ranked Villanova, earning CAA Rookie of the Week honors.
Nationally, Towson ranks eighth in total offense at 475 yards per game, eighth in rushing offense at 243.5 yards per game, 17th in fewest yards penalized per game (40 ypg), second in scoring defense (6.5 ppg) and 10th in total defense (260 ypg).
The defense will be tested on Saturday when Colgate brings the nation's 14th-ranked rushing offense (219.3 ypg) to Unitas Stadium for Homecoming at 7 p.m.
Around the CAA
Towson was not the only team that sat out this past weekend as New Hampshire also had a bye.
There was just one CAA game and that involved departing UMass, which is not eligible for the CAA title. The Minutemen hosted Rhode Island in Amherst and downed the Rams, 36-27. While UMass is not on the Tigers' schedule this year, the Rams will be Towson's final regular season opponent in Kingston on Nov. 19.
In other CAA action, the injury-depleted Villanova Wildcats were upset at home by Monmouth, 20-9. The 'Cats turned the ball over three times and played without starting quarterback Dustin Thomas, who suffered a separated shoulder against the Tigers. The redshirt freshman is expected to miss at least 3-4 more games due to the injury.
Every other CAA team was victorious as Delaware shut out Delaware State, 45-0; Richmond defeated VMI at home, 34-19; Maine overtook Albany on the road, 31-15; Old Dominion outlasted Hampton in a shootout in Norfolk, 45-42; William & Mary edged New Haven at home, 13-10; and James Madison edged Liberty, 27-24, on the road.
As for this upcoming week, there are several marquee conference matchups, but the most intriguing one will take place in Newark, Del. It will be Old Dominion's first official CAA game when the Monarchs face the Blue Hens on Saturday. ODU is 3-0 with wins over Campbell, Georgia State and Hampton while Delaware is 2-1.
In other CAA matchups, New Hampshire faces 3-0 Richmond on the road and James Madison (2-1) is at William & Mary (2-1).
