TOWSON, Md. - In 1993, Towson set school records by averaging 38.1 points per game and rushing for 2,969 yards.
 
Running back Tony Vinson had an extraordinary year with 2,016 yards (6.3 yards per carry) and 23 rushing touchdowns while quarterback Dan Crowley threw for 23 TDs and just four interceptions. Both were Hall of Famers and went on to professional careers (Vinson in the NFL and Crowley in the CFL).
 
The 2011 Towson team is averaging 32.3 points per game and has 226 points in seven games. What do both teams have in common? Very strong offensive lines.
 
There's no doubt that the 1993 offensive line was one of the best of all time. Led by senior All-American tackle Karl Nieberlein and seniors John Loch and Andy Rehkemper, Crowley was rarely touched and Vinson ran through holes that were large enough to drive two trucks through.
 
Fast forward to 2011 and offensive line coach John Donatelli, who is in his 15th season, has brought along a unit that has taken over a year to gell. Donatelli had some help over the summer from former Tiger Jermon Bushrod, who is now playing left tackle with the New Orleans Saints. Bushrod, who starred with the Tigers from 2003-06, helped Sean Schaefer stay upright in 2006 when the quarterback threw for over 3,000 yards and the Tigers went 7-4.
 
On Saturday, in the Tigers' 38-27 win over William & Mary, Towson ran for 230 yards (5.5 yards per carry) and passed for 203 yards. William & Mary came into the game with one of the best defenses in the CAA and historically had shut dowon Towson's offense. In its last six games against Towson, the Tribe had allowed more than 90 yards rushing just once while Towson had just one rushing TD. Overall, the Tribe was allowing just 292.4 yards coming into this game. William & Mary had the number one scoring defense (17.7 points allowed per game) and number five overall defense in the CAA coming into the game. But, the Tribe was facing the CAA's number two overall offense (452.8 ypg) and in this game, offense ruled the defense.
 
But, it's no coincidence that the numbers for the 2011 team are certainly eye-opening. Freshman Terrance West has 594 yards rushing, 14 rushing TDs and averages 6.4 yards per carry. The offense has rushed for 226.1 yards per game and averaged 5.1 yards per carry. Sopohomore quarterback Grant Enders is completing 71.5 per cent of his passes for 1, 229 yards with nine touchdowns and only four interceptions. He's also fourth on the team with 187 rushing yards and three TDs.
 
Towson went against one of the best defensive ends in the CAA in Marcus Hyde, who had just recorded five sacks the week before against New Hampshire. Sophomore left tackle Eric Pike and senior right tackle Henry Glackin combined to hold Hyde to four tackles and zero sacks. In fact, Towson did not allow a sack all game.
 
Last season, Towson showed some improvements on the line even with Pike as a redshirt freshman starting next to left guard Anthony Davis. Glackin, Davis and Pike were the only returning starters from last year's squad as redshirt sophomore Charles Johnson took over for junior John Esposito at right guard.
 
Sophomore Randall Harris (6-4, 275) has taken over for Davis at left guard, giving Towson two former Duval High School "Tigers" on the left side. Sophomore Doug Shaw (6-0, 260) has been a mild surprise at center as he is extremely athletic and strong for his size. That means the Tigers have four sophomores starting next to Glackin but only Pike and Glackin were full-time starters last season.
 
Though just a sophomore, Pike has become more than just a up-and-coming blindside protector. Before the season began, Rob Ambrose talked about Pike becoming a captain at such a young age.

"Pike has done so well," said Ambrose. "It's not like I wanted to name a sophomore a captain. He has a love of the game and a love of work to get better. These are the things that led him to become a captain."

Towson has also developed some depth on the line with Davis have plenty of experience at guard followed by tackle/tight end Cory Kirby and redshirt freshman Drew Bellamy.
 
West, Dominique Booker, Sterlin Phifer and Tremayne Dameron are putting up big rushing numbers this year and a lot of that can be attributed to the play of a young but emerging offensive line.