TOWSON, Md. - The wait is finally over. The playoffs return to Minnegan Field at Johnny Unitas® Stadium.

The last time the Tiger football team reached the postseason was in 1986 when the Tigers lost in the NCAA Division II quarterfinals at Central State and ended up finishing 10th in the nation.

The next year, the Tigers moved up to Division I-AA (now FCS) and finished with a credible 4-6 record. However, it took them 25 years to become the first team to reach the playoffs in Division III, II and I-AA/FCS levels.

Ironically, on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Unitas Stadium, they will face a team that has given them the most trouble of just about every team they've ever played.

Lehigh (10-1, 5-0 Patriot League) has dominated Towson in the series, winning 10 of the previous 11 encounters. Seven of those games took place in the Patriot League where Towson resided from 1997 to 2003. The Mountain Hawks' last victory in the series took place in 2003 with a 35-3 home win over the Tigers, who departed the Patriot League at season's end. Towson's lone win over Lehigh took place in 2002 when the Tigers posted a 23-19 victory.

Lehigh comes into this game as the sixth-ranked team in the country and while we can talk about differences and edges, one thing the Mountain Hawks have over the Tigers is playoff experience. Lehigh made the playoffs in 2010 and defeated Northern Iowa by 14-7 before losing at Delaware, 42-20. That win over Northern Iowa broke a nine-game Patriot League playoff losing streak.

This is Lehigh's ninth appearance in the FCS playoffs, dating back to 1979.

This Lehigh team brings a very high-scoring offense to Unitas Stadium. Though the Tigers have seen several high-powered offenses come to the "U" this year, what Lehigh has over all the other opponents that have come to Towson this year is momentum. The Mountain Hawks have won 10 straight games with most of them coming as one-sided affairs against Patriot League and Ivy League teams.

However, on Sept. 10, Lehigh hosted New Hampshire and lost in overtime, 48-41, which gave the Mountain Hawks their seventh consecutive loss to a CAA member. In that game, Lehigh put up 506 yards of total offense and allowed 447 yards. But, Lehigh turned it over three times and allowed UNH quarterback Kevin Decker to rush for two touchdowns and throw for four more scores.

Lehigh averages 34.7 points per game while allowing 18.2 points per outing. The Mountain Hawks rank in the top five nationally in total offense (478.8 yards per game), passing offense (342.4 ypg), and ranks top ten nationally in rushing defense (90 ypg, 2.9 yards per carry) and scoring defense.

In terms of turnovers, the Mountain Hawks have forced 16 interceptions and 10 fumbles while committing 20 turnovers for a +6 ratio. They have converted 66 of 155 third downs (43%) and allowed just 31% (48-154). They have had some issues on punt return coverage, allowing 11.7 yards per return.

In the red zone, Lehigh has scored 74% of the time (42-57) and has allowed 29 of 35 opponent chances in the red zone to score, but only 46% have been touchdowns.

The Lehigh offense is led by senior quarterback Chris Lum (6-2, 205), who has completed 67% of his passes this year for 3,739 yards with 31 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Lum is a candidate for the Walter Payton Award and was named as the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year.

His top target is junior Ryan Spadola (6-3, 205), who has 83 catches for 1,462 yards (17.6 yards per reception) and 10 TDs. Spadola was a preseason All-American and is one of the top receivers in the nation. But, he's not the only target.

At the other receiver spot or "Z", senior Jake Drwal (6-1, 190) has caught a pass in 35 straight games. He has 77 catches for 912 yards (11.8 yards per catch) with 9 TDs.

Senior TE Mark Wickware (6-3, 230) has 13 catches for 156 yards and was named to the All-Patriot League first team despite missing three games. Junior Jamel Haggins (6-3, 240) is listed as the starter and has 20 catches for 221 yards.

The Mountain Hawks' leading rusher is Zach Barket (706 yards, 33 catches for 329 yards), but he's out for the year with an ankle injury. Senior Matt Fitz (6-2, 205) has taken over and has 208 yards and five TDs along with 11 catches for 121 yards. He's played in all 11 games with one start, but has rushed for four TDs in Lehigh's last three games.

The offensive line has allowed just 15 sacks all season. The group is led by senior center Jim Liebler (6-3, 285) and senior left tackle Troy McKenna (6-4, 280). The line features three seniors, one sophomore and one junior.

The defense is very active with 32 sacks while playing in a 3-4 scheme. Senior Ben Filzack (6-7, 265) provides the length and size at defensive tackle. He leads the team with 6.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss along with three forced fumbles and three pass breakups.

The other tackle, senior Andrew Knapp (6-4, 260), adds 18 tackles, one fumble recovery and three tackles for loss.

At nose guard, junior Sajjad Chagnani (6-2, 290) is one of the strongest players on the team and bench presses 425 pounds. He has 27 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

The top linebacker is Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Mike Groome (6-3, 240), who leads the team with 94 tackles and is tied for the team lead with four interceptions. Junior Billy Boyko (6-2, 235) has started the last five games and has two sacks, 41 tackles and one fumble recovery.

On the outside, senior Fred Mihal (6-4, 245) has started the last seven games and has 37 tackles, two sacks, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Senior Tanner Rivas (6-1, 240) will also see some time at linebacker along with senior Colin Newton (6-1, 195), who has 47 tackles, five sacks and two fumble recoveries.

In the secondary, junior strong safety Billy O'Brien (6-1, 190) ranks second on the team with 47 tackles while contributing a sack and an interception. Senior free safety Jon Littlejohn (6-0, 190) adds 33 tackles, three interceptions and four pass breakups.

At cornerback, junior Gabe Johnson (5-10, 170) leads the way with 40 tackles, two interceptions and four pass breakups. Junior Bryan Andrew (5-10, 175) leads the team with eight pass breakups and four interceptions.

On special teams, punter Tim Daviers averages 36.9 yards per punt and has nailed 14 of them inside the opponent's 20-yard line. He also attempts field goals and has converted 10 of 16 tries with a long of 36 yards.

Led by Drwal (7.7 yards per return) and Jason Suggs (20.4 ypr), the kick-off return unit is adequate (7.7ypr).