TOWSON, Md. – First-year offensive coordinator Jared Ambrose seems to have an unlimited supply of ammo stashed away in Towson's football arsenal as the unbeaten and No. 3 Tigers continue to introduce new weapons each week.
While the Tiger coaching staff would never admit to it, there had to be some concern entering the 2013 season over the power losses from a year ago.
Gone was two-year starting quarterback Grant Enders, arguably the most versatile quarterback in the program's history. Six of the top nine receivers in Tom Ryan, Gerrard Sheppard, Erron Banks, Alex Blake, Dominique Booker and Cory Kirby departed. That crew caught 122 of Enders' 208 completions and hauled in 12 of his 19 touchdown passes.
Enders and Booker also contributed heavily on the ground, combining for 1,078 yards and 10 of the 26 rushing touchdowns.
Ouch!
Now, the whole world, well, all of Towson's 2013 football opponents anyway, know about the return of a battle tested veteran line that is sworn to serve and protect its quarterback and make holes for the FCS's premier rusher, junior tailback Terrance West, to run through. Their game plan was already scripted: stop West from running north and south and put pressure on fifth-year quarterback Peter Athens who didn't win the job until just before the opener at UConn.
What the opposition hasn't accounted for is a host of last year's backups and a group of talented newcomers coming to the rescue.
“You hope the players are going to do well but as coach (John) Donatelli says hope is not a strategy,” says Ambrose who's calling all the shots this year. “We've always known Peter is a gifted passer and the wide receivers we had coming back were talented. It's not like we lost a ton. Not to discredit the contributions of the players we lost but we knew we had dynamic players behind them. Did I think we'd be doing this well? No. But I didn't think we would struggle either.”
Athens' emergence as Towson's leader has surpassed expectations. His first four years were personally disappointing. He had a firm grip on the controls as a freshman until an injury in the sixth game sidelined him for the remainder of 2009. He redshirted in 2010. The last two years he's mostly watched from the sidelines as Enders ran the offense.
Through four games this year he's been very sharp, completing 66 of 100 attempts (that's 66%) for 885 yards and five TD's with just two interceptions.
Veteran wide receivers, senior Leon Kinnard and junior Spencer Wilkins are Athens' main targets with 19 and 14 catches respectively. Senior tight end James Oboh has a team high two touchdown receptions. In addition to his kickoff return prowess (one TD this year, school record 3 for his career), resurging junior Derrick Joseph is catching fire on the flanks with 10 grabs.
“Those early mishaps last year affected Derrick's performance,” Ambrose says. “But he came back this year determined to cement himself in the receiving corps. He worked on everything from both a returner and wide receiver standpoint. He's taken another step forward both as a man and a player.”
Creeping into the picture are several freshmen including wideouts Andre Dessenberg and Willie Ponder plus tight end Tanner Vallely, a former high school quarterback who also serves as the special teams snapper. Dessenberg and Vallely caught their first collegiate passes in last week's 35-17 win at NC Central. Dessenberg's acrobatic reception at the one-yard line set up Towson's second TD to give the Tigers a 14-7 lead. Ponder is one to watch. He's a patch receiver who can be inserted into any of the wideout positions.
Then there's a newcomer, junior Brian Dowling, a transfer from UMass who has arrived to lend a hand just about anywhere he's needed.
“We actually recruited Brian out of high school,” says Ambrose. “When he was looking to leave UMass he reached out to us and it was a no brainer. He's a dynamic player who can do a lot of things. He can run the ball, catch it, return kicks, return punts. If we had to throw him in on defense I'm sure he'd do that pretty well too.”
Dowling's 45-yard reception in the 33-18 win at UConn is a season long for Towson thus far.
First-year freshman Darius Victor is no longer a secret. The 5-8, 220 lb. runningback was introduced last week, answering the call because junior backup tailback Sterlin Phifer was out with an injury. Victor made the most of his debut, picking up 53 yards on six carries and scoring on runs of four and 10 yards to earn the Colonial Athletic Association's Rookie of the Week honor.
“The way Victor started running the ball in camp he was like a bowling ball,” explains Ambrose. “He's got a great burst from his initial start. With the depth that we have with Terrance and Sterlin we were hoping we wouldn't have to use Darius but he kind of forced our hand with the way he performed in camp. He got his first taste of it last weekend and did a great job. We like to run the football and the more guys we have that can keep it close to the production that Terrance gives us the better off we are. We don't want to take Terrance out of the game and have a drop off. We know that won't happen with Sterlin and now Darius gives us another option.”
First-year freshman Sam Evans is making noise at the right guard spot where he nudged out returning starter Charles Johnson. His four line mates – left tackle Eric Pike, left guard Anthony Davis, center Doug Shaw and right tackle Randall Harris – are all seniors.
“Sam is one of the smartest offensive linemen for a freshman that I've ever seen at any level,” crows Ambrose. “We're excited about his future with us.”
That future includes Saturday when the Tigers travel to Stony Brook (N.Y.). to open league play against the Seawolves who are in their first CAA year. Stony Brook has already played two CAA opponents, blanking Rhode Island 24-0 on the road while losing 35-6 at Villanova.
How does Ambrose see the matchup?
“We're going to need great execution of our offense,” he says. “I know that sounds like a cliché but their defense is very scheme oriented and very consistent in their play as a unit. Our ability to run our offense against that consistency will determine our fate in this game. Villanova got them with flea flicker and a reverse throwback for a touchdown. After that happens to you one week you're a little more cognizant of it so I don't think we'll be able fool them too much. We're just going have to have a high production of our offense against their defense.”
The Tigers might not throw any trick plays at the Seawolves but that doesn't mean there isn't a player or two lingering on the sidelines still waiting for his introduction.
