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| Former Yellow Jackets standout R.J. Peppers holds the CAA Championship trophy. One year after finishing last in the CAA with an 0-8 record, the Tigers (9-2, 7-1) completed their inspiring drive to their first CAA championship. |
By Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Height Quarterback Club
November 19, 2011
LEESBURG - When former Leesburg High School football standout R.J. Peppers signed a letter of intent to play football for Towson University in 2010 he expected to have a good season his freshmen year. No one outside of Towson University expected them to perform well after winning only nine games over the past four seasons. Peppers and his teammates shocked the college football world by making one of the biggest turnarounds in college football history.
Staff Writer
Carver Height Quarterback Club
November 19, 2011
LEESBURG - When former Leesburg High School football standout R.J. Peppers signed a letter of intent to play football for Towson University in 2010 he expected to have a good season his freshmen year. No one outside of Towson University expected them to perform well after winning only nine games over the past four seasons. Peppers and his teammates shocked the college football world by making one of the biggest turnarounds in college football history.
"It feels great we have worked so hard," Peppers said shortly after Saturday's win over Rhode Island.
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| Colonial Athletic Association Championship Towson University |
Towson won the Colonial Athletic Association Championship and a automatic bid to the 2011 NCAA FCS playoffs Saturday afternoon. The Tigers rallied past Rhode Island, 28-17, on Saturday to capture their first CAA crown and the conference's automatic bid to the FCS playoffs. Coach Rob Ambrose's squad has gone from 1-10 in 2010 to 9-2 this season, including a 7-1 record in the CAA. They finished one game ahead of Maine, New Hampshire and Old Dominion, which were all 6-2 in conference play.
“We knew this was going to be a very tough game for us,” admitted Towson Coach Rob Ambrose. “Rhode Island might be the best three-win team in college football. We were fortunate to get out of here with a win.“This is such a great moment for Towson football,” Ambrose admitted.
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| Towson Coach Rob Ambrose |
“Winning a championship in the CAA is a tremendous accomplishment. This championship is for everyone who has ever worn a Towson football uniform. As a coach, you couldn’t ask for anything else from a team. At the start, the only ones who believed in us were ourselves, the Towson University community and the Towson football alumni.”
Towson overcame a 10-0 deficit after the first quarter. Quarterback Grant Enders completed 20-of-26 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns to Tom Ryan. Enders also led the Tigers with 60 rushing yards on nine carries, while running back Terrance West rushed for two touchdowns despite being held to 52 yards on 19 carries.
Peppers averaged 45.7 yards per punt as a senior at Leesburg (FL.) H.S and placed 54 percent of his punts inside the 20-yard line. He earned All-County honors as a senior at Leesburg High School, averaged 40 yards per punt as a junior and was named as Special Teams Player of the Year for Coach Randy Trivers. Peppers helped the Yellow Jackets post a 6-4 record in 2010. Peppers season stats at Towson University
| PUNTING | No. | Yards | Avg | Long | TB | FC | I20 | 50+ | Blkd | |||
| R.J. Peppers | 29 | 1028 | 35.4 | 49 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |||
| TEAM | 1 | 16 | 16.0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total.......... | 30 | 1044 | 34.8 | 49 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
Peppers in his freshman season has been a starter from day one. Peppers left his footprint on Leesburg High School football as one of the best if not the greatest punter ever at Leesburg. He is the first Jacket to appear in a postseason football game in college in the Randy Trivers era at Leesburg High School.
I talk to R.J. moments after the game and I asked him was he and his teammates surprised about winning the CAA and a playoff berth. I asked him was there any pressure on him making the transition from high school to college.
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| R.J. Peppers punting in a game earlier this season |
"No sir we all believed in each other and we all believed we could win," Peppers said. We believe that this year is our year the transition from high school to college didn't bother me, that's one of the main reasons I chose this school."
The Tigers, who are 6-1 against nationally-ranked teams this season, are one of six CAA teams that are ranked in the Top 25. They join No. 10 Old Dominion, No. 11 Maine, No. 12 New Hampshire, No. 15 Delaware and No. 19 James Madison as CAA schools ranked in the Top 25. To date, the Tigers have defeated No. 20 Villanova, No. 14 Richmond, No. 18 Old Dominion, No. 14 William and Mary, No. 7 Maine and No. 7 New Hampshire. Their lone loss was a 35-30 defeat at the hands of No. 21 Delaware.
For the first time ever, Towson University is ranked among the Top 10 NCAA FCS teams in The Sports Network/Fathead.com College Football Weekly Poll, which was announced on Monday. The Tigers, who are 8-2, are ranked eighth in the nation after their 56-42 victory over No. 7 New Hampshire (7-3) on Saturday afternoon.
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