Towson makes playoffs for first time in 5 years

Despite a 38-17 loss to James Madison on Saturday in the regular-season finale for both teams, the Towson football team on Sunday earned one of 14 at-large bids to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. It will host Northeast Conference champion Duquesne on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Johnny Unitas Stadium. “Validation for our kids,” coach Rob Ambrose said in a video distributed by the team. “This is the hardest working group since 2011. They have done a little bit of it on blind faith. To see them be rewarded for the work they have put in, these are great teaching lessons as men for the rest of their lives.” The Tigers — who slipped to No. 16 in the final STATS FCS poll — will make their third postseason appearance and first since the 2013 squad advanced to the FCS title game before losing, 35-7, to North Dakota State. Towson (7-4) opened the season with six wins in seven games, but ended the regular season with three losses in four games. The Tigers will meet Duquesne (8-3), which won its last five games en route to the Northeast title. The Dukes rank 33rd in the nation in scoring at 31.2 points per game and are tied for 63rd in total offense at 379.5 yards per game. The winner of Saturday’s game will travel to No. 5 seed South Dakota State for a second-round game on Dec. 1. That game is scheduled to kick off at 3 p.m. with a header on the rebound to double the Terps’ advantage. The Terps advance to the third round to face No. 6 seed Duke, a 1-0 winner over Pacific on Sunday night. Maryland will face the host Blue Devils on Saturday at 7 p.m. WOMEN: McDaniel scored the final two goals to overcome a 2-1 deficit and top Albright in the final of the Division III Eastern College Athletic Conference tournament. Kirsten Gibson scored two goals, including the game-winner, to earn tournament Most Valuable Player honors.