Five miles. That's roughly the distance quarterback Sean Schaefer has covered passing in his football career at Towson University.
He is 213 yards shy of breaking the school's career passing record - a milestone Schaefer will reach if history repeats itself tonight in Towson's home opener against Morgan State.
In last year's victory over Morgan, Schaefer threw for 213 yards.
"I'll take that," he said. He meant the win.
The Tigers (0-1) have lost six straight after last week's 41-13 defeat at Navy. Never mind that he threw for 330 yards in that game, Schaefer said.
"There is still that sick feeling in your stomach when you lose," the senior said. "The Navy game really sticks in my craw. I don't want that feeling anymore."
A four-year starter from Dunkirk in Calvert County, Schaefer has passed for 8,688 yards, nearing the record of 8,900 set by Dan Crowley (1991-1994). He'll go for it against a Morgan State team primed for the neighborhood brawl between archrivals located five miles apart.
It's the first game for Morgan, which finished 5-6 last season and is determined to end a three-game losing streak to Towson. But the Tigers have one advantage, Morgan coach Donald Hill-Eley said.
"Towson has had one game to work out their kinks," he said. "The biggest improvement always comes between the first and second games.
"Us? We're working in the dark."
Schaefer passed for all four touchdowns last year in Towson's 28-21 victory over Morgan. But he also threw two interceptions and was sacked four times.
"[Schaefer] is just as smart as Crowley and has just as strong an arm," Hill-Ely said. He would know, having coached Crowley in 1995 for the Baltimore Stallions of the Canadian Football League.
Count on Schaefer to again run the show, Towson coach Gordy Combs said. Against Navy, the Tigers managed 30 rushing yards on 26 carries.
"We have to get the ball into Sean's hands and let him throw," Combs said. "He's our horse. We can eat up the clock that way, as long as we don't drop the ball."
Morgan expects to start newcomer Carlton Jackson at quarterback. A transfer from Akron, Jackson started three games there last season and had his best outing in a loss to Indiana, going 15-for-21 for 200 yards and rushing for 70 more.
But at Akron, Jackson sat out one game for disciplinary reasons, never regained his job and finally changed schools.
Towson leads the series with Morgan 15-5.
"This matchup is everything that's wholesome about college football," Combs said. "Our students know theirs. It's like UCLA against Southern Cal, but on a smaller scale."
Bragging rights for Baltimore are at stake, Schaefer said.
"The schools are 10 minutes apart," he said. "I've known guys on our team who have girlfriends at Morgan.
"There's a lot of passion between these teams."
