NC STATE (5-6, 3-4) vs. MARYLAND (5-6, 2-5)
DATE: Saturday, November 24, 2006
TIME: Kickoff: 12:00 p.m. (EST) at Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC (57,500)
RADIO: Wolfpack Sports Network. Airtime: 11 a.m. (EST)
TELEVISION: Raycom/Lincoln Financial Sports (ACC Network)
OPPONENT—Maryland started the season 4-2, but since then has dropped four of its last five games, including last Saturday’s 24-16 loss at Florida State.
The Seminoles were without their top three tailbacks for the game, but it turned out to be no problem. Converted wide receiver Preston Parker ran for 133 yards and a touchdown in the victory. Parker’s 18-yard run in the first quarter put the ‘Noles up 14-3 and they never looked back.
Maryland cut the lead to 21-13 with 5:55 to play in the third quarter when Chris Turner hit Darrius Heyward-Bey with a 14-yard touchdown pass, but the Terps were unable to find the end zone again. The two teams traded field goals in the fourth quarter for the final margin.
The Terps outgained the Seminoles 243-to-204, but rushed for only 92 yards and were flagged for 8 penalties.
Maryland’s offense, which was been decimated by injuries (only three players have started all 11 games) ranks sixth in the ACC (340.1 yards per game), but has averaged 403.5 yards over the last two weeks, including a season-best 472 total yards vs. Boston College (Nov. 10).
During the last five games, the Terps have rushed for less than 100 yards 3 times. However, seniors Lance Ball and Keon Lattimore have combined to average nearly 140 yards rushing a contest. Lattimore ranks fourth in the ACC and 66th nationally in rushing (75.5 ypg), and has tallied a league-best 11 rushing TDs.
Despite playing behind an offensive line which is without two starters, sophomore quarterback Chris Turner has played well. Turner, who replaced junior Jordan Steffy (injured vs. Rutgers), ranks third in the ACC is passing efficiency (134.8 rating) while starting the last six games. Steffy played two series at FSU.
Heyward-Bey, a freshman All-American in 2006, leads the Terps in receptions (42) and receiving yards (640). He has 15 catches over the last three weeks. Two other wideouts, Danny Oquendo (19 catches) and LaQuan Williams (15 catches) are injured and will not play against NC State.
Maryland’s offensive line has resembled a MASH unit. Guards Andrew Crummey and Jamie Thomas are out with fractured fibulas, while left tackle Scott Burley has missed quite a bit of the last four games with a sore ankle. Crummey, a preseason All-American, hopes to return before the end of the year if the Terps go to a bowl.
Defensively, Maryland has a lot of experience, especially up front. The ends, Trey Covington and Jeremy Navarre are both third-year starters. Senior Tackle Dre Moore (6-4, 311) leads the team with 6 sacks, including four in the last five games. He’s also averaged 7 stops a game during that span.
The Terps rank 48th nationally in total defense (365.6 ypg) and 39th in scoring defense (23.55 ppg).
Although it’s last in the ACC in sacks with 22, the Maryland defense stepped up against Boston College, sacking Heisman candidate Matt Ryan a season-high four times and holding the Eagles to just 45 rushing yards. The Terps also held the Florida State offense in check for most of last week's game. FSU scored on its first three drives, but then was forced to punt in each of its next eight possessions.
Behind its experienced defensive line are two of the top tacklers in the country in junior linebackers Erin Henderson and Dave Philistin. They rank sixth (11.6) and tied for 31st (10.1), respectively, in the nation in tackles per game. Henderson’s performance has been incredible considering he has been hampered by injuries for the last six weeks.
Junior cornerback Kevin Barnes, a first-year starter, has led the secondary with four of the team's 11 interceptions. Third-year starter, Christian Varner, a former high school All-American, is the anchor of the defensive backfield along with senior cornerback, Isaiah Gardner (2 interceptions).
The Terrapins have forced six turnovers in the last three games. At FSU they forced four fumbles, but were able to corral just one of them. On the season, Maryland has out-scored the opposition 65-43 off turnovers.
Special teams play has been pretty consistent despite three new starters. True freshman Travis Baltz ranks eighth in the ACC in punting average (41.2) while Obi Egekeze has hit 14 of 19 field goals, with two of the misses coming from beyond 50 yards.
Redshirt freshman Da’Rel Scott, a backup running back, has been the No. 1 kickoff return man. He's averaging 21.5 yards per return, including a career-high 33.0 vs. FSU. Varner has taken over as the No. 1 punt returner due to Oquendo’s injury.
The Terps rank second in the country in kickoff return yardage defense (16.7 ypr) and 41st in punt return yardage defense (7.3 ypr).
Bowl eligibility is on the line. The Wolfpack is looking to become bowl eligible for the seventh time in the last 10 years. The Terps will be playing for a shot at the post-season for fifth time in seven years under coach Ralph Friedgen. The prize is one of the eight available ACC bowl slots.
Currently, there are seven teams bowl eligible in the ACC. Miami, the third 5-6 team with State and Maryland, visits Boston College on Saturday.
NOTES: Only 38 total points have separated Maryland and NC State in the last seven games of the series...The Wolfpack has won two of the last three meetings with the Terps...Maryland is the second-least penalized team in the ACC (5.5 pg). That mark also ranks tied for 23rd in the nation. In terms of fewest penalty yards (44.5 pg), Maryland is also second in the ACC... The Wolfpack has held 3 of its last 5 opponents to less than 100 yards rushing ... The Pack has 7 interceptions in its last 4 games and has forced 11 turnovers during its last five contests...Maryland has lost four of its five ACC games by a total of 17 points....Da’Rel Scott’s 494 kickoff return yards is the most ever by a Terp freshman...According to the NCAA, the Terps' 2007 schedule is tied for 11th-most difficult in the nation... NC State has thrown an ACC-high 22 interceptions this year...Maryland’s Ralph Friedgen is 4-2 against NC State...Darrell Blackman is No.4 in the ACC in all-purpose yards (133) and is the league’s No.2 punt returner (13.1)...Jamelle Eugene is ninth in the ACC in rushing (60 ypg.). Eugene has gained 642 all-purpose yards in the last 5 games while averaging 73 snaps...Defensive end Willie Young ranks 5th in the ACC in tackles for loss (14.5)...In the last 5 games, the Wolfpack has recorded 17 quarterback sacks... Safety DaJuan Morgan who has recorded 50 tackles in his last 4 games is the Pack’s leading tackler (10.0). He also leads the team with 13 pass break-ups...NC State has scored in 150 consecutive games, the fourth-longest streak in ACC history...The Pack is 7-4 in overtime games...Twelve Wolfpack starters have missed a total of 39 combined games this season due to injury.
INJURIES--NC State: DT John Bedics (concussion)-questionable; SS Javon Walker (knee)-out; OG Meares Green (ankle)-doubtful; LB James Martin (knee)-doubtful; OG Kalani Heppe (shoulder)-questionable; RB Toney Baker (knee)--out for season; TE Anthony Hill (knee)-out for season; FB John Kane (concussion)-out for season; TE Rashad Phillips (rehab from auto accident)-out for season. Maryland: See above story.
Courtesy: Peyton Williams/NC State
