Oct. 18, 2007

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland football team made its final adjustments Thursday evening in preparation for Saturday night's homecoming showdown with Atlantic Coast Conference rival Virginia.

The Terps and Cavaliers are set to kickoff at 8 p.m. ET with the game broadcast nationally on ESPN2. The teams will play before a sold-out Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium. The game was announced as a sellout Thursday evening. It marks the second sellout for the Terps this season (also West Virginia on Sept. 13) and third in the last five home games.

The Terps (4-2, 1-1) hit the field Thursday for special teams work and to put the finishing touches on Saturday's gameplan. Maryland had last weekend off, after downing No. 10 Rutgers and Georgia Tech in its previous two games.

The Cavaliers (6-1, 3-0) come into College Park having won six straight after an opening day loss at Wyoming, and are ranked 24th in the nation in this week's USA Today Coaches Poll.

Maryland Coach Ralph Friedgen has said that Virginia's improved quarterback play and strong defense have helped the Cavs during their win streak.

"They're 6-1. That's pretty legit. They're young but they have experience. The more they win, the more confidence they'll get," he said after practice Thursday.

Sophomore Chris Turner will likely start his second consecutive game at quarterback in place of injured starter Jordan Steffy, but Friedgen said Thursday that the Terps should have star linebacker Erin Henderson back for Saturday's game.

Henderson led the team in tackles in each of its first five games, before sitting out the win against Georgia Tech. On Thursday he was named a semifinalist for the Butkus Award, given annually to the nation's top linebacker.

In Henderson's absence, linebacker Dave Philistin had 21 tackles against the Yellow Jackets, and several other Terrapin defenders have stepped up, including defensive lineman Mack Frost and versatile linebacker Adrian Moten.

"I think Mack Frost has worked pretty hard out there" Friedgen said Thursday. "I think he's worked very hard on his quickness. He's very quick, and I think he's worked on getting stronger. He's also worked on knowing the game a little better. He gets a very quick jump off the ball, and he's a big kid with long arms. I would say he's one of the most improved players on the team. He kind of optimizes a guy that stays in the program and works."

Friedgen also praised Moten, a redshirt freshman who has been pressed into action at all three linebacker positions due to injuries at various times during the year.

"The thing that's really amazing about Adrian is that he's a redshirt freshman and he can play Sam, Mike and Will. You don't find that very often. He has really good football instincts," Friedgen said.

At the conclusion of practice, Friedgen announced the captains for Saturday's game. Senior defensive tackle Carlos Feliciano will represent the defense, senior running back Lance Ball, the offense, and kickoff specialist Chris Roberts, the special teams unit.

Maurice Hampton, a freshman offensive lineman from Hampton, Va., and Louis Berman, a freshman linebacker out of Gambills, Md., were chosen as the offensive and defensive scout team players of the week, respectively.

The broadcast of the game can also be heard over the Terrapin Sports Radio Network, which includes WHFS 105.7 FM in Baltimore, WJFK 1300 AM in Baltimore and WJFK 106.7 FM in Washington, D.C.

The game will be replayed at 7:30 p.m. Sunday on Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, following the replay of the Outback Ralph Friedgen Television Show.

The Friedgen Television Show airs initially at 11:30 a.m. each Saturday.