Maryland Makes Final Preparations For Clemson
10/25/2007 8:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 25, 2007
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - A cold drizzle did not keep the University Maryland football team from taking the practice field Thursday for its final tune-up before Saturday's game against Clemson.
The rain is expected to clear in time for Saturday's kickoff which is set for 3:30 p.m. ET from Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium. The game will be broadcast regionally on ABC.
On Thursday, the Terps (4-3, 1-2) practiced two-minute and special team scenarios and ran through this week's gameplan. Maryland will be looking to get back on track against Clemson, after the Terps dropped a close game to Virginia last Saturday. Prior to the loss, Maryland had won two straight over No. 10 Rutgers and Georgia Tech.
The Tigers (5-2, 2-2) come into College Park fresh off their highest point total in 26 years. Clemson snapped a two-game losing streak with a 70-14 win over Central Michigan last weekend.
Maryland Coach Ralph Friedgen hopes the running game, which ranks second in the ACC, will spearhead the offense.
"It's always easier when you have the running game going. That's kind of been our strength all year," he said. "(Clemson is) extremely good up front. They're big and fast. Their linebackers are extremely fast. They're the second-ranked defense in the conference, and we're going to have to be able to make some plays on them if we're going to win the football game."
Sophomore Chris Turner has started the last two games in place of an injured Jordan Steffy, but the junior has been cleared to play, and Friedgen said that both could see time against the Tigers.
Both players took reps with the first team in Thursday's practice, and Turner led the first-team offense on an efficient two-minute scoring drive, despite the weather and the artificial crowd noise blaring through the speakers on the practice field.
The offense took the field at its own 38-yard line with 1:22 left on the clock, and Turner was promptly dropped for a sack by linebacker Adrian Moten on the drive's first play.
Still, the sophomore remained poised and completed his next three passes for big gains. A 22-yard pass to Danny Oquendo was followed by a 23-yard completion to tight end Joey Haynos, and the offense quickly had the ball at the 25-yard line. Turner then hit Oquendo again for 18 yards to put the ball at the defense's seven-yard line.
Place-kicker Obi Egekeze and the kicking team trotted out for a chip-shot field goal, and Egekeze easily nailed the 24-yarder.
Steffy and the second team offense were stymied in four downs after sacks by linebacker Chris Clinton and safety J.J. Justice, but that did not stop Friedgen from praising Steffy's efforts to return from the concussion which has cost him more than two games.
"He's worked hard," Friedgen said of Steffy. "He's Jordan. He's a consummate team player. I think he's a heck of a kid. I really do. I've seen him grow so much. I know how disappointed he is (about the injury), but he'll be back."
Friedgen said after practice Thursday that the team had put in a good week of work. A pair of freshmen, fullback Haroon Brown and offensive tackle Bruce Campbell, practiced particularly well.
Brown will play in place of Cory Jackson, who is out with a broken hand, and Campbell could see time at tackle, Friedgen said.
"Campbell will probably play," he said. "He's had his best week of practice. I think he's the furthest along of all the freshmen. I think he's ready to play right now."
At the conclusion of practice, Friedgen announced the captains for Saturday's game. Erin Henderson, the ACC's leading tackler, will represent the defense, while center Edwin Williams was selected as the offensive captain. Short-snapper Brendan McDermond will captain the special teams unit.
Paul Lariviere, a freshman running back from Brooklyn, N.Y., and Ian Davidson, a freshman defensive lineman out of Alexandria, Va., 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. Tuesday 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.
