Philistin Voted ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week
10/8/2007 8:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 8, 2007
GREENSBORO, N.C. - University of Maryland middle linebacker Dave Philistin was named Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Lineman of the Week, the league office announced Monday afternoon.
Philistin had a monster game Saturday, notching a career-high 21 tackles in the Terrapins' 28-26 win over Georgia Tech. In addition, he stopped the Yellow Jackets' Tashard Choice short of the end zone on a two-point conversion attempt midway through the fourth quarter which would have tied the game at 28-all.
With the Terps playing without defensive leader and preseason All-American Erin Henderson (injured knee), Philistin stepped up and had seven solo stops and 14 assisted tackles. The 21 stops are the third-most in an NCAA Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) game this season and the most by a Maryland player since Eric Barton had 22 against North Carolina back in 1998.
It was the second straight week Philistin set a career high in tackles. He had 11 in a 34-24 upset of No. 10 Rutgers (Sept. 29). Philistin ranks sixth in the ACC in tackles (9.3 pg).
The ACC's weekly defensive lineman award includes inside linebackers.
Also honored this week by the ACC were Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan (Offensive Back), tackle Garrett Reynolds of North Carolina (Offensive Lineman), safety Jamie Silva of Boston College (Defensive Back), place-kicker Connor Barth of North Carolina (Specialist), and Tyrod Taylor of Virginia Tech (Rookie).
Maryland freshman punter Travis Baltz was nominated for the ACC Rookie of the Week and Specialist of the Week awards.
The Terps, who received votes Sunday in both the AP and USA Today polls, are off this weekend, but play host to Virginia on Saturday, Oct. 20 in the annual Homecoming game.
Baltz averaged a career-high 49.6 yards on five punts vs. Georgia Tech.
Maryland Football Notes:
Airing it Out...
In his first career start, Chris Turner threw for 255 yards vs. Georgia Tech, the most through the air by a Terrapin quarterback since Sam Hollenbach posted 374 against North Carolina on Nov. 12, 2005. Turner earned his first career start Saturday, one week after leading Maryland to an upset of then No. 10 Rutgers. Turner threw for 149 yards on 14 of 20 attempts, and was named ACC Co-Offensive Back of the Week for his performance against the Scarlet Knights. The 78-yard touchdown pass from Turner to reserve tight end Jason Goode was the first career score for each player. The Terps' longest pass play of the season coming into the game was 39 yards. Turner and the Terps had three pass plays over 40 yards vs. the Yellow Jackets. Speedy sophomore wideout Darrius Heyward-Bey, who had his first 100-yard receiving game of the season (109), caught passes of 44 and 47 yards.
One-Two Punch...
Senior backs Keon Lattimore and Lance Ball rank among the top running back duos in the nation and lead the second-ranked rushing offense (162.0 ypg) in the ACC. Lattimore has posted four 100-yard games and tallied 564 yards on the season, third-highest total in the ACC. His 94.0 yards per game rank 41st in the nation and Ball's 57.8 ypg are ninth ACC. The two have combined for 15 rushing touchdowns and are on pace to post over 1,800 rushing yards. Last season, Ball and Lattimore combined for over 1,500 yards and were just one of just five running back tandems in the nation to gain over 700 yards apiece.
Getting on a Roll...
The Terps have posted identical 4-2 records through six games over the last two seasons. The sixth game last season proved to be a turning point as Maryland rallied from a 20-0 halftime deficit to post a 28-26 road win at Virginia (Oct. 14). Last week's Rutgers game could prove to be the pivotal game this season as the Terps rallied from a 17-14 halftime deficit to defeat No. 10 Rutgers and then hung on for a 28-26 win over the Yellow Jackets Saturday. Last season's Virginia game was the beginning of a five-game winning streak which propelled Maryland to within a game of the ACC title contest. Each contest in last season's five-game winning streak was decided by six points or less.
Goode Play...
TE Jason Goode's 78-yard touchdown reception from Chris Turner in the win over Georgia Tech was chosen as one of the top five plays in the Atlantic Coast Conference last weekend. Click here to vote on the top play.
By The Numbers...
2...The Terps are only of only two teams in the nation to have two players with seven or more rushing touchdowns. Keon Lattimore's eight touchdowns rank first in the ACC, while Lance Ball checks in second with 7. Steve Slaton (9) and Pat White (7) of West Virginia are the other duo.
2...The Terps have not started an ACC slate 0-2 in Ralph Friedgen's tenure. The last time Maryland began the year 0-2 in the league was 2000, the season before Friedgen arrived in College Park.
3...Dave Philistin's 21 tackles vs. Georgia Tech are the third-most in an NCAA Bowl Subdivision game this season. Bryce Hudman of SMU had 26 vs. Arkansas State on Sept. 15 and Lamar Myles of Louisville posted 22 vs. Kentucky on Sept. 15.
5...Number of tackles by Philistin on the Georgia Tech's final drive of the game (12 plays, 39 yards), which ended with Travis Bell's 52-yard missed field goal.
6...The Terps have their won the last six contests decided by seven points or less. The last time Maryland lost such a game was in 2006 in a 27-23 loss to then No. 18 Georgia Tech (Oct. 7).
8...Only eight players on the Maryland roster have compiled more than 21 tackles on the season. Philistin had 21 stops vs. Georgia Tech.
25.5...Chris Turner's yards per completion (10 of 17, 255 yards) in the win over Georgia Tech.
148.86...Turner's pass efficiency rating this season. That mark would rank No. 2 in the ACC and No. 18 in the nation, but Turner has not played in 75 percent of this year's games.
