Sept. 27, 2007

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - With its showdown against No. 10 Rutgers only two days away, the Maryland football team (2-2, 0-1 ACC) took to the practice field Thursday evening for its final tune-up before Friday's departure for New Jersey.

After practice, Coach Ralph Friedgen emphasized the importance of the team bringing their full effort each day.

"We didn't have a very good practice offensively yesterday, but today we had a very good practice," he said. "When we have a practice where we don't put a lot of effort into it, I think that's a reflection of me. I'm not getting it out of them. Today when they came out and played well, I felt so much better.

"They're very important to me," he continued about the practices. "I can tolerate a lot of things, but I can't tolerate a lack of effort."

At practice Thursday, the Terrapins went through their normal schedule, working on special teams and two-minute scenarios. The starting units on both sides the ball worked extensively against the scout teams with artificial crowd noise blaring throughout much of practice. At the conclusion of the workout, the freshmen and scout team players once again took to the field for a hard-hitting scrimmage.

On the first drive of the two-minute session, the first team offense found a rhythm, but couldn't convert and turned an impressive effort into points.

QB Jordan Steffy completed 5 of 6 passes to four different receivers to set up a 34-yard field goal attempt by Obi Egekeze. The kick just missed to the right.

Friedgen said afterwards that Steffy was on his game Thursday.

"He was very good today. He was as sharp as I've seen him," he said.

While the first-team offense failed to put any points on the board, the second team had more success.

Quarterback Chris Turner hooked up with wide receiver Isaiah Williams three times for 32 yards on the drive, and moved the ball to the defense's 22-yard line with 12 seconds remaining.

Turner then hit tight end Jason Goode, who stepped out of bounds at the 14. With four seconds remaining Turner pump-faked the ball to the right, then turned back to the middle of the field and found reserve wide out Matt Goldberg, who reached back and grabbed the ball in the end zone for the score.

Friedgen was pleased with the scrimmage after practice, and noted that RB Dan Bonato, WR Tony Logan, WR Emani Lee-Odai, and QB Josh Portis played well. Defensive back Michael Carter did pick off a Portis pass and returned it for a touchdown.

"I want it to be a fun thing. I think they get a chance to get some experience and grow," he said.

Logan and linebacker Hakeem Sule were named the offensive and defensive scout team players of the week, respectfully, and will travel to Rutgers this weekend.

The team chose seniors Lance Ball, Carlos Feliciano, and J.J. Justice as captains for Saturday's game. Ball and Feliciano are both New Jersey natives.

Kickoff for Saturday's game with No. 10 Rutgers (3-0, 0-0 BIG EAST) is set for 3:30 p.m. from Rutgers Stadium in Piscataway, N.J.

The game will be shown regionally on ABC and 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.