Saturday, Nov. 15

Maryland (6-3, 3-2 ACC)

vs.

No. 17 North Carolina (7-2, 3-2 ACC)

Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: College Park, Md.
Stadium: Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium (51,500)

TV: ABC/ESPN - Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Bob Griese (color), Paul Maguire (color) and Stacey Dales (sidelines) have the call. The game will be shown on ABC in most ACC markets, including Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, and on ESPN in some other parts of the country. Click here for a coverage map. The game can also be viewed on ESPN 360. Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic will show a two-hour replay of the game at 8 p.m. Sunday.

Radio: Terrapin Sports Radio Network - Johnny Holliday (play-by-play), Jonathan Claiborne (color) and Tim Strachan (sidelines) have the call. XM Satellite Radio Channel 190. Pregame with Gary Stein and Scott McBrien begins at 2 p.m. Click here to Listen Live on-line. The Terrapin Sports Radio Network (14 affiliates): 105.7 FM (WHFS) - Baltimore (Flagship); ESPN Radio 1300 AM (WJFK) - Baltimore (Flagship); WJFK 106.7 FM - Washington D.C.; WCEM AM 1240 - Cambridge; WBEY 97.9 FM - Crisfield; WGOP AM 540 - Crisfield; WTBO AM 1450 - Cumberland; WFMD AM 930 - Frederick; WARK AM 1490 - Hagerstown; WPTX 1690 AM - Lexington Park, Md.; WVMD 99.5 FM - Midland; WMSG AM 1050 - Oakland; WQMR FM 101.1 - Ocean City; WTGM AM 960 - Salisbury.

Tickets: Tickets are available through the Maryland Athletics Ticket Office. Fans my call 1-800-IM-A-TERP or click here.

Terps on the Air...
Maryland's football broadcasting lineup for 2008-09, includes the Ralph Friedgen Radio Show and the Ralph Friedgen Television Show (FridgeTV). The Ralph Friedgen Radio Show airs from 8-9 p.m. each Wednesday during the season on the Terrapin Sports Radio Network which increased from 10 to 14 affiliates this season. The Ralph Friedgen Television Show, which is presented by Outback Steakhouse, airs weekly at 11:30 a.m. Saturday on Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic. The fast-paced, 30-minute show goes behind the scenes with Friedgen and the Maryland football team. Replays of the show are normally scheduled for 7 p.m. Sunday on Comcast SportsNet, just prior to the rebroadcast of the Terps most recent football game (note: Saturday's game will replay at 8 p.m. Sunday). Comcast SportsNet will carry the official rebroadcasts of all 12 University of Maryland football games. Friedgen also appears each Wednesday during the season on Comcast's SportsNite wrap-up show. Comcast goes live "Inside the Coach's Office" with Friedgen at 6:45 p.m. each Wednesday.

First-and-10...
• Maryland, which is receiving votes in both the AP and USA Today polls, returns to College Park Saturday to open a two-game homestand against No. 17 North Carolina. The Terps, who will look to rebound from last week's loss at Virginia Tech, have been solid at home, winning their last six contests in Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium. UNC has won five of its last six games, including Saturday's 28-7 victory over No. 22 Georgia Tech. The Terps, who control their own destiny in the Atlantic Division race, need a win to keep pace with Florida State (4-2) and Wake Forest (4-2). The Tar Heels are in a three-way tie for the Coastal Division lead with Miami and Virginia Tech. Kickoff for Saturday's game is set for 3:30 p.m. The game can be seen regionally on ABC and ESPN, or heard on the Terrapin Sports Radio Network. Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic will show a two-hour replay of the game at 8 p.m. Sunday.
• Maryland reached bowl eligibility for the sixth time in eight seasons under Ralph Friedgen with its thrilling 27-24 win over NC State (10/25). The Terps have played in a bowl game after each of the last two seasons.
• Maryland has won all three of its games vs. ranked foes (AP poll) this season (No. 23 Cal; No. 20 Clemson; No. 21 Wake Forest) and five straight over the last two years (No. 8 Boston College and No. 10 Rutgers in 2007). The Terps are one of six teams in the nation (see chart to the right) to have knocked off three ranked opponents this year. The five consecutive wins over Top 25 teams is also tied for the most in school history (1949-52). The Terps may have a chance to eclipse that mark as two of the their final four foes (No. 19 UNC and No. 24 Florida State) are currently ranked in the Top 25.
• Maryland ranks third in the ACC in total offense (351.2 yards per game) and is averaging a league-best 5.9 yards per play. Junior Chris Turner, the second-rated passer in the ACC, is averaging 185.3 passing yards per game, while sophomore Da'Rel Scott ranks second in the ACC (37th nationally) in rushing (91.1 ypg). Junior WR Darrius Heyward-Bey is the Terps' deep threat. He has a team-high 30 catches and is averaging 16.5 yards per reception. Opening holes for the running game and protecting Turner is a veteran offensive line led by senior center Edwin Williams, a member of the watch lists for the Rimington Trophy and Lombardi Award. Senior TE Dan Gronkowski, on the watch list for the Mackey Award, is second on the team in receptions (23).
• Maryland has allowed more than 30 points just once this season. The Terps rank No. 31 nationally in scoring defense (19.7 ppg) and tied for 34th in sacks (2.3 pg). Senior DT Jeremy Navarre anchors the defensive line, having posted 48 tackles on the year. Sophomore LB Alex Wujciak has been impressive during his first season on the field, posting 66 tackles over the last five games, including 15 vs. NC State (10/25). Senior LB Moise Fokou has been active throughout the season, while senior LB Dave Philistin continues to make plays. Philistin is second on team in tackles (67) and Fokou has posted a team-best five sacks. The secondary is without its leader, senior CB Kevin Barnes who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury vs. Wake Forest (10/18). Picking up the slack are senior Jeff Allen (50 tackles) and junior Jamari McCollough (team-best three picks).
• Senior Obi Egekeze and sophomore Travis Baltz are two of the better kickers in the ACC. Egekeze has connected on 13 of his last 15 field-goal attempts, including the game-winner vs. NC State (10/25). Baltz ranks first in the league in punting (43.2 ypp). Redshirt freshman Torrey Smith is averaging 24.8 yards per kickoff return (fifth in the ACC), while the sure-handed Danny Oquendo is averaging 4.7 yards per punt return.

Quick Hitters...
• Maryland's schedule is ranked 14th-most difficult in the nation over the last three games of 2008, according to NCAA.com. The Terps' final three foes have a combined record of 16-7 (.696) vs. FBS opponents and all of those teams are either ranked or have been in the Top 25 this year.
• Darrius Heyward-Bey needs 24 receiving yards to become the third wideout in school history to reach 2,000 career yards.
• Chris Turner's 240 passing yards against Virginia Tech (11/6) catapulted him into Maryland's all-time top 10. With 3,626 career passing yards, Turner needs 35 more to move from 10th to eighth place in school history.
• Turner has just one interception in his last 157 pass attempts, dating back to the fourth quarter of the Eastern Michigan game (9/20).
• Da'Rel Scott (729 yards) is on pace to become the Terps' seventh back to rush for 1,000 yards and first since 2002 (Chris Downs, 1,154). Scott needs to average 67.8 yards over this final four games (including a bowl game) to reach that plateau. He ranks second in the ACC is rushing (91.1 ypg).
• Scott has two of the top four single-game rushing performances in the ACC this season (197 vs. Delaware; 163 vs. NC State). His rushing total vs. NC State is the second most in an ACC game this season.
• LB Alex Wujciak ranks second in the conference and 11th in the nation in tackles (10.3 pg). He needs seven tackles to reach 100 on the season. Wujciak is on pace to post over 130 stops on the season.
• Senior Jeremy Navarre ranks first in the ACC in tackles among defensive lineman (5.3 pg).
• Moise Fokou's team-high five sacks are the most by a Maryland linebacker since Shawne Merriman had a team-best 8.5 in 2004.
• WR Torrey Smith's blocked punt at Virginia Tech gives the Terps four blocks in a season (two blocked punts and two blocked field goals) for the first time since 2005. In addition, with 719 kickoff return yards in 2008, Smith needs 129 to break Maryland's single-season record (847 by Josh Wilson in 2006).
• The Terps boast one of the nation's best punt units this season, ranking ninth nationally (FBS) in net punting (39.2 ypp) and fourth in the nation in punt return yardage defense (3.5 ypr).
• Maryland is in search of its 200th ACC victory Saturday. Only Clemson (224) has more conference wins. The Terps have an all-time record of 199-164-4 (.548) in ACC games, including a 36-25 (.590) mark under Ralph Friedgen.
• Friedgen, the eighth winningest coach in ACC history, is is one of 20 head coaches around the nation on the watch list for the 2008 Paul `Bear' Bryant Coach of the Year Award.

Winning the Close Ones...
A key to the Terps success this season has been their ability to win the close ones. Maryland is 3-0 this season in games decided by seven points or less and have won two of their three ACC contests with fourth-quarter game-winning drives (Clemson and NC State). The Terps struggled in close games last year (1-4), but over the last three seasons Maryland is 10-5 in games decided by seven points or less.

Halftime Adjustments...
Maryland ranks No. 69 nationally in total defense (369.4 ypg), but the Terps have been sharp in the second half of each ACC game. Maryland has yielded an average of 147.2 yards and surrendered just 23 points overall in the final 30 minutes of those five games.

Solid Protection...
Maryland's offensive line has allowed just six sacks over the last six games. Thanks largely to its offensive line, Maryland ranks third in the ACC and tied for 42nd in the nation (FBS) in fewest sacks allowed (1.56 pg). The Terps have allowed just 14 sacks this season, which is half the total Maryland surrendered through nine games a year ago.

Quick Strike Ability...
The Terps have shown a knack for getting on the board quickly. Thus far this season, 16 of the team's 23 touchdowns have come on drives of six plays or less and/or in fewer than 2:00. During its game against Virginia Tech (11/6), Maryland drove a season-long 98 yards in six plays, capped by a 63-yard TD strike from QB Chris Turner to WR Darrius Heyward-Bey. That explosiveness has enabled the Terps to outscore opponents by 23 points this season despite having accounted for fewer first downs.

Closing the Door...
When a Maryland fumble gave Virginia Tech possession at the Terps' 18-yard line during the third quarter, the Maryland defense stiffened and held the Hokies to a field goal at the end of the half. On the season, the Maryland offense has turned the ball over 15 times, but the defense has surrendered just 20 opponent points off those miscues.

In the National Polls...
Maryland dropped out of the Top 25 after spending two weeks in both national polls and one week in the BCS standings. The Terrapins are still receiving votes in this week's AP and USA Today polls. The Terps were No. 23 in last week's AP poll (up from No. 25 the previous week), No. 21 in the USA Today poll (up from No. 25 previous week) and No. 23 in the BCS standings (not ranked the previous week). Maryland was ranked for the first time since 2006, when they were in the Top 25 for two weeks during November. They were No. 23 in the AP poll after upsetting No. 19 Clemson, 13-12, on Nov. 4 and jumped to No. 21 after defeating Miami, 14-13, on Nov. 11, 2006.

Heyward-Bey Leading the Way...
WR Darrius Heyward-Bey has served as a catalyst for the Maryland offense all season, and he continued to provide a spark for the Terps offense against Virginia Tech. The junior wideout recorded five receptions for 92 yards, including a 63-yard TD reception from QB Chris Turner on a slant pass during the third quarter. That play marked Heyward-Bey's eighth career gain of 50 yards or more, as well as his third such play this season. It also tied for the third-longest play by the Maryland offense this season (Heyward-Bey has accounted for three of those four plays).
• Heyward-Bey, on the watch list for the Maxwell and Biletnikoff Awards, currently leads the team and ranks sixth in the ACC in receiving yards (55.1 ypg). He also leads the team in receptions, leads the team with six touchdowns and stands third in all-purpose yards (76.4 ypg).
• When Heyward-Bey touches the football this season, good things tend to happen for the Terps offense. On 10 rushing attempts, Heyward-Bey has totaled a career-high 192 yards (19.2 ypc), which is the third-most rushing yards on the team, and places him among the top wide receivers in the nation (FBS) in rushing.
• Following his 76-yard scamper on a reverse at Clemson (9/27) to set up a score, Heyward-Bey now has three plays of more than 75 yards in his Terrapins career. He also notched an 80-yard TD catch earlier this season vs. MTSU (9/6) and had a team-record 96-yard TD reception against Miami during the 2006 season.
• Heyward-Bey has caught at least one pass in 31 of the last 34 contests dating back to the 2006 season. In addition, his 15.7 career yards per catch average ranks eighth nationally among active players.
• Heyward-Bey has continued his ascent through Maryland's career records this season. His 12-yard reception during the second quarter enabled him to overtake Azizuddin Abdur-Ra'oof (1984-87) for third place in school history with 1,976 career receiving yards, and is fast-approaching the 2,000 receiving yards milestone.
• With his 63-yard TD reception during the third quarter, Heyward-Bey tied Gulian Gary (1998-01) for third on Maryland's all-time list with 13 career TD receptions.
• Heyward-Bey remains in fourth place all-time with 126 career receptions, needing just nine catches to overtake Frank Wycheck (1990-92) for third place in that category.

Quote-Worthy...
Former Maryland WR Azizuddin Abdur-Ra'oof, who is now the director of the Terrapin "M" Club, on being passed by WR Darrius Heyward-Bey in the school's career receiving yards record book: "I'd like to be the first to congratulate Darrius on continuing to move up the receiving chart. I think it's awesome. Records are made to be broken, and I can't think of a better person to pass me."

Turner on Target...
QB Chris Turner has orchestrated the Maryland offense effectively throughout the 2008 campaign, and the Virginia Tech game (11/6) proved no exception. The junior signal-caller completed 19 of 31 passes for 240 yards, including a 63-yard TD pass to WR Darrius Heyward-Bey that enabled Turner to build on his career high for TD passes in a season (now with nine).
• Turner currently ranks second in the ACC and 50th in the nation in pass efficiency (128.3). The junior signal-caller also ranks tied for fourth in the ACC in touchdown passes (nine).
• Turner's 240 passing yards against Virginia Tech catapulted him into Maryland's all-time top-10 in career passing yards, as he passed Dick Shiner (1961-63). With 3,626 during his Terps tenure, Turner needs 35 passing yards to claim eighth place in school history.
• Turner has thrown just six interceptions on the season, including only one in his last 157 pass attempts, dating back to the fourth quarter of the Eastern Michigan game (9/20). The lone pick in that stretch came at the end of the Virginia game (10/4). He has not thrown a pick in his last 92 attempts.
• Continuing to prove his worth in big games, Turner is 4-0 as a starter against ranked opponents (also with wins over No. 20 Clemson and No. 23 Cal in 2008; win over No. 8 Boston College in 2007). He also played an integral role in the other such game (win over No. 10 Rutgers in 2007) during Maryland's four-game winning streak against ranked foes. The Simi Valley, Calif., native has yet to throw an interception vs. a ranked opponent. In four games vs. the top 25, Turner has completed 94 of 137 passes (68.6 percent) for 1,135 yards and seven TDs.
• With his TD pass to Heyward-Bey against the Hokies, the 16th of his career, Turner moved into a tie with Vic Turyn (1947-48) for 15th place in school history in that category.
• In 20 career games, Turner also ranks ninth in school history with 289 career completions and 11th with 470 career pass attempts. He has thrown for at least 200 yards in 11 of his last 14 starts.
• Turner has also been sharp on third down this season, completing 61 percent (47 of 77) of his passes. His latest third-down heroics came when he completed a 31-yard strike to RB Davin Meggett on third-and-10 during the game-winning drive vs. NC State (10/25).

Mr. Smith Comes From Washington...
WR Torrey Smith continues to make the most of his opportunities after recently being inserted into the Terps' starting lineup. The freshman wideout registered the first blocked punt of his career during the third quarter against Virginia Tech (11/6) to give the Maryland offense the ball at its own 45-yard line. Smith also notched career-best marks of four receptions and 62 receiving yards as part of 163 all-purpose yards.
• Smith added 101 yards on four kickoff returns to build on his single-season freshman record (now at 719). The previous record was 566 by Da'Rel Scott in 2007.
• Smith's single-season kickoff return yardage already ranks as the second-most all-time in school history. He needs 128 kickoff return yards to break Josh Wilson's single-season school record. Smith's 719 return yards put him in 10th place all-time.
• Smith currently ranks fifth in the ACC and 37th in the nation (FBS) in kick return average (24.8 ypr). He also ranks second on the team and eighth in the ACC in all-purpose yards (98.0 ypg).

Terps' Tackling Tandem...
As has been the case much of the season, LB Alex Wujciak paced Maryland in tackles at Virginia Tech. Wujciak tallied a game-high 13 tackles and now has totaled at least that many in four of the last five games.
• Maryland is now 5-1 this season when Wujciak and/or fellow LB Dave Philistin reach double digits in tackles.
• Wujciak currently ranks second in the ACC and 11th in the nation in tackles (10.3 pg). He also leads the ACC in tackles during conference games (13.2 pg). Philistin, who added nine stops against the Hokies, is tied for 10th in the conference (7.4 pg).
• Wujciak's 16 tackles vs. Clemson (9/27) are tied for the second-most this season in the ACC during a single game (Duke's Michael Tauiliili had 18 stops vs. NC State on Nov. 8).

Great Scott...
• Despite being only a redshirt sophomore, RB Da'Rel Scott has been Maryland's leading rusher nearly all season. When the Hokies held the Terps' running game in check, Scott found other ways to contribute, catching a career-best five passes for a career-high-tying 57 yards.
• Scott, on the watch list for the Maxwell Award, currently ranks second in the ACC and 37th in the nation (FBS) in rushing (91.1 ypg). He also leads the team and ranks fifth in the ACC and tied for 73rd nationally in all-purpose yards (110.0 ypg). He is second on the team with five touchdowns.
• Scott has eight carries of at least 24 yards in 2008 (40, 37 and 26 vs. Delaware; 63 and 24 vs. MTSU; 24 vs. Cal; 39 and 24 vs. NC State).
• Scott started his sophomore campaign with a bang, compiling 407 yards in the first three games, including a season opener-record 197 yards vs. Delaware on Aug. 30. Scott's three-game rushing total ranks sixth on Maryland's all-time list for most rushing yards through the first three games of a season.

Through the Uprights...
One game after notching the game-winning field goal vs. NC State (10/25), PK Obi Egekeze connected on two of three field goals at Virginia Tech, including a 41-yarder during the second quarter.
• Egekeze currently ranks tied for third in the ACC and tied for 24th in the nation in field goals (1.44 pg). He also ranks fourth in the ACC in kick scoring (6.9 ppg).
• At his best during conference play, Egekeze has now hit 23 of 26 field goals (88.5 percent) during ACC contests over the course of his career.
• With his performance at Virginia Tech, Egekeze passed Joe O'Donnell (1994-96) to claim sole possession of eighth place on Maryland's all-time list with 29 career field goals.

Terp Trickery...
Under first-year offensive coordinator James Franklin, Maryland's offense has developed into one for which the quarterback is not necessarily the only player to throw the ball. RB Da'Rel Scott's 9-yard TD pass to WR Darrius Heyward-Bey against Wake Forest (10/18) marked the second time this season a non-quarterback threw a TD pass for the Terps.
• Earlier this season in the game against Eastern Michigan (9/20), all three of Maryland's first-string wide receivers got involved in a trick play that resulted in a touchdown. Heyward-Bey took a handoff and threw a lateral to fellow WR Danny Oquendo, who threw a 43-yard TD pass to fellow WR Isaiah Williams. The play marked Oquendo's first career touchdown pass and Williams' first score of the season. Oquendo became Maryland's first non-quarterback to throw a touchdown pass since RB Josh Allen threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Oquendo vs. Boston College on Nov. 18, 2006.
• Maryland's offensive creativity continued against Virginia (10/4). On the final play of the first half, QB Chris Turner connected with Williams for an 11-yard gain. Williams proceeded to shovel the ball to a streaking Heyward-Bey (25 yards), who tossed a lateral pass to Scott (nine yards). The play totaled 45 yards, making it the Terps' third-longest pass play of the season.

Fokou's Sack Barrage...
LB Moise Fokou has applied pressure on opposing quarterbacks all season, and he continued to do so at Virginia Tech (11/6). Fokou registered his team-leading fifth sack of the season when he took down Virginia Tech QB Sean Glennon for a loss of three during the second quarter.
• Fokou leads the team, ranks tied for sixth in the ACC and tied for 61st in the nation in sacks (.56 pg). He also leads Maryland in TFLs (7.5).
• DL Travis Ivey and LB Rick Costa also notched sacks against the Hokies.

Baltz's Punting Prowess...
P Travis Baltz has booted himself into the nation's elite at his position during his sophomore season. The Whitehouse, Ohio, native punted six times for 290 yards, including a season-long punt of 59 yards and three punts landing inside the Hokies' 20-yard line.
• Baltz currently ranks first in the ACC and 18th in the nation in punting (43.2 ypp). Thanks in large part to Baltz, Maryland also leads the conference and ranks ninth nationally in net punting (39.2 ypp).

Special Indeed...
Maryland's special teams unit has come up big all season long. During the game at Virginia Tech (11/6), freshman WR Tony Logan recovered a botched punt return at the Hokies 11-yard line during the third quarter to set up PK Obi Egekeze's second field goal of the game.
• The special teams units' performance at Virginia Tech was hardly its first noteworthy one this season. During the win over NC State (10/25), Egekeze kicked the game-winning field goal and also hit a career-long 46-yarder. In the previous game against Wake Forest (10/18), Egekeze kicked four field goals to provide Maryland some breathing room. One week after LB Adrian Moten blocked a punt and WR Torrey Smith notched a 57-yard kickoff return in a win over Eastern Michigan (9/20), LS Andrew Schmitt recovered a muffed punt against Clemson (9/27) to set up a Maryland field goal in that upset victory.

North Carolina At-A-Glance...
• No. 17 North Carolina (ranked similarly in both polls) sits tied atop the ACC's Coastal Division with Miami and Virginia Tech. All three have a conference record of 3-2.
• The Tar Heels have won five of their last six games, beating three ranked opponents (No. 24 Connecticut), No. 23 Boston College and No. 22 Georgia Tech) during that span.
• North Carolina has been successful of late despite not having the services of big-play WR and return specialist Brandon Tate. Formerly the ACC's leader in all-purpose yards, Tate suffered a season-ending knee injury during North Carolina's win over Notre Dame on Oct. 11.
• The Tar Heels rank among the nation's leaders (FBS) in interceptions (tied for first - 18), kickoff return yardage defense (fourth - 17.57 ypr), turnover margin (tied for fourth - plus 1.44 pg), turnovers gained (tied for 10th - 24), fewest turnovers lost (tied for 13th - 11), scoring defense (21st - 18.4 ppg), pass efficiency (29th - 138.80) and punt returns (30th - 11.9 ypr).
• QB Cameron Sexton has orchestrated the North Carolina offense effectively since starter T.J. Yates went down with a fractured ankle earlier this season. Collectively, the pair of signal-callers have thrown 14 TD passes and helped their team post the ACC's best pass efficiency mark.
• WR Hakeem Nicks leads the ACC in receiving (94.9 ypg) and has eight TD receptions this season. RB Shaun Draughn paces the team in rushing with 589 yards, ranking sixth in the conference.
• S Trimane Goddard leads the ACC and ranks tied for first in the nation in interceptions (.67 pg), but four other Tar Heels have notched multiple picks this season.
• LB Mark Paschal leads North Carolina in tackles (80) and TFLs (6.5). Fellow LB Quan Sturdivant has added 77 tackles, while he, Paschal and LB Bruce Carter have two sacks apiece.

Maryland-UNC Series History...
• Saturday's game will mark the 69th meeting between the Terrapins and Tar Heels. North Carolina owns a 36-31-1 edge in the all-time series. The two schools first met back in 1920 when Maryland blanked Carolina 13-0. Maryland is 16-12 against North Carolina in games played in College Park.
• The Terps are 4-1 vs. UNC under Ralph Friedgen.
• A 23-7 victory over UNC marked Ralph Friedgen's first game as head coach back in 2001, and it started Maryland's run to an ACC Championship.
• The Terps have twice posted 59 points against the Tar Heels in Friedgen's tenure, winning 59-7 in 2002 and 59-21 in 2003. Those games along with a 59-point effort against Duke in 2001, mark the highest point total Maryland has had against a Division I opponent since Maryland defeated Virginia 62-24 in 1975.