Saturday, Nov. 22

No. 22 Maryland (7-3, 4-2 ACC)

vs.

Florida State (7-3, 4-3 ACC)

Kickoff: 7:45 p.m. ET
Location: College Park, Md.
Stadium: Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium (51,500)

TV: ESPN - Ron Franklin (play-by-play), Ed Cunningham (color) and Jack Arute (sidelines) will call the action. The game can also be viewed on ESPN 360. Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic will show a two-hour replay of the ESPN telecast game at 4 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 6:15 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. Click here for Gameday Quick Facts about tickets, will call, parking and shuttles.

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 4 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 moved back into the national polls this week (No. 22 AP; No. 23 USA Today; No. 25 BCS), closes out the home portion of its schedule Saturday when Florida State visits College Park. The Terps, who are in first place in the ACC's Atlantic Division after knocking off No. 17 North Carolina, have been solid at home, winning their last seven contests in Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium. FSU is coming off a tough 27-17 home loss to Boston College.
• The Terps control their own fate in the Atlantic Division race. They can advance to the ACC title game with wins in their final two contests, or by beating FSU (4-3) and getting a Wake Forest (4-3) home win vs. Boston College (3-3). The Eagles can claim the division crown with wins in their final two games. If Maryland and BC win Saturday, they'll face off for the division title in Chestnut Hill on Nov. 29. If Maryland loses to FSU and WFU downs BC, the Terps can still claim the division with a win over the Eagles. Click here to view the scenarios within the ACC.
• Maryland has won all four of its games vs. ranked foes (AP poll) this season (No. 23 Cal; No. 20 Clemson; No. 21 Wake Forest) and six straight over the last two years (No. 8 Boston College and No. 10 Rutgers in 2007). The Terps are the only team in the nation (see chart to the right) to have knocked off four ranked opponents this year. The six consecutive wins over Top 25 teams is a school record (five straight from 1949-52).
• Led by junior QB Chris Turner and sophomore RB Da'Rel Scott, Maryland ranks tied for third in the ACC in total offense (349.7 yards per game). Turner, the fourth-rated passer in the ACC, is averaging 180.9 passing yards per game and has tossed just six interceptions on the season, while Scott ranks second in the ACC (32nd nationally) in rushing (95.3 ypg). Junior WR Darrius Heyward-Bey is the Terps' deep threat. He has a team-high 35 catches and is averaging 15.4 yards per reception. Scott and Heyward-Bey each have six TDs. 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. Williams earned ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors for his performance vs. North Carolina. Senior TE Dan Gronkowski, on the watch list for the Mackey Award, is second on the team in receptions (25).
• Maryland has allowed more than 30 points just once this season. The Terps rank No. 23 nationally in scoring defense (19.2 ppg) and 32nd in sacks (2.4 pg), including 13 over the last four games. The Terps have been especially impressive in league action, allowing an average of 18.3 ppg. Senior Jeremy Navarre anchors the defensive line, having posted 52 tackles on the year. Sophomore LB Alex Wujciak has been impressive during his first season on the field, posting 99 tackles, which is second in the ACC. Senior LBs Moise Fokou and Dave Philistin continues to make plays. Philistin is second on team in tackles (70) and Fokou has posted a team-best five sacks. The secondary is without its leader, senior Kevin Barnes who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury vs. Wake Forest (10/18). Picking up the slack are senior Jeff Allen (55 tackles) and junior Jamari McCollough (team-best four picks).
• Senior Obi Egekeze and sophomore Travis Baltz are two of the better kickers in the ACC. Egekeze has connected on 14 of his last 16 field-goal attempts, including game-winners vs. NC State (10/25) and UNC (11/15). Baltz ranks first in the league in punting (42.2 ypp). Torrey Smith is averaging 24.3 yards per kickoff return (fifth in the ACC), while the sure-handed Danny Oquendo is averaging 4.9 yards per punt return.

Saturday Blackout...
During Saturday's game vs. Florida State there will be a 'Blackout' in Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium. Students, as well as the general fans, are encouraged to wear black to the game. The team is expected to wear its black jerseys Saturday. Last time the Terps wore black they defeated nationally-ranked Wake Forest, 26-0.

Quick Hitters...
• Saturday will serve as the final home game for 30 Terps: Jeff Allen, Aaron Ball, Kevin Barnes, Chase Bullock, Scott Burley, Rick Costa, Trey Covington, Ricardo Dacosta, Arnold Davies, Obi Egekeze, Moise Fokou, Mack Frost, Jack Griffin, Dan Gronkowski, Rashad Henry, Dean Muhtadi, Jeremy Navarre, Lee Oliver, Danny Oquendo, Olugbemi Otulaja, Dave Philistin, Dane Randolph, Drew Robinson, Andrew Schmitt, Alex Schultz, Jordan Steffy, Richard Taylor, Jaimie Thomas, Edwin Williams and Isaiah Williams.
• Regardless of where they finish in the Atlantic Division race, the Terps are expected to play in a bowl game. Maryland reached bowl eligibility for the sixth time in eight seasons under Ralph Friedgen with its 27-24 win over NC State (10/25). The Terps played in a bowl game after each of the last two seasons. They have also won at least seven of their first 10 games for the fourth time under Friedgen.
• Seven of Maryland's opponents this season (California, Clemson, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Florida State and Boston College) have spent time in the Top 25.
• Maryland's win over North Carolina marked the 200th ACC victory in the program's history. Only Clemson (225) has more conference wins. The Terps have an all-time record of 200-164-4 (.549) in ACC contests, including 37-25 (.597) under Ralph Friedgen.
• The Terps are in search of their 600th win in program history. In 115 seasons of football, Maryland is 599-519-43 (.534).
• The Terps entered their game against the Tar Heels controlling the clock for an average just 26:32 per game, but a strong running game enabled them to possess the ball for 40:29 vs. North Carolina. That time of possession was Maryland's first of more than 40 minutes since a Sept. 25, 2004 game at Duke.
• Chris Turner has just one interception in his last 188 pass attempts, dating back to the fourth quarter of the Eastern Michigan game (9/20).
• Da'Rel Scott (858 yards) is on pace to become the Terps' seventh back to rush for 1,000 yards and the first since 2002 (Chris Downs, 1,154). Scott needs to average 47.3 yards over the final three games (including a bowl game) to reach that plateau. He ranks second in the ACC is rushing (95.3 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. His four 100-yard rushing games this season ranks tied for seventh in school history.
• LB Alex Wujciak ranks second in the conference and tied for 13th in the nation in tackles (9.9 pg). He needs one tackle to reach 100 on the season. Wujciak is on pace to post nearly 130 stops on the season.
• Senior Jeremy Navarre ranks first in the ACC in tackles among defensive lineman (5.2 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 has posted a freshman school-record 754 kickoff return yards. Smith needs 93 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 (38.6 ypp) and seventh in punt return yardage defense (3.6 ypr).
• Friedgen, the eighth winningest coach in ACC history (see chart on pg. 6), is one of 20 head coaches around the nation on the watch list for the 2008 Paul `Bear' Bryant Coach of the Year Award.

In the National Polls...
Maryland returned to the national rankings (No. 22 in AP poll; No. 23 in coaches poll) followings its victory over North Carolina. Having been ranked No. 25 and No. 23, respectively, in both polls for successive weeks earlier this season, the Terps now have been ranked for three weeks in a season for the first time since 2004.

Halftime Adjustments...
• Maryland ranks No. 64th nationally in total defense (361.0 ypg), but the Terps have been sharp in the second half of each ACC game. After holding North Carolina scoreless during the second half of Saturday's game, Maryland has yielded an average of just 140 yards and surrendered just 23 points overall in the final 30 minutes of their six league contests.
• Maryland halted six second-half UNC drives, including one that began at the MD 33-yard line. On the final drive (five plays, minus 2 yards), DL Mack Frost recorded his first sack of the season and DB Jamari McCollough sealed the victory with a pick, his team-best fourth of 2008.

Winning the Close Ones...
A key to the Terps success this season has been their ability to win the close ones. Maryland is 4-0 this season in games decided by seven points or less and have won three of ACC contests with fourth-quarter game-winning drives (Clemson, NC State and North Carolina). The Terps struggled in close games last year (1-4), but over the last three seasons Maryland is 11-5 in games decided by seven points or less.

Redeem Team...
The Terps have responded to each of their three losses this season by beating a ranked opponent in the ensuing game. In all, Maryland has redeemed itself with a victory following its last five regular-season losses.

Home Sweet Home...
The confines of Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium have proven friendly indeed for the Terps of late. Maryland now has won seven consecutive home games, including all six this season, having not lost in College Park for more than a year (last home loss: Oct. 27, 2007 vs. Clemson). The Terps, who have just Saturday's showdown with Florida State left on the home slate, have not finished a season with a perfect home record since 2003. During the Ralph Friedgen era, the Terps have won 39 of 50 home games.

Game-Winning Drive...
Maryland beat North Carolina thanks to its 19-play, 73-yard drive lasting 8:43 that culminated with Obi Egekeze's 26-yard field goal with 1:42 remaining. During that drive, Maryland converted three third downs and one fourth down, when Chris Turner scrambled for 9 yards on fourth-and-5. Egekeze's field goal marked his second game-winner in three games, as he hit one from 20 yards out to beat NC State (10/25) under similar weather conditions.

Third Down Success ...
The Maryland offense converted a season-high 9 of 18 third-down opportunities (50 percent) against North Carolina, including three during the game-winning drive. On the season, the Terps ranks second in the ACC in third-down conversions (41.1 percent). On the flipside, Maryland's defense held North Carolina to 1 of 11 (9 percent) on third down - the lowest conversion rate by an opponent this season. The Terps are fourth in the ACC in opponents' third-down conversions (34.1 percent).

Great Scott...
• Despite being only a redshirt sophomore, RB Da'Rel Scott has been Maryland's leading rusher in all but one game this season, and Saturday's win over North Carolina proved no exception. Scott rushed for 129 yards on 29 carries, including a 3-yard TD run.
• Scott's four 100-yard rushing games this season (also 197 vs. Delaware, 123 at MTSU & 163 vs. NC State), with the Terps winning three of those games. Scott ranks tied for seventh all-time on the Maryland single-season list, His 858 rushing yards on the season are the most since for a Maryland player since Lance Ball rushed for 903 yards in 2005.
• Scott, on the watch list for the Doak Walker and Maxwell Awards, currently ranks second in the ACC and 32nd in the nation (FBS) in rushing (95.3 ypg). He also leads the team and ranks fourth in the ACC and 65th nationally in all-purpose yards (112.0 ypg). He is tied for the team lead with six 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 (see chart on pg. 6).

Heyward-Bey Leading the Way...
WR Darrius Heyward-Bey has served as a catalyst for the Maryland offense all season, and he continued to produce vs. North Carolina (11/15). The junior recorded five receptions for 43 yards and also rushed twice for five yards. With his 13-yard reception during the third quarter, Heyward-Bey became the third Maryland player to surpass 2,000 career receiving yards.
• Heyward-Bey, on the watch list for the Maxwell and Biletnikoff Awards, currently leads the team and ranks seventh in the ACC in receiving yards (53.9 ypg). He also leads the team in receptions, is tied for the team lead with six touchdowns and stands third in all-purpose yards (73.6 ypg).
• When Heyward-Bey touches the football this season, good things tend to happen for the Terps offense. On 12 rushing attempts, he has totaled a career-high 197 yards (16.4 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 32 of the last 35 contests dating back to the 2006 season. In addition, his 15.4 career yards per catch average ranks ninth nationally among active players.
• Heyward-Bey has continued his ascent through Maryland's career records this season. Following his performance vs. North Carolina, he remains third all-time in receiving yards (2,019), needing just 41 yards to overtake Geroy Simon (1993-96) for second place.
• Heyward-Bey remains tied with 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 131 career receptions, needing just four catches to surpass Frank Wycheck (1990-92) for third place in that category.

Solid Protection...
Maryland's offensive line has allowed just seven sacks over the last seven games. Thanks largely to its offensive line, Maryland ranks third in the ACC and tied for 39th in the nation (FBS) in fewest sacks allowed (1.5 pg). The Terps have allowed just 15 sacks this season, which is less than half the total Maryland surrendered through 10 games (31) a year ago. During ACC play this season, the Terps have been even better, allowing just 1.0 sacks per game.

Quick Strike Ability...
The Terps have shown a knack for getting on the board quickly. Thus far this season, 16 of the team's 25 touchdowns have come on drives of six plays or less and/or in fewer than 2:00. That explosiveness has enabled the Terps to outscore opponents by 25 points this season despite having accounted for fewer yards and first downs. However, Maryland broke away from its trend vs. North Carolina, sustaining three scoring drives lasting at least nine plays and four minutes.

Closing the Door...
When a Maryland fumble gave North Carolina at the Terps' 33-yard-line, the Maryland defense induced three consecutive incomplete passes to force a punt. On the season, the Maryland offense has turned the ball over 16 times, but the defense has surrendered just 20 opponent points off those miscues.

Turner on Target...
QB Chris Turner continued to orchestrate a productive Terps offense vs. North Carolina despite weather conditions that hindered the passing game. The junior signal-caller completed 16 of 31 passes for 141 yards and managed the game well, rushing 9 yards for a first down on fourth-and-5 during the game-winning drive.
• Turner did not throw an interception vs. UNC, which entered the game with a nation's best 18, and has thrown just six on the season, including only one in his last 188 pass attempts, dating back to the fourth quarter of the EMU 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 123 attempts.
• Continuing to prove his worth in big games, Turner is 5-0 as a starter against ranked opponents (also with wins over No. 20 Clemson, No. 23 Cal and No. 21 Wake Forest 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 winning streak against ranked foes. The Simi Valley, Calif., native has yet to throw an interception vs. a ranked opponent. In six games vs. the top 25, Turner has completed 110 of 168 passes (65.4 percent) for 1,276 yards and seven TDs.
• Turner currently ranks fourth in the ACC and 62nd in the nation in pass efficiency (123.7). The junior signal-caller also has a career-high nine TD passes this season.
• Turner's 141 passing yards against North Carolina moved him up Maryland's career list, as he passed Stan Gelbaugh (1981-85) and John Kaleo (1991-92). With 3,767 passing yards, Turner ranks eighth all-time in school history.
• Turner is tied with Vic Turyn (1947-48) for 15th place all-time with 16 career TD passes.
• Turner also ranks tied for eighth in school history with 305 career completions and 11th with 501 career pass attempts. He has thrown for at least 200 yards in 11 of his last 15 starts.
• Turner has also been sharp on third down this season, completing 58 percent (54 of 94) of his passes. His latest third-down heroics came when he completed an 18-yard strike to WR Ronnie Tyler on third-and-10 during the game-winning drive vs. UNC.

Mighty Meggett...
RB Davin Meggett provided Maryland's ground game with a potent one-two punch vs. North Carolina, as he rushed for 86 yards on 13 carries to complement Scott in the Terps' backfield. Meggett scored his fourth rushing TD of the season when he ran in from 1-yard out during the second quarter to cap a 13-play, 80-yard drive. His 365 rushing yards and four touchdowns are the most by a Maryland true freshman since Josh Allen rushed for 405 yards and eight touchdowns in 2002.

Through the Uprights...
PK Obi Egekeze's 26-yard field goal with 1:42 remaining provided the difference in Maryland's win over North Carolina (11/15). That conversion marked Egekeze's second game-winner in three games, as he hit one from 20 yards out to beat NC State under similarly poor weather conditions.
• Egekeze currently ranks fourth in the ACC and tied for 26th in the nation in field goals (1.40 pg). He also ranks fifth in the ACC in kick scoring (6.7 ppg).
• At his best during conference play, Egekeze has now hit 24 of 27 field goals (88.9 percent) during ACC contests over the course of his career.
• Egekeze remains in eighth place on Maryland's all-time list with 31 career field goals and stands one kick behind Dan DeArmas (1988-91) for seventh place.

Nose for the Ball...
When North Carolina QB Cameron Sexton fumbled the ball during the second quarter of Saturday's game, LB Adrian Moten was there to recover it at the Terps' 34-yard line. Moten, who also recovered a fumble earlier this season at Clemson (9/27), leads the team in that category.