April 26, 2008

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COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Sophomore running back Da'Rel Scott rushed for 101 yards and one touchdown, and senior quarterback Jordan Steffy threw for another score to lead the White team to a 27-3 victory over the Red squad Saturday afternoon in Maryland's annual spring football game.

The Red-White Spring game closed out Maryland Day for the University and concluded spring practice for Head Coach Ralph Friedgen and the Terrapins.

"All in all we had a very successful spring," Friedgen said. "I think these kids competed right to the very end. You don't see that a lot, usually in the 13th or 14th practice they are mailing it in, but not this team. How much progress we make over the summer will really determine where we are as a football team."

The Terps have nine offensive starters back in the fall, but do having an opening at tailback where Morgan Green and Scott are Nos. 1 and 2 on the depth chart, respectively.

Scott made a case for himself today, though Green looked solid as well.

Scott, who played primarily with the White team, had a total of 113 yards on the ground on 16 carries. He also had a 75-yard touchdown run called back due to a penalty and caught a screen pass for 31 yards.

Scott's 11-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter erased a 3-0 Red advantage and began a stretch of 27 unanswered points for the White team.

Steffy's 9-yard TD pass to fullback Steve Pfister capped off a 10-play, 57-yard drive early in the second quarter, giving the White team a 13-3 lead.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Jamarr Robinson led the White team to a pair of scores in the second half, which featured plenty of action from the third-teamers.

"I was really looking to get the third team some work with the second and see if we have a guy that could move up (the depth chart)," Friedgen said. "I asked our coaches the other day to pick out their top 10 offensive linemen. If we have three at left tackle and only one at left guard then we have to move someone. I did that with everyone's position, but we are going to put the best players on the field and bring the best players back here in August whether they are scholarship or non-scholarship."

One non-scholarship player who has been impressive in the spring is senior Rashad Henry. He had an 8-yard TD run in the third quarter for the White team and carried the ball three times for 25 yards for the Red team.

Robinson quarterbacked the White team on Henry's TD run and then hit Stephen Smalls on a 30-yard score with 2:47 remaining in the game.

Robinson was 5-for-5 for 30 yards for the White team and 2-of-2 for 39 yards for Red.

The White defense was led by defensive backs Jeff Allen, Nolan Carroll and Terrell Skinner. Allen had 10 tackles on the day, including eight for the White team. Carroll and Skinner chipped in with seven stops apiece for the White team, as did senior linebacker Chase Bullock, a veteran vying for time in the fall.

The Red team had four sacks including three of Steffy. Dean Muhtadi, Ben Pooler, Ricardo Dacosta and Deege Galt each had one.

Green was the leading rusher for the Red team, posting 68 yards on 11 carries.

Junior Chris Turner was efficient in his time for the Red team, which managed 319 yards of total offense, though just the one field goal. Turner completed 6 of 8 passes for 91 yards.

Steffy was 8-for-14 for 84 yards for the White team and 6-of-9 for 71 yards for the Red squad.

"I really need to look at the tape," Friedgen said of the quarterbacks. "I didn't think any of them had the day I was hoping for. I'm looking for a factor to separate them and I really can't see that right now. I wish it was that easy but I'm hoping we got one."

There was just one turnover in the game, none by the quarterbacks.

Redshirt freshman Ronnie Tyler, who had a game-high 59 receiving yards (on four catches) for the White team, muffed a punt deep in White territory. Trenton Hughes recovered the ball, but the Red team couldn't cash in as Obi Egekeze hit the upright from 25 yards out.

Egekeze, who hit 5 of 7 field goals in two spring scrimmages, struggled on the day. He hit a 28-yarder on the Red's opening drive of the game, but missed a PAT and had a field goal blocked as time expired in the game.

Terp Notes: The game featured four 12-minute quarters with players seeing action for both the Red and White teams. Offensive linemen and specialists were members of the Black team which saw action for both Red and White ... the game's announced attendance was 10,221 ... the White team picked up its third-straight win. The White team won 27-10 last season and 16-12 in 2006 ... redshirt freshman linebacker Ben Pooler made his presence felt tallying seven tackles on the day, including five solo stops. He also had one sack and two pass breakups ... junior fullback Cory Jackson saw time at tailback during the second quarter. Sophomore Haroon Brown was the fullback in the power eye formation, leading the way for Jackson who picked up 21 yards on five carries during the drive ... Travis Baltz and Ted Townsley have been battling for the punting job this spring. Baltz shined during the scrimmage, averaging 48.2 yards on five punts. Townsley had a long of 53 yards, but averaged 35.6 yards on five punts ... a number of players did not see action in the game including DL Mack Frost (knee), LB Dave Philistin (shoulder), LB Moise Fokou (knee), LB Rick Costa (shoulder), OL Tyler Bowen (foot), DL Joe Vellano (shoulder), TE Matt Furstenberg (shoulder), WR Isaiah Williams (hand), WR LaQuan Williams (foot) and OL Maurice Hampton (knee). Frost, Philistin, Furstenberg, Fokou, Costa, Bowen and Vellano have been out, or limited, all spring while rehabbing from surgery.

Spring Game Statistics (combined):

Scoring Plays

1st Q (6:51): Red - Egekeze 28-yard field goal [9-61, 4:37]
1st Q (3:27: White - Scott 11-yard run (Egekeze kick) [7-63, 3:24]
2nd Q (9:26): White - Pfister 9-yard pass from Steffy (Egekeze kick failed) [10-57, 7:16]
3rd Q (1:39): White - Henry 8-yard TD run (Egekeze kick) [10-58, 6:16]
4th Q (2:47): White - Smalls 30-yard pass from Robinson (Egekeze kick) [5-37, 2:31]

Offense

Rushing (Carries-Yds./TDs):
Scott 16-113/1, Green 11-68, Henry 5-34, Bonato 5-31, Jackson 5-21, Washington 5-4, Robinson 1-(-3), Turner 2-(-5), Portis 1-(-9), Steffy 4-(-25).

Passing (Comp.-Att.-Yds./TDs):
Steffy 14-23-155/1, Turner 6-8-91, Robinson 7-7-69, Portis 3-6-9.

Receiving (Rec.-Yds./TDs):
Tyler 4-59, Cannon, 4-56, Oquendo 4-44, Heyward-Bey 3-27, Smith 2-10, 2-33, Scott 1-31, Logan 1-9, Lee-Odai 1-7, Gronkowski 1-5, Henry 1-1, Galt 1-9, Pfister 1-9/1, McCree 1-9, Bonato 1-8, Dulin 1-4, Brown 1-3.

Defense

Tackles (Solo-Assisted-Total):
Allen (4-6-10), Carroll (3-4-7), Bullock (1-6-7), Skinner (3-4-7), Pooler (5-2-7), Perez (3-2-5), Sule (4-0-4), Robinson (3-1-4), Hartsfield (1-3-4), McCullough (3-1-4), Herald (3-1-4), Barnes (3-0-3), Armstrong (2-1-3), Jackson-Mills (3-0-3), Muhtadi (1-2-3), Davidson (2-0-2), Taylor (2-0-2), Ball (1-1-2), Dacosta (1-1-2), Hargett (1-1-2), Ivey (1-1-2), Moten (2-0-2), Schultz (1-1-2), Wiseman (2-0-2), Otulaja, (1-1-2), Clement (1-1-2), Pfister (1-1-2), Smith (1-1-2), Tyler (1-0-1), Davies (1-0-1), Schmitt (0-1-1), Carter (0-1-1), Navarre (0-1-1), Harrell (0-1-1), Whitmore (1-0-1).

Tackles for Loss (No.-Yards):
Pooler (1-10), Sule (1-2), Herald (1-1), Muhtadi (1-7), Dacosta (1-3), Galt (1-8), Ivey (1-9), Navarre (0.5-3), Bullock (0.5-2).

Sacks (No.-Yards):
Pooler (1-10), Muhtadi (1-7), Dacosta (1-3), Galt (1-8), Ivey (1-9), Navarre (0.5-3), Bullock (0.5-2).

Pass Breakups (No.):
Pooler (2), Perez (1), Allen (1), Carroll (1).

Miscellaneous

Field Goals:
Egekeze: 1-2/28 (missed - 25; blocked - 39)

Punts (No./Avg.):
Baltz: 5/48.2, Townsley: 5/35.6

Punt Returns (No./Avg.):
McCree 2/10.0, Tyler 2/4.0, Oquendo 3/4.0.

Kick Returns (No./Avg.):
Hughes 1/26.0, Taylor 2/16.0, Washington 1/18.0, Brown 1/13.0