Aug. 30, 2008

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Postgame Notes

For Openers: Maryland's 14-7 victory over Delaware gives the Terps a 71-43-2 record all-time in season-openers. The Terrapins are 6-2 in season openers under head coach Ralph Friedgen and have won each of their last five. Maryland is now 56-26-1 in season-openers at home.

Home Cooking: The Terrapins are now 34-11 under Ralph Friedgen at Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium.

Up and Running: Making his first career start, RB Da'Rel Scott rushed 26 times for 197 yards, including a career-long 40-yard scamper in the first quarter. The 197 rushing yards are the most all-time by a single player in school history in a season-opener. The total tied for 16th on the team's single-game list (Steve Atkins vs. Clemson, 1978). It was the most rushing yards by a Terp in a game since Bruce Perry recorded 237 against Wake Forest on Nov. 29, 2003.

Blazing Start: WR Darrius Heyward-Bey had a strong season-opener. He had four catches for 70 yards, including a 36-yard catch from QB Jordan Steffy. He also had a pair of rushes for 20 yards, including a 12-yard run with 8:03 left in the second quarter that marked Maryland's first score of the season.

Milestones: Darrius Heyward-Bey's performance catapulted him up one of Maryland's all-time receiving charts. The junior wideout now has 100 catches to tie for 9th on the all-time list. He tied Marcus Badgett (1989-92) and Frank Russell (1972-74) exactly on the 100-catch milestone. He became the 11th Terrapin in history with 100 catches. Now with 1,550 yards, he remains 9th on the all-time career receiving list and just two yards out of 8th (Guilian Gary, 1998-2001).

Memorable Debut: True freshman RB Davin Meggett had an outstanding collegiate debut. He rushed seven times for 52 yards (7.4 avg) and caught one pass for 12 yards. His 14-yard run late in the third quarter gave the Terps a 14-0 lead.

Game Sealer: DB Terrell Skinner had a crucial late interception, Maryland's second on the day (Kevin Barnes on the first play of the third quarter). Skinner's pick with 3:20 left stopped a potential game-tying drive by Delaware and gave the ball back to the Terps. Maryland sealed the game with three offensive first downs in the final 3:20. Skinner added six tackles, including one for loss and a pass breakup.

Denied: LB Alex Wujciak got a hand on Delaware PK Jon Striefsky's 46-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter, causing the kick to fall short of the uprights. It marked the first blocked field goal recorded by Maryland since DL Jeremy Navarre blocked one against Florida State on Oct. 28, 2006.

Debut: Alex Wujciak also led the team Saturday with eight tackles, making his Terrapin debut after missing last season with a knee injury.

Picking Up Where He Left Off: CB Kevin Barnes, who led the Terps with four interceptions a year ago, picked off a pass by Delaware WR Aaron Love on a flea-flicker during the opening drive of the second half.

Rushing Attack: Maryland recorded 271 yards rushing, the team's most since the Terps ran for 277 yards against Duke on Sept. 25, 2004.

Punting Prowess: P Travis Baltz kicked off his sophomore season by punting four times for an average of 43.0 yards per punt, with a long of 53 yards and two punts pinning Delaware inside its own 20-yard-line.

Stout D: Maryland's defense limited Delaware to 249 total yards - the lowest amount by an opponent since holding Florida International to 163 total yards on Sept. 8, 2007.

First Impressions: In addition to Davin Meggett, true freshmen TE Matt Furstenburg and DB Kenny Tate also made their debuts Saturday, with Tate registering an assisted tackle. Eleven other Terps (LB Alex Wujciak, QB Josh Portis, DB Austin Walker, DB Antwine Perez, WR Ronnie Tyler, LB Aaron Ball, LB Hakeem Sule, DL Deege Galt, TE Lansford Watson, WR Torrey Smith and DL Dion Armstrong) also saw game action for the first time against Delaware.

Streaks continue: Several Terps extended streaks on Saturday. DL Jeremy Navarre has now played in 38 consecutive games, and his 36 career starts are the most on the team. OL Edwin Williams has now started 27 consecutive games, tops on the team.

Series record: Maryland has now won four consecutive games against Delaware, though the teams had not squared off since 1948 prior to today's game. Delaware still leads the all-time series 5-4-1.

Attendance: 49,119 fans packed into Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium for Saturday's game. It marked the largest crowd all-time for a game in which Delaware has played.