Saturday's Live Blog
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Saturday, Oct. 22
Maryland (2-4, 1-2 ACC)
at
Florida State (3-3, 1-2 ACC)
Kickoff: 3:36 p.m. EDT
Location: Tallahassee, Fla.
Stadium: Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium (82,300)
Gameday Information
• Parking
• Gameday Central | Gameday Updates on Twitter | Saturday's Live Blog
Tickets...
Tickets are available for the game. Fans may call 1-800-IM-A-TERP from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays or click here.
Broadcast Information
TV: ABC/ESPN2 - Mike Patrick (pbp) and Craig James (color) will call the action. The game will be shown regionally on ABC and on ESPN2 in parts of the nation. Click here for the ABC and ESPN2 coverage map. In addition, the game can be seen on ESPN3. Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic will air a replay of the ABC broadcast at 7 p.m. Sunday.
Radio: Terrapin Sports Radio Network - Johnny Holliday (play-by-play), Jonathan Claiborne (color), Tim Strachan (color) and Dave Preston (sidelines) have the call. The Toyota Tailgate Show with Gary Stein begins at 2:30 p.m. Stein also serves as host on the postgame show. Click here to listen on-line through Terps TV Premium. The Terrapin Sports Radio Network: WJZ-FM 105.7 - Baltimore (Flagship); ESPN980-AM - Washington D.C.; WWXX-FM 94.3 - Buckland, Va.; WCEM-AM 1240 - Cambridge; WBEY-FM 97.9 - Crisfield; WGOP-AM 540 - Crisfield; WFMD-AM 930 - Frederick; WARK-AM 1490 - Hagerstown; WPTX-AM 1690 - Lexington Park; WVMD-AM 1230 - Midland; WMSG-AM 1050 - Oakland; WWXT-FM 92.7 - Prince Frederick, Md.; WTGM-AM 960 - Salisbury. The Maryland broadcast is not available on XM/Sirius. The FSU broadcast can be heard on Sirius (128) and XM (190).
Game Notes
First-and-10...
• The Terps will look to bounce back from another difficult loss after falling to then No. 8 Clemson, 56-45, Saturday. One week after rallying from an 18-point deficit and having the ball late with a chance to take the lead in a 21-16 loss at No. 13 Georgia Tech, Maryland surrendered an 18 point second-half advantage to the Tigers. However, the Terps regained their lead midway through the fourth quarter (45-42) before a pair of late Clemson TDs sealed the win.
• Following their third defeat of the season to a top 20 team, Maryland will travel to Tallahassee, Fla., Saturday to face the Seminoles who snapped a three-game losing skid with a 41-16 win over Duke last weekend. Maryland and FSU are tied for third in the ACC Atlantic Division race.
• Offensively, the Terps have become a more run-oriented unit with quarterback C.J. Brown and tailback Davin Meggett providing most of the punch. Brown, who made his first-career start vs. Clemson, has posted back-to-back 100-yard rushing games, including a school record (for a QB) 162 vs. Clemson. He also tossed a career-high three TDs vs. the Tigers. Maryland has averaged 245.0 rushing yards over the last three games, including a season-high 291 vs. Clemson, and now ranks fifth in the ACC (38th in the FBS) in that category. Meggett, a Doak Walker Award, ranks seventh in the ACC in rushing (80.3 ypg). Junior Kevin Dorsey leads the receiving corps (team-high 29 catches) and ranks 10th in the ACC in receptions (4.8 per game). Matt Furstenburg is manning the tight-end position for the second-straight season. The sure-handed junior already has 21 catches and posted a career-best 104 receiving yards vs. Clemson. He ranks second in the ACC among tight ends in both receptions (3.5 pg) and receiving yards (42.7 pg). Junior wide receiver Kerry Boykins had career highs with eight receptions for 76 yards vs. Temple (9/24) and ranks third on the team in catches (19). The offensive line, which lost its leader in left guard Andrew Gonnella (season-ending knee injury), has not yielded a sack in three games and ranks tied for 32nd in the FBS (1.3 pg) in that category.
• The defense has been in a state of transtion due to a number of injuries which has seven potential starters on the sideline. Senior LB Kenny Tate and junior DL Joe Vellano, two of four team captains, highlight a defense which has forced 15 turnovers (tied for 23rd in the FBS), with three being returned for touchdowns. Tate, a 2010 first team All-ACC pick, has missed the last two games due to injury, but Vellano has been at his best in that span, posting 31 tackles, including a career-high 20 vs. Georgia Tech. Vellano also has two fumble recoveries on the season (30-yard return for TD vs. Miami, 9/5) and leads the FBS in tackles by a lineman (8.2 pg). Junior Demetrius Hartsfield, who moved from Will LB to the Mike position in the off-season, ranks fourth in the ACC in tackles (10.2), but he was out of action against Clemson, as was fellow starting linebacker Darin Drakeford, who has missed the last three. The Terps started five freshmen defenders vs. Clemson (most in the FBS in 2011), including the entire linebacking corps. Senior Cameron Chism, who has two interception returns for scores this year, and sophomore Dexter McDougle man the cornerback positions, but the secondary has been without safety Matt Robinson (gone for the year), the last three games. Junior Eric Franklin, who ranks 10th in the ACC in tackles (8.7 per game), has picked up the slack.
• Maryland possesses an explosive performer in senior Tony Logan, a 2010 first team All-ACC selection and record-setting punt returner. Logan is off to a slow start (averaging 6.6 yards per return), but he has two career punt returns for touchdowns and had a season-best 24-yarder vs. Clemson. Justus Pickett has handled the bulk of the kickoff return chores. The true freshman is averaging 16.8 yards on a team-high 15 kickoff returns. Nick Ferrara, who was a 2009 freshman All-American, is handling all three phases of the kicking game. The junior did an admirable job place-kicking, punting and kicking off for five games in 2009 when All-ACC performer Travis Baltz was unable to punt due to injury. Ferrara hit a career-best four field goals, including a 32-yard game winner, against Miami (9/5) and is fourth in the ACC in punting (42.7).
Quick Hitters...
• QB C.J. Brown, who came on in relief vs. Georgia Tech (10/8) and started vs. Clemson (10/15), has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of the last two games. He's the only signal-caller in school history to post two or more 100-yard rushing games. His 162-yard effort vs. Clemson set a single-game school record for a quarterback and ranks eighth all-time in ACC history.
• The 101 combined points (56-45) in the Maryland-Clemson game are the most in an ACC game this year (previously: Georgia Tech 45, Virginia 35) and just five shy of the league record (106 by Clemson [82] and Wake Forest [24], Oct. 31, 1981).
• Matt Furstenburg had career highs in receiving yards (104) and touchdown catches (2) vs. Clemson (10/15). It marked the highest yardage total by a Maryland tight end since Vernon Davis had 108 yards (on eight catches) against NC State (11/26/05).
• Furstenburg was named to the John Mackey Award midseason watch list (one of 25 players) on Monday.
• QB Danny O'Brien had his string of 15 consecutive starts snapped vs. Clemson.
• Davin Meggett, who has two 100-yard rushing games this season, moved up on two Maryland career charts against Clemson (10/15). With 69 yards on the ground, Meggett moved from 12th to 11th on the Maryland career rushing list (1,997). He passed Josh Allen (2002-03, 2005-06) who had 1,958 in his career. Meggett also had one touchdown on the ground and moved into a tie for 14th on the Terrapin career rushing TD list (17).
• The Terps currently have three of the top 12 tacklers in the ACC: Demetrius Hartsfield (despite missing the Clemson game) is ranked fourth (10.2 per game), Eric Franklin is 10th (8.7) and Joe Vellano is 12th (8.2).
• With the loss of Gonnella (season-ending knee injury vs. Georgia Tech, 10/8), the Terps have just eight seniors (Davin Meggett, Maurice Hampton, Kenny Tate, Austin Walker, Cameron Chism, Trenton Hughes, Ronnie Tyler and Quintin McCree) listed among the 44 players on the offensive and defensive two-deep. Seniors Tim Downs (long snapper) and Tony Logan (punt return) are listed as starters on special teams.
• A sell-out crowd of 53,627 attended the West Virginia game (9/17), marking the largest turnout at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium since Oct. 20, 2005, when 54,838 saw the Terps play Virginia Tech. The WVU crowd ws the fifth-largest in Byrd Stadium history. Maryland also had a sellout vs. Miami (9/5) with 52,875 fans in attendance. So far this season, the Terps are averaging 45,828 fans through five home games, an increase of more than 6,000 from last year.
Close Calls...
In three of its four losses this season, Maryland has either held the lead or been in position to score the go-ahead touchdown in the final 5:00. All three of those losses came against top 20 teams (No. 18 West Virginia, No. 13 Georgia Tech and No. 8 Clemson).
Team Captain Goes Down...
The Terps lost one of their four team captains against Georgia Tech (10/8) when senior Andrew Gonnella suffered a season-ending knee injury. The senior, who had 26 career starts at left (18) and right guard (8), was carted off the field in the fourth quarter vs. Yellow Jackets. He will have surgery later in the year. Sophomore Pete White replaced Gonnella in that game and made his second career start vs. Clemson (10/15).
Mash Unit...
The Terps have lost a number of key performers to injury so far this season with the defense getting hit especially hard. In all, seven potential defensive starters, including the entire linebacking unit, are currently on the sidelines. So far this season, the Terps have lost 24 man-games to potential starters (DL Justin Anderson - 6; LB Darin Drakeford - 4; LB Demetrius Hartsfield - 1; DL Andre Monroe - 3; DB Matt Robinson - 3; DL Isaiah Ross - 5; LB Kenny Tate - 2).
Making Adjustments...
The Terps have trotted out a different defensive starting lineup every game this season. With Alex Twine starting in place of Demetrius Hartsfield at Will linebacker vs. Clemson (10/15), the Terps used a sixth different lineup (see list on page 27).
D-Line Adjustments...
With Isaiah Ross, Justin Anderson and Andre Monroe on the shelf with injuries, the Terps have adjusted the rotation along the defensive line. Junior and team captain Joe Vellano and sophomore David Mackall have started all five games, but the other two spots have changed hands. After posting a career-high five stops as a replacement for Monroe vs. Temple, Maurice Hampton, the lone senior on the defensive line, earned the first start of his career at tackle against Towson (10/1). He also started vs. Georgia tech (10/8) and Clemson (10/15). The Terps also moved sophomore Cody Blue from the offensive to defensive line after the Temple game (9/24) to serve as the backup to end Keith Bowers who became the first Maryland true freshman defensive lineman to start since Jeremy Navarre in 2005. Bowers started in place of Ross vs. West Virginia (9/17) and has remained in the starting lineup the last four games.
Freshmen Starters...
So far this season, six freshmen (DL Keith Bowers, LB Lorne Goree, DL Andre Monroe, LB Mario Rowson, DB Titus Till and LB Alex Twine) have started for the Maryland defense, including four vs. Georgia Tech (10/8) and five vs. Clemson (10/15). That was the was the most freshmen to start for Maryland since Nov. 20, 1993, when five started in a 33-32 win over Wake Forest. That season the Terps had as many as six freshmen start in a game (on five occasions). In the game vs. the Demon Deacons, freshmen Sharrod Mack (DT), Johnnie Hicks (NG), Ratcliff Thomas (ILB), Andreal Johnson (RC) and Lamont Gore (SS) started on defense. The five freshmen starters last week also leads the nation. In fact, only one other team (Indiana) in the FBS has started four or more freshmen this season.
What to Look for vs. Florida State...
• Davin Meggett, who ranks 11th in school history in career rushing yards (1,997), needs three more to become just the 11th back in school history to reach 2,000-yard plateau.
• Kenny Tate needs three tackles to reach 200 in his career.
• Nick Ferrara, who has 117 career points, needs four more to reach the top 10 on the Maryland all-time kick scoring chart.
• Ferrara, who has 25 career field goals (11th in school history) needs two more to reach the all-time top 10. Dale Castro (27/1979-80) ranks 10th on the Maryland career chart.
• Tony Logan (768) needs 40 yards to crack the top 15 on the ACC's career punt return yards list.
• After piling up 537 rushing yards in the past two games, Maryland has moved up to 38th in the FBS in rushing offense (186.5 ypg). Florida State ranks second in the ACC and ninth nationally in rushing defense (86.8 ypg). The Seminoles lead the league and are 11th in the FBS in total defense (284.7 ypg).
• FSU QB C.J. Manuel ranks 26th in the nation in passing efficiency (160.8 rating), while Maryland has the 68th-ranked pass efficiency defense (129.9).
• The Seminoles rank 11th nationally in sacks (3.2 per game, but the Terps are 32nd nationally in sacks allowed (1.3 pg) and have held the opposition without a sack in three contests.
Florida State At-A-Glance...
• Florida State comes into the game with a record of 3-3 (1-2 ACC) after a 41-16 win over Duke last week. Head Coach Jimbo Fisher is in his second year with Seminoles and has an overall record of 13-7.
• Junior quarterback E.J Manuel returned from injury last week and sparked the Seminoles offense, throwing for 239 yards and two touchdowns. Manuel is second in the ACC in total offense (264.6 ypg) and fifth in passing (239 ypg). He is completing 65.8 percent of his passes this year.
• Manuel's backup, QB Clint Trickett, has thrown for seven touchdowns and completed 61.1 percent of his passes.
• Freshman wide receiver Rashad Greene leads the team and ranks fifth in the ACC in both receptions (5.2 pg) and receiving yards (91.4 pg). He is averaging 17.6 yards per catch.
• The Seminoles rank 11th nationally in total defense (284.67 ypg), ninth in rushing defense (86.83 ypg), and 30th in passing defense (197.93 ypg).
• Sophomore DE Bjoern Werner leads a talented Seminoles line that is atop the ACC in sacks (3.17 pg). Individually, Werner is third in the ACC with 5.0 sacks and tied for ninth in tackles for loss (1.08 pg).
• Special teams has been particularly good this season, led by senior punter Shawn Powell and junior kicker Dustin Hopkins. Powell leads the ACC in punting (44.5 ypp) and Hopkins has made 17 consecutive field goal attempts.
Maryland-Florida State Series History...
• Florida State leads the all-time series 19-2, with both of the Maryland wins coming in the last seven meetings. The Seminoles defeated Maryland 30-16 last season in College Park.
• Removing Florida State's 37-3 win in 2008, six of the last seven games in the series have been decided by an average of 5.8 points.
• Florida State and Maryland met for the first time in 1966, and the Seminoles took the first 14 games in the series before Maryland finally broke through with a 20-17 win over the fifth-ranked Seminoles in 2004.
• Maryland took its second game in the series in 2006, winning 27-24 after Sam Hollenbach threw three touchdowns, including a pair to Darrius Heyward-Bey. Jeremy Navarre blocked a potential game-tying field goal toward the end of regulation.
By The Numbers...
0... Now that Andrew Gonnella is on the shelf with a season-ending knee injury, the Terps are without a senior on the offensive line.
2... Maryland ranks tied for second in the FBS in fewest fumbles (1).
2... So far this season, Maryland has seen two of the top eight crowds in the history of Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium. There were 52,875 fans in stands for the Miami game (No. 8) and 53,627 for the West Virginia contest (No. 5).
2... Former head coaches (Gary Crowton, Greg Gattuso) on Randy Edsall's staff.
3... Maryland ranks third in the FBS in fewest penalties committed per game (3.67).
4... Tony Logan became the fourth non-quarterback (Da'Rel Scott in 2008 and 2010; Danny Oquendo in 2008; Josh Allen in 2006) since the beginning of 2004 to complete a pass with his 34-yard toss to Kevin Dorsey vs. Georgia Tech (10/8).
5... Number of freshmen who started on defense against Clemson (10/15) which is the most this season in a single game for any FBS team.
5... C.J. Brown is one of just five QBs in ACC history to post 150 or more rushing yards in a single game (see chart on pg. 6).
5.1... Maryland is averaging 5.1 yards per carry which ranks second in the ACC, behind only Georgia Tech (6.3).
8... Maryland has recovered eight opponent fumbles which ranks tied for 18th in the FBS.
11... The Terps have 27 former players on active NFL rosters, a number which ranks 11th nationally.
15... Number of seniors on Maryland's 96-player roster.
17... Seventeen of the season-high 57 players who saw action vs. Towson (10/1) were freshmen. Since the start of the 1999, the Terps have played 17 or more freshmen in a game just seven times (20 vs. Virginia Tech, 11/14/09; 17 vs. NC State, 11/7/09; 17 vs. Clemson, 9/10/05; 18 vs. The Citadel, 9/13/03; 18 vs. Eastern Michigan, 9/8/01; 20 vs. Wake Forest, 10/21/00)
21... Number of freshmen (13 redshirts; eight true) who have played this season.
