After 21 Years, Terps and Nittany Lions Meet Again
10/27/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland and Penn State are set to meet for the first time since the 1993 season and the first time as conference foes Saturday as the Terps travel north to Beaver Stadium for a noon kickoff against the Nittany Lions. It marks Maryland's first visit to Beaver Stadium in 22 years.
Saturday's matchup with Penn State marks the resumption of the series following a 21-year hiatus. Of the 10 FBS programs that Maryland has played 30 or more times, it is the longest break between meetings.
Offensively, wide receiver Stefon Diggs has at least one receiving touchdown in four consecutive games. That is the longest streak of his career and the longest streak for a Maryland wide receiver since Jermaine Lewis had at least one touchdown catch in the final five games of the 1994 season.
On the defensive side of the ball, Maryland now has 13 sacks in Big Ten play. That total is tied for first in the conference with Michigan State. On the year, the Terps have registered 21 sacks, which is tied for third in the Big Ten.
Live Coverage
Saturday's game will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and WatchESPN. Beth Mowins (pbp), Joey Galloway (color) and Paul Carcaterra (sideline) will call the action. The game can also be heard on the Maryland Sports Radio Network with Johnny Holliday (pbp), Tim Strachan (color) and Scott McBrien (sideline) on the call. The game can also be heard on Sirius and SiriusXM channel 91.
Series History
Maryland trails 1-35-1
Home: 1-12 / Away: 0-22
Neutral: 0-2-1
First Meeting: Nov. 17, 1917 / Away / L, 0-57
Last Meeting: Oct.2, 1993 / Away / L, 3-70
Most points scored vs. Penn State:
Home: 22 (22-42 loss on Nov. 6, 1973)
Overall & Away: 31 (31-39 loss on Sept. 11, 1982)
Most points given up vs. Penn State:
Overall & Home: 70 (7-70 loss on Oct. 2, 1993)
Away: 63 (27-63 loss on Nov. 6, 1973)
Number of Shutouts:
Maryland: 0, Penn State: 6
Largest Margin of Victory:
(4) 21-17 on Nov. 4, 1961
Largest Margin of Defeat:
(63) 7-70 on Oct. 2, 1993
Breakin' Down Brown
Quarterback C.J. Brown totaled 143 yards of total offense in Madison against Wisconsin Saturday. Brown passed for 129 yards on 13-of-29 passing and rushed for 14 yards. The sixth-year senior also tossed his 28th career touchdown pass, a 21-yard strike to wideout Stefon Diggs. The touchdown pass tied Brown for sixth all-time at Maryland with Sam Hollenbach (2003-06). Brown ranks seventh in the Big Ten averaging 211.5 yards of total offense per game and ranks eighth in the conference in passing averaging 164.5 yards per game.
- Brown increased his career passing total to 4,400 yards against the Badgers and is only the 10th quarterback in school history to eclipse the 4,000-yard plateau. He currently ranks eighth in school history. In addition, with 1,538 career rushing yards, Brown is one of 10 active FBS players to pass for 4,000 or more yards and rush for 1,000 or more yards in a career.
- Brown has eight career 100-yard rushing performances. It is the most all-time for a Terrapin quarterback and is tied with former Maryland running back Da'Rel Scott (2007-2010) for the fourth-highest total in program history. In addition, Brown's total is tied for fourth nationally among active FBS quarterbacks.
- Brown has accounted for 5,938 yards of total offense in his career. He ranks fourth on Maryland's all-time list and 21st nationally among active FBS players. Brown is 144 yards shy of passing Boomer Esiason (1981-83) for third in program history.
On The Offense
ALL-PURPOSE DIGGS
Wide receiver Stefon Diggs leads the team in receptions (46) and receiving yards (601). Diggs hit season highs in catches (9) and receiving yards (130) against Iowa (10/18). Diggs ranks second among active FBS career leaders in all-purpose yards per game averaging 147.69 yards.
- Diggs has eight career 100-yard receiving games, which ranks second in school history. Jermaine Lewis (1992-95) holds the record with 15.
- His 3,840 career all-purpose yards is the 17th-highest active total nationally.
- He ranks fifth in Maryland history with 2,036 career receiving yards.
- Diggs is averaging 5.8 receptions per game and 78.8 receiving yards per game, which is tied for second and ranks sixth in the Big Ten, respectively.
CONSISTENCY ALONG THE O-LINE
- So far this season, Maryland has had the same five starters along the offensive line for every game.
- The unit has combined for 95 career starts.
- Center Sal Conaboy has started 22 straight games and has 30 career starts, the most on the offensive side of the ball.
LONG'S B1G DEBUT
- Terrapin wide out Deon Long made his mark in the Terps' first-ever Big Ten contest totaling a career-high 10 catches for 108 yards.
- It marked the most receptions for a Terp since Stefon Diggs had 11 at BC in 2012.
- His 10 catches is tied for the second most in a league game this season.
On The Defense/Special Teams
LOCKDOWN CORNER
- Defensive back William Likely picked off his Big Ten-leading fourth pass of the year Saturday and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown for the second time this season.
- Likely has returned four interceptions for 134 yards this season, the fourth-highest single-season total in school history.
IT'S GOOD
Junior kicker Brad Craddock, a member of the Lou Groza Award watch list, has made 43 career field goals and has scored 219 career points.
- Craddock's 43 career field goals rank fourth on Maryland's all-time list.
- His 219 career points is sixth all-time at Maryland and the fourth most for a kicker.
- Craddock is averaging 8.4 points per game, which is tied for third in the Big Ten.
- Craddock is one of six kickers nationally who are perfect on the season (12 of 12).
- The junior has converted 18 straight field goal attempts. That mark is a program record.
- In addition, his 18 consecutive made field goals is the third-longest streak in Big Ten history. Mike Nugent (Ohio State) holds the record with 24 straight from 2001 through 2002.
RETURN SPECIALISTS
- For his career, William Likely has returned two punts for touchdowns, most recently against WVU (9/13). He is tied for third in school history.
- Likely's 14.2 yards per return for his career ranks second in program history.
- On kick returns, Stefon Diggs is first on Maryland's all-time list for yards per return averaging 26.4.
- Diggs' per return average of 26.4 is the 19th-highest average among active FBS players.
- For his career, Diggs has 1,397 kick return yards, a mark which ranks fourth in school history.
PLENTY OF PRESSURE
- Maryland's defense racked up two sacks Saturday at Wisconsin. The Terps have totaled 13 sacks in four conference games, which is tied for the league lead.
- Maryland is averaging 2.62 sacks per game this season, which is tied for 36th nationally.
FIREBALL
Senior Andre Monroe anchors one end of the d-line and is Maryland's active career leader in sacks. The product of Upper Marlboro, Md., has 21 career sacks including a team-high 6.5 this season.
- Monroe's 21 sacks rank third in school history.
- His 32.5 career tackles for loss are tied for seventh in school history with Shawne Merriman (2003-04).
- With 9.5 sacks in 2013, Monroe posted the best single-season sack total in school history since Kris Jenkins posted 10.0 sacks in 2000.
Gameday Notes
Scout Team Players of the Week: Each Thursday during the regular season head coach Randy Edsall will annouce scout team players of the week. This week's scout team players are wide receiver Daniel Adams (offense), defensive lineman Malik Jones (defense) and linebacker Tyler Burke (special teams).
Flag Bearers: Offensive lineman Andrew Zeller will carry the American flag, and linebacker L.A. Goree will carry the Maryland state flag during Saturday's introductions.
Game Captains: With the establishment of the leadship council, Edsall will name game captains prior to each contest. The captains for Saturday's game against Penn State are wide receiver Stefon Diggs (offense), defensive lineman Darius Kilgo (defense), and tight end P.J. Gallo (special teams).
MEDIA INFORMATION
For up-to-date game stories, statistics, schedules and results, and other Maryland athletic department information, please log-on to www.umterps.com on the Internet.
-Maryland-
