TOWSON (1-0, 0-0 CAA)
at
Maryland (1-0, 0-0 B1G)
September 9, 2017 || Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium || Noon
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Separated by less than 50 miles on I-95, Maryland and Towson are set to meet for just the second time in program history Saturday at Noon at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. Maryland won the inaugural meeting in 2011, 28-3, as quarterback Danny O'Brien passed for two touchdowns and Davin Meggett cleared 100 yards on the ground.
- Junior running back Ty Johnson is looking to become just the fourth player in Maryland history to rush for at least 100 yards in four consecutive games. The Cumberland, Md., native would join an elite group that includes Steve Atkins (7 straight in 1978), Bruce Perry (5 straight in 2001) and Charlie Wysocki (4 straight in 1980). Johnson has racked up 459 yards during his three-game tear dating back to 2016, averaging 12.1 yards-per-carry during the span.
- Maryland picked up its first victory against a ranked opponent in seven seasons last weekend in Austin when it upset No. 23 Texas, 51-41. It also marked Maryland's first-ever win against a ranked opponent in a season-opener (previously 0-7). Maryland was 0-3 all-time against Texas before the victory.
- The Terrapins have won 11 consecutive home-openers at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium dating back to 2006. Maryland's last loss in a home-opener came in a narrow, 28-24, defeat to No. 25 Clemson on Sept. 10, 2005. Since 1998, Maryland has won 17-of-18 home-openers.
- The Maryland offense exploded for 51 points on the road against the Longhorns in its season-opener, marking its greatest point total against a ranked opponent in the 125-season history of the program. The point total bested the previous mark of 45 points set in the Terps' 45-33 Homecoming victory over Virginia on Oct. 1, 2005.
- Although the scoreline may not reflect it, Maryland's defense was tremendous in the victory against Texas. The Terps allowed just three offensive touchdowns (one came with 1:09 remaining in the game), while holding the Longhorns to just 98 yards on the ground. Maryland's front seven is extremely experienced with all four lineman and two linebackers being seniors.
BY THE NUMBERS: OFFENSE
1 - The Maryland offensive line was extremely impressive in its debut under first-year coach Tyler Bowen, allowing just one sack in the season-opener against #23 Texas. Terrapin quarterbacks were given time in the pocket to complete 12-of-15 pass attempts (80%), while the team gained 263 rushing yards on the ground. The Terps scored six touchdowns in the win, with four coming in the rushing attack.
1 - Redshirt senior wide receiver Jacquille Veii has an interesting matchup this weekend as he plays his former team, Towson. Veii has had a winding road since coming to college, spending his first two seasons (2013-14) in College Park before transferring to Towson for the 2015 season. He led the Tigers in both catches (44) and yards (505) in his lone season with the Tigers. He then returned to Maryland in 2016 and served a redshirt season.
1 - Freshman quarterback Kasim Hill showed great poise in his collegiate debut, entering late in the third quarter with a 3-point lead for the injured Tyrrell Pigrome. Hill completed all three of his pass attempts, including a critical 40-yard completion to D.J. Moore on 3rd-and-19 late in the game. He also rushed for his first career touchdown - a 3-yard score.
8.3 - The Maryland offense exploded for 8.3 yards per play in the win against Texas, marking its greatest output since averaging 8.5 yards per play in a 47-10 drubbing of Old Dominion on Sept. 7, 2013. Running back Ty Johnson (50 rush, 40 rush) and receivers D.J. Moore (46 rec, 40 rec) and Taivon Jacobs (46 rec) each had plays of at least 40 yards in the game.
10 - Junior wide receiver D.J. Moore caught his 10th career touchdown pass on a 20-yard throw by Tyrrell Pigrome against Texas. The reception moved Moore past Vernon Davis, among others, for t-10th on Maryland's career touchdown list. He now has seven TD catches in his last 14 games. Moore also surpassed 1,000 career receiving yards in the game.
22 - Wide receiver D.J. Moore currently leads all Maryland receivers and ranks second in the Big Ten Conference with a reception in 22 straight games (Amarah Darboh - UM - 33). It is the longest streak for a Maryland player since Torrey Smith finished his career with a 30-game reception streak from 2008-10.
40 - Ty Johnson picked up right where he left off in 2016, continuing to make big plays for the Terps. Johnson had a pair of rushes that were at least 40 yards, while also returning a kickoff 62 yards. Not including the kick return, Johnson now has 12 plays of at least 40 yards over his last 11 games.
80 - Redshirt senior Taivon Jacobs was electric in his first action since the 2015 season, catching three passes for 80 yards and a touchdown against Texas. The speedy Jacobs also totaled 103 kickoff return yards. A large chunk of Jacobs' receiving yardage came on a 46-yard touchdown strike thrown by Tyrrell Pigrome.
BY THE NUMBERS: DEFENSE
1 - The Maryland special teams unit came up huge early in the second quarter against Texas, when left tackle Derwin Gray was able to knock down a Longhorn field goal attempt. Sophomore Antoine Brooks, Jr., was able to scoop the ball and took it 71 yards the opposite way for the touchdown. Brooks earned Big Ten Co-Specialist of the Week honors for his play.
1 - Maryland's defense managed to hold the Longhorns' powerful offense to just one score on three red zone chances. It was a story of bend, but don't break for the defensive unit, which routinely showed up in massive situations. Most telling was Texas' 0-for-4 day on fourth-down conversions.
2 - Senior linebacker Jermaine Carter, Jr., showed why he is the heart and soul of the Maryland defense against Texas, when he stormed into the Longhorn backfield for a 9-yard sack on the first defensive possession of the game. Carter's sack set the tone for the rest of the game, as he finished with seven tackles and 2.0 sacks to his name.
23 - In total, Maryland had 23 different players record a tackle in the win over Texas, showing the depth of the team in a big game. Comparatively speaking, the Longhorns only had 17 players record a tackle. Of the 11 defensive players that started last Saturday, nine had previously started a game in their college careers. Antoine Brooks, Jr. and Antwaine Richardson were the only players making their first collegiate starts.
25 - Jermaine Carter, Jr., totaled two tackles for loss in the win over Texas, propelling him to 25.0 total in his career. The ouput moved him past D'Qwell Jackson and Randy White for t-17th place on Maryland's career tackle for loss list.
98 - The Terrapin defense stood tall in the trenches against Texas, allowing just 98 yards of rushing. It was an extremely positive sign for a defensive unit which ranked 99th nationally and 11th in the Big Ten last season allowing nearly 215 yards per game on the ground. Texas' powerful Chris Warren III was bottled up for just 31 yards, while his backup Kyle Porter could only manage 21 yards of his own.
183 - The Terps totaled 183 kick return yards against Texas on six returns for an oustanding average of 30.5 yards per return. Senior Taivon Jacobs led the way with four returns for 103 yards, while Ty Johnson also had two returns for 80 yards. Most of Johnson's yardage came on a massive 62-yard return in the second half that was a response to Texas' punt return touchdown. Johnson then scored on a 40-yard rush just two plays later.
-TERPS-
