364 Return specialist Lewis Sanders has a career-high 364 yards of total offense (265 on kickoff returns, 99 on inter -ception returns). He had 0 yards of total offense as a true freshman in 1996.
FRESHMEN DECLARE - "THE FUTURE IS NOW"
For the second time in the last three games, Maryland's freshmen class provided all of the points for the Terps. The Terps received six points each from redshirt freshman Omar Cheeseboro (32-yard touchdown reception) and true freshman Jason Hatala (12-yard touchdown reception) and five points (two point after touchdowns and a 35-yard field goal) from true freshman kicker Brian Kopka. Maryland's young guns also scored all of the Terps' points against Duke as Kopka scored 10 points and Hatala six on a 76-yard touchdown reception.
Opponent Freshman Points Total Points Pct. by Freshman
Ohio 6 14 42.8
Florida St. 6 7 85.7
N. Carolina 0 14 0.0
Temple 8 24 33.3
Duke 16 16 1.00
W. Virginia 8 14 57.1
Wake Forest 17 17 1.00
61 106 57.5
ON THIS DATE IN MARYLAND FOOTBALL HISTORY
No. 2 ranked Maryland defeated Louisiana State, 34-6, on October 25, 1952. The Terps have an all-time record of 5-7 on the 25th day of October since 1892.
TERPS IN THE NATIONAL STATISTICS
Maryland is tied for 14th in the nation in turnover margin with a +1.14 margin. The Terps are the ACC leaders.
CLUBBING THE COMPETITION
Junior Eric Barton led the Terps with 14 tackles against Wake Forest. His total included 10 solo stops. Barton's 10 solo stops was the second highest total on the team this season. Barton topped the team with 11 solo stops against North Carolina on September 20. Barton now leads the team in total tackles (86), solo tackles (57) and tackles for minus yardage (seven for minus 22 yards). Barton has recorded 22 tackles over the last two weeks despite playing with a cast that covers all but his thumb on his right hand. Barton broke the middle finger on his right hand against Duke and could possibly be wearing the cast another two weeks.
LINEBACKING BOOKENDS
Juniors Eric Barton and Kendall Ogle have traded turns in leading the Terps in tackles this season. Either Barton or Ogle has served as the Terps' leading tackler in the first seven games of the season.
Opponent Leading Tackler (Total Tackles)
Ohio Barton (14), Ogle (14)
Fl. State Ogle (13)
N. Carolina Barton (17)
Temple Barton (10), Ogle (10)
Duke Ogle (15)
W. Virginia Ogle (13)
Wake Forest Barton (14)
ACTION JACKSON
Redshirt junior Paul Jackson recoreded his second interception of the season against Wake Forest. The interception stopped a Demon Deacon drive at the Maryland goal line. In addition, Jackson tipped a field goal attempt by Wake Forest's Matt Burdick that sailed wide. He also posted a season-high two pass break-ups.
GETTING A PIECE OF THE ROCK
Redshirt junior Paul Jackson's tip of an attempted field goal marked the third time this season that a member of the Terps' special teams has gottne his hand on a kick.
BREAKING DOWN THE FRESHMAN CLASS
A total of 12 freshmen (seven true freshmen and five redshirt freshmen) have been part of the Terps game plan this season.
True Freshmen Redshirt Freshmen
LaMont Jordan Omar Cheeseboro
Tony Jackson Sean Starner
Matt Kalapinski Ben Thomas
Jason Hatala Moises Cruz
Kris Jenkins Mike Hull
Doug Patterson
Scott Rudolph
THE CLASS OF THE FRESHMEN CLASS
Maryland's freshmen class has scored at least one touchdown in six of the seven games this season and averages 56.4 yards rushing and 106 yards receiving per game.
IT HAPPENED FOR THE FIRST TIME AGAINST WAKE FOREST...
...Jason Hatala returned his first career kickoff.
CAREER HIGHS WERE ESTABLISHED AGAINST WAKE FOREST BY...
...Senior Buddy Rodgers who caught a career-high eight passes;
...True freshman Jason Hatala who caught a career-high five passes;
...True freshman Jason Hatala with a career-high two kickoff returns;
...True freshman Jason Hatala with a 27-yard kickoff return;
...True freshman LaMont Jordan who caught a career-high five passes;
...True freshman LaMont Jordan with a 20-yard kickoff return;
...True freshman Doug Patterson who caught a career-high two passes;
...True freshman Doug Patterson with a 20-yard reception;
...Redshirt senior Brian Cummings who completed a career-high 27 passes;
...Redshirt senior Brian Cummings who attempted a career-high 47 passes;
...Redshirt junior Kendrick Walton with a career-high tying 17-yard reception;
...Redshirt freshman Omar Cheeseboro with a 32-yard reception;
...Redshirt freshman Omar Cheeseboro with a 23-yard kickoff return.
KOPKA KONTIUNES TO BE ON TARGET
True freshman Brian Kopka kicked a 35-yard field goal against Wake Forest to bring his season total to four field goals made in five attempts. He kicked a career-high three field goals against Duke and has kicked at least one field goal in two of the Terps' last three games. In addition, he has kicked the first seven point after touchdown attempts of his career and has helped the Terps' kicking unit to a perfect 13-13 in PAT's so far this season.
GAME-BY-GAME WITH KOPKA
True freshman Brian Kopka gained his first career start against Duke and was a perfect three-for-three on field goal attempts and one-for-one on point after touchdown attempts.
Opponent FGM-A PCT. PATM-A PCT.
Ohio DNP -- -- --
Fl. State DNP -- -- --
N. Carolina DNP -- -- --
Temple 0-0 .000 2-2 1.00
Duke 3-3 1.00 1-1 1.00
W. Virginia 0-1 .000 2-2 1.00
Wake Forest 1-1 1.00 2-2 1.00
Totals 4-5 80.0 7-7 1.00
TRUE FRESHMAN KICKERS
True freshman Brian Kopka is one of only three players who has kicked as a true freshman at Maryland. He joined former Terps Jess Atkinson and Dan Plocki when he lined-up to kick a point after touchdown against Temple on September 27. Kopka was successful on his first career extra point attempt in the second quarter and connected on his second attempt in the third quarter against Temple. In addition, Kopka was called upon to kick off twice against Temple - once in the second quarter and to begin the second half. Both of his kicks went into and out of the end zone and were not returned by the Owls.
A NOTE ON THE FRESHMAN KICKERS
Maryland's trio of true freshman kickers -- Brian Kopka, Dan Plocki and Jess Atkinson -- have combined to kick 39 consecutive extra points. Kopka, who is perfect on seven attempts, and Plocki, who was perfect on 20 attempts during the 1985 season, are joined by Atkinson, who was successful on his final 12 attempts of his freshman season.
NEWCOMERS ALSO SCORING POINTS
Freshman Brian Kopka is the team leader in scoring with 19 total points for a 4.8 points per game average. Kopka is followed by fellow freshmen Jason Hatala (T2nd) and Omar Cheeseboro (T2nd) in the scoring race with 12 points each. The last true freshman to lead the Terps in scoring was Jess Atkinson, 60 points, in 1981.
KOPKA'S FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS
True freshman Brian Kopka has kicked four field goals in five attempts with all four field goals longer than 30 yards. He kicked his career-high 47-yard field goal against Duke. The 47-yarder was only one yard short of tying Jess Atkinson for the longest field goal by a true freshman in school history.
47-yards against Duke (career-high)
35-yards against Wake Forest
36-yards against Duke
31-yards against Duke
JACKSON IS THE LONE MAN BACK TO RETURN PUNTS
True freshman Tony Jackson has returned 12 punts for 43 yards this season. His career-long 15-yard return came on his first career return in the season opener against Ohio. He is looking to become the first true freshman in school history to lead the team in punt returns.
SANDERS ON KICKOFF RETURNS
True sophomore Lewis Sanders leads the Terps with 11 punt returns for 265 yards and a 24.1 yard per return average. His average is the highest since Jermaine Lewis (currently a member of the Baltimore Ravens) returned 10 kickoffs for a 26.8 yard average during the 1992 season.
CLEMSON CONNECTION
Terps defensive coordinator Wally Ake was the inside linebackers coach at Clemson from 1990-93. Maryland was 1-3 against the Tigers during that span but won the 1992 match-up, 53-23, in a game played here in Byrd Stadium. Ake participated in three bowls (1990 Hall of Fame, 1991 Citrus and 1993 Peach) during his tenure in Tigertown.
THROWING TO THE RUNNING BACKS
Senior Buddy Rodgers (career-high eight catches/64 yards) and true freshman LaMont Jordan (five catches/31 yards) combined to catch 13 passes for 95 yards against Wake Forest. It was the highest receiving output by the Maryland running backs this season.
TERPS OFFENSE KICKING INTO GEAR
Maryland's offensive production has improved by more than 100 yards per game in its last two games when compared to the first five games of the season. The Terps are averaging 343.0 net yards per game (net yards rushing + net yards passing) in the last two games as compared to 226.8 net yards per game through the first five games of the season.
JORDAN IN THE STARTING LINEUP
True freshman LaMont Jordan made his first career start against West Virginia and started against Wake Forest. He became the first freshman to start at tailback since Harold Westley against N.C. State on October 5, 1996.
JORDAN'S GAME BY GAME
True freshman LaMont Jordan gained 62 yards on 12 carries against Wake Forest and enters today's game versus Clemson as Maryland's leading rusher with 389 yards. He leads the Terps in rushing yards, 389; rushing attempts, 91, yards per carry, 4.3; yards per game, 55.6; longest run from scrimmage, 44 yards against Florida State and all purpose yards, 543.
CUMMINGS ALSO NEARING TOP-10 FOR TOUCHDOWN PASSES
Senior co-captain Brian Cummings threw his 17th and 18th career touchdown passes against Wake Forest. He enters today's game versus Clemson tied for ninth all-time at Maryland and needs only two scoring passes to tie Stan Gelbaugh for 8th place at the Maryland.
Rank No. Player, Year
1. 49 Scott Milanovich, 1992-95
2. 42 Boomer Esiason, 1981-83
3. 26 Neil O'Donnell, 1987-89
4. 24 Dan Henning, 1985-87
5. 23 Alan Pastrana, 1966-68
6. 22 Jack Scarbath, 1950-52
7. 21 Dick Shiner, 1961-63
8. 20 Stan Gelbaugh, 1981-85
9. 18 Brian Cummings, 1994-Present
John Kaleo, 1991-92
TERPS TOP CAREER COMPLETION PERCENTAGE
Senior co-captain Brian Cummings enters today's game versus Clemson in sixth-place on Maryland's all-time pass completion list.
Rank Rate Comp./Att. Player, Years
1. .6623 261/394 Bob Avellini, 1972-74
2. .6619 650/982 Scott Milanovich, 1992-95
3. .629 132/210 Frank Reich, 1983-84
4. .5882 180/306 Larry Dick, 1975-77
.5881 387/658 Neil O'Donnell, 1987-89
6. .583 291/499 Brian Cummings, 1994-Present
7. .582 127/218 Dale Betty, 1958-60
8. .571 52/91 Ben Kinard, 1973-74
9. .569 305/537 John Kaleo, 1991-92
10. .553 251/454 Stan Gelbaugh, 1981-85
SANDERS INTERCEPTION YARDAGE
Sophomore Lewis Sanders, the ACC leader in interceptions, has as many yards on interception returns (99) than Maryland's opponents combined (99).
EDWARDS JOINS TERPS ALL-TIME TOP 10
Redshirt junior punter Russell Edwards punted three times against Wake Forest to bring his career total to 124. His 124 punts places him 9th all-time at the University of Maryland. Dan DeArmas (1988-91) is the career leader with 268 career punts.
UPCOMING MILESTONES
Brian Cummings
Career Passing Yards
3,467 (current)
+ 193 (needs)
3,659
(to move past Stan Gelbaugh into 6th place all-time at Maryland)
Brian Cummings
Career Completions
291 (current)
+ 15 (needs)
306
(to move past John Kaleo into 5th place all-time at Maryland)
Buddy Rodgers
Career Yards Gained
1,408 (current)
+ 229 (needs)
(to move past Bren Lowrey into 11th place all-time at Maryland)
LaMont Jordan
Season Rushing Yards
389 (current)
+ 103 (needs)
to become the all-time single season freshman rushing leader at Maryland)
Eric Ogbogu
Career Sacks
18.5 (current)
+1 (needs)
18.5
(to move past Charles Johnson, Bruce Palmer Mark Duda into 2nd place all-time at Maryland)
