"In the Thick of It" with Gary Hahn
10/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 13, 2004
 |
NC STATE (3-2, 2-1) at MARYLAND (3-2, 1-1)
DATE: Saturday, October 16, 2004
TIME: Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. (EDT) Byrd Stadium, College Park, MD (51,500)
RADIO: Wolfpack Radio Network: 2:30 p.m. (EDT)
TELEVISION: ABC (Regional)
OPPONENT---- Georgia Tech's defense dominated No. 23 Maryland on Saturday, limiting Terps quarterback, Joel Statham to only 36 passing yards in a 20-7 victory at Byrd Stadium. The Yellow Jackets victory snapped Maryland's 13-game home winning streak.
The zone blitz schemes of Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta kept Statham off-balance all day until he was replaced by true freshman Jordan Steffy with 6:17 left in the third quarter. The previous week Statham threw for a career-high 362 yards and four touchdowns against Duke, but Tech made the sophomore miss on 8 of 14 attempts and sacked him four times.
Overall, the Yellow Jackets held the Terps to an amazing 81 yards on 61 plays, the fewest yards allowed by a Georgia Tech defense since 1963. In the second quarter alone, Maryland gained only three yards while Tech posted 158 in taking a 10-0 lead.
While Statham struggled, Tech quarterback, Reggie Ball, threw for 197 yards and a touchdown while rushing 14 times for 48 yards. Ball drove the Jackets to the Maryland 12-yard line midway through the second quarter on a 37-yard pass to Levon Thomas. Three plays later, the junior threw to Nate Curry from 11 yards out to open the scoring.
Curry bobbled a potential touchdown pass before falling out of bounds with 94 seconds left in the half, forcing Tech to settle for a Travis Bell 19-yard field goal. Maryland's Steve Suter followed with a 52-yard kickoff return, but the Terps failed to capitalize. Maryland was held without a first down on five of its six possessions spanning the second and third quarters while Georgia Tech scored 17 of its points during that stretch.
P.J. Daniels, who rushed for 96 yards, gave Tech a 17-0 lead with a 2-yard run early in the third quarter. Bell added a 27-yard field goal to round-out the Jackets scoring.
The Terps avoided the shutout in the fourth quarter when Steffy, who was 5 of 9 passing for 38 yards, engineered a drive that ended with a short touchdown run by Sammy Maldonado. Maryland finished with only 7 net yards rushing and was penalized 8 times for 69 yards. Tech rushed for 131 yards and was led by Daniels who totaled 96 yards and a touchdown.
Offensive inconsistency appears to be Maryland's biggest problem. In its three wins over Northern Illinois, Temple and Duke, the Terps averaged 41 points and 508 yards. However, in losses to West Virginia and Georgia Tech, Maryland scored only 11.5 points a game on 188 yards.
The quarterback position is the focal point. Statham continues to be a work in progress and according to coach Ralph Friedgen will remain the starter, but both quarterbacks could play. "I will probably play Jordan (Steffy) more depending on how the game goes and how he practices," Friedgen said. "I think both have bright futures. That has not changed because of one game. They're both in a developmental stage."
Statham, a redshirt sophomore, has completed 57 percent of his passes for 943 yards and 7 touchdowns, but he's thrown 7 interceptions in 5 games. Steffy, a better runner than Statham, has played in 3 games and is 6 of 13 passing for 60 yards with no picks.
Maryland has several dangerous receivers. Redshirt junior, Derrick Fenner (5-11, 186) leads the way with 14 catches for a team high 225 yards. Sophomore Vernon Davis (6-3, 239) has become a big play target with a team leading 3 touchdown catches. Veterans Steve Suter and Rich Parson are reliable, proven play makers.
With the exception of the Georgia Tech game, Maryland's ground attack has been pretty consistent this season, averaging 174 yards a game. Maldonado and Josh Allen (5-11, 202, Jr.) get the bulk of the carries and both average better than 4.5 yards per attempt while combining for 8 touchdowns. Clearing the way is an offensive line that averages 6-4, 302 pounds and features three veteran starters in left tackle, Stephon Heyer (6-6, 295), left guard C.J. Brooks (6-5, 311) and center Kyle Schmitt (6-4, 295).
Defensively, Maryland has seven first-year starters in its lineup, but has played pretty well. Although the Terps are allowing 20.4 points a game, the scoring average is skewed due to turnovers by the offense and opponents scoring on interception, fumble and kick returns. Eliminate those points and the Terps defense is allowing just 13.0 points a game.
Leading the defensive unit is middle linebacker, D'Quell Jackson (6-0, 231, Jr.) who is the No. 1 tackler in the ACC averaging 10.4 stops per game. Defensive end, Shawne Merriman (6-4, 245, Jr.) tops the Terps in tackles for loss (8.5) and is tied for the ACC lead in sacks (5). Maryland has been steady but unspectacular against the run, allowing 142 yards a game.
In the secondary, senior cornerback, Domonique Foxworth (5-11, 178) is a three-year starter and All-America candidate, but the other three defensive backs are all first-year starters. Despite the inexperience, Maryland is 23rd nationally in pass defense (168 ypg.) and has allowed only 4 touchdowns through the air. Redshirt junior cornerback, Gerrick McPhearson, is the fastest man on the team with 4.28 speed in the 40-yard dash.
The Terrapins may have the best overall kicking game in the ACC. They lead the nation with a 43.7 net punting average thanks in part to Adam Podlesh. The redshirt sophomore punter is No. 2 in the ACC with a 45.9 average and against Georgia Tech punted 9 times for nearly 50 yards an attempt.
Redshirt senior, Nick Novak, the all-time ACC scoring leader with 368 points, has made 9 of his 12 field goal attempts this season. Plus, he's 4 of 7 from beyond 40-yards.
Although he's had five knee operations, Suter is still a dangerous return man. He's the ACC's all-time leader in punt return yardage and has returned six career punts for touchdowns. As a kickoff returner, Suter has averaged 31 yards per attempt this season, good for third in the ACC.
Maryland has won the last four games in this series with each contest decided by seven points or less. In each of the last three wins over the Wolfpack, the Terps have won the rushing advantage by an average of 83 yards a game. Maryland is 21-2 at Byrd Stadium under Ralph Friedgen. NC State has lost only 5 games during Chuck Amato's tenure when leading at the half and four of those losses have been to Maryland.
INJURIES--NC State: C Jed Paulsen-Out, ankle surgery; DE James Martin-Out, knee surgery; OT Merci Falaise-Out, knee; OG Luke Lathan-Questionable, knee sprain; LB LeRue Rumph-Doubtful, bicep tear; SS Andre Maddox-Probable, hamstring; TB T.A. McLendon-Probable, AC separation and hamstring strain. Maryland:OG C.J.Brooks-Probable, neck; K Nick Novak-Probable, virus; TE Joey Haynos-Probable, knee; C Kyle Schmitt-Questionable, concussion; OG Brandon Nixon-Questionable, shoulder.