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Maryland rolls.
Maryland (5-2) at Georgia Tech (4-3)
Thursday, October 23, 2003
Latest Line: Maryland -2.5 O/U: 38.5
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GAME NOTES: The Maryland Terrapins and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will share a Thursday night spotlight in what will be a key ACC battle. Both teams enter the contest off a bye. Also, Georgia Tech and Maryland are meeting in a Thursday night ESPN game for the third straight year and the sixth time since 1995. The Terps hold a 3-2 advantage in such games, including wins the last two years. Maryland has been on a major roll of late, as it has won five consecutive decisions since dropping its first two games of the season. Last time out, the Terps rolled to a 33-20 victory over Duke. That game was not nearly as close as the final score indicates, as Maryland shut out the Blue Devils for three quarters before being outscored 20-6 in the final frame.
After this tilt, the Terps will play back-to-back conference home games against North Carolina and Virginia. As for the Yellow Jackets, they have won three in a row to improve to 4-3 overall, including 2-2 in the ACC. In their most recent outing back on October 11th, they were able to come away with a convincing 24-7 decision over Wake Forest. Although Georgia Tech holds a 10-5 lead in the all-time series between the two teams, Maryland recorded a convincing 34-10 victory in last season's meeting.
Although Maryland did not rack up huge offensive numbers in its victory over Duke, the team did manage to score an impressive total of 33 points. With 32 pass attempts and 31 rushing attempts, it is clear that the Terps made a clear effort to utilize a balanced offensive approach. Scott McBrien completed 18- of-32 throws for 238 yards with one touchdown in the win, and Latrez Harrison caught four balls for 88 yards and a score. As for the backs, Josh Allen and Bruce Perry both finished with 36 yards. Seven different players ran the ball for Maryland, and no one was given double-digit carries. The fact that McBrien and company were able to score 33 points despite making good on only 2-of-11 third down conversion attempts and holding the ball for fewer than 24 minutes is surprising. So far this season, the Terps are averaging 29.9 ppg and 379.4 ypg of total offense. McBrien has started all seven games and has completed 54.5 percent of his passes for 1,263 yards with six scores and four interceptions. Harrison has been the most productive receiver, as he has 24 grabs for 360 yards and two touchdowns. Allen leads all runners with 430 yards and five scores thanks to an average of 4.7 ypc.
When it mattered most, the Maryland defense stood strong against Duke. Holding any conference opponent scoreless for the first three quarters of a game is a difficult task, so there is certainly reason for the Terps to be proud. They did collapse in the fourth quarter, however, and a similar letdown against a better team will almost certainly lead to defeat. In all, Maryland surrendered 413 yards to the Blue Devils, including 270 through the air. It should be pointed out, however, that only 20-of-47 passes were completed by Duke, and Maryland was able to rack up three sacks on the day. Moving the ball against the Terps is not an easy task, as they are yielding only 294.7 ypg and 14.6 ppg this season. The defense is toughest against the run, as it is allowing only 109.6 ypg and 2.8 ypc. Also, it has allowed fewer than 50 percent of all passes to be completed. Although Maryland has registered a solid total of 24 sacks thus far, the defense has come up with only eight turnovers.
The Georgia Tech offense achieved tremendous balance in the victory over Wake Forest last time out, as it finished with 216 yards on the ground and 225 through the air. Although the 24 points that the Yellow Jackets scored are not cause for a great deal of excitement, there are plenty of positives to be drawn from the contest. In addition to the fact that they did not suffer a turnover, they allowed only one sack, held the ball for almost 34 minutes and made good on 9-of-16 third down conversion attempts. Freshman quarterback Reggie Ball completed 12-of-24 passes and seems to get more comfortable as the weeks pass. Of the 225 yards that Ball threw for, Jonathan Smith was on the receiving end for 194 of them, doing so on seven grabs. P.J. Daniels was sensational as well, as he posted 175 yards and a score on 33 rushing attempts. Ball has completed 52 percent of his passes this season, but the rookie has connected on 59 percent in his last two outings. Smith is a strong candidate for All-ACC honors, as he has already made 40 catches for 725 yards and two touchdowns. Daniels paces the GT ground attack with 623 yards and four scores.
Put simply, the Georgia Tech defense was tremendous in the double-digit victory over Wake Forest. The Yellow Jackets allowed only 277 total yards and came away with two big interceptions. Perhaps the most impressive stat from the game is that they enabled the Demon Deacons to move the chains on only 1- of-13 third-down conversion attempts. In four quarters of football, Wake was able to post only 11 first downs. For the season, Georgia Tech's opponents are averaging just 17.9 ppg and 321 ypg of total offense. The Jackets are toughest against the run, having yielded a mere 94.6 ypg and 2.9 ypc thus far. Several players deserve mention for their efforts on the defensive side of the ball this season. Keyaron Fox leads the squad with 84 total tackles, and James Butler is tops with three interceptions. As for Eric Henderson, he has made 12 TFLs, including six sacks.
Georgia Tech is a solid team, but the edge has to go to Maryland despite the fact that it is playing on the road. Although the Terps probably won't win this game by 24 points like they did in last season's meeting, the stingy UM defense along with the balanced offensive attack should lead to victory.
Maryland rolls.
Maryland (5-2) at Georgia Tech (4-3)
Thursday, October 23, 2003
Latest Line: Maryland -2.5 O/U: 38.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GAME NOTES: The Maryland Terrapins and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will share a Thursday night spotlight in what will be a key ACC battle. Both teams enter the contest off a bye. Also, Georgia Tech and Maryland are meeting in a Thursday night ESPN game for the third straight year and the sixth time since 1995. The Terps hold a 3-2 advantage in such games, including wins the last two years. Maryland has been on a major roll of late, as it has won five consecutive decisions since dropping its first two games of the season. Last time out, the Terps rolled to a 33-20 victory over Duke. That game was not nearly as close as the final score indicates, as Maryland shut out the Blue Devils for three quarters before being outscored 20-6 in the final frame.
After this tilt, the Terps will play back-to-back conference home games against North Carolina and Virginia. As for the Yellow Jackets, they have won three in a row to improve to 4-3 overall, including 2-2 in the ACC. In their most recent outing back on October 11th, they were able to come away with a convincing 24-7 decision over Wake Forest. Although Georgia Tech holds a 10-5 lead in the all-time series between the two teams, Maryland recorded a convincing 34-10 victory in last season's meeting.
Although Maryland did not rack up huge offensive numbers in its victory over Duke, the team did manage to score an impressive total of 33 points. With 32 pass attempts and 31 rushing attempts, it is clear that the Terps made a clear effort to utilize a balanced offensive approach. Scott McBrien completed 18- of-32 throws for 238 yards with one touchdown in the win, and Latrez Harrison caught four balls for 88 yards and a score. As for the backs, Josh Allen and Bruce Perry both finished with 36 yards. Seven different players ran the ball for Maryland, and no one was given double-digit carries. The fact that McBrien and company were able to score 33 points despite making good on only 2-of-11 third down conversion attempts and holding the ball for fewer than 24 minutes is surprising. So far this season, the Terps are averaging 29.9 ppg and 379.4 ypg of total offense. McBrien has started all seven games and has completed 54.5 percent of his passes for 1,263 yards with six scores and four interceptions. Harrison has been the most productive receiver, as he has 24 grabs for 360 yards and two touchdowns. Allen leads all runners with 430 yards and five scores thanks to an average of 4.7 ypc.
When it mattered most, the Maryland defense stood strong against Duke. Holding any conference opponent scoreless for the first three quarters of a game is a difficult task, so there is certainly reason for the Terps to be proud. They did collapse in the fourth quarter, however, and a similar letdown against a better team will almost certainly lead to defeat. In all, Maryland surrendered 413 yards to the Blue Devils, including 270 through the air. It should be pointed out, however, that only 20-of-47 passes were completed by Duke, and Maryland was able to rack up three sacks on the day. Moving the ball against the Terps is not an easy task, as they are yielding only 294.7 ypg and 14.6 ppg this season. The defense is toughest against the run, as it is allowing only 109.6 ypg and 2.8 ypc. Also, it has allowed fewer than 50 percent of all passes to be completed. Although Maryland has registered a solid total of 24 sacks thus far, the defense has come up with only eight turnovers.
The Georgia Tech offense achieved tremendous balance in the victory over Wake Forest last time out, as it finished with 216 yards on the ground and 225 through the air. Although the 24 points that the Yellow Jackets scored are not cause for a great deal of excitement, there are plenty of positives to be drawn from the contest. In addition to the fact that they did not suffer a turnover, they allowed only one sack, held the ball for almost 34 minutes and made good on 9-of-16 third down conversion attempts. Freshman quarterback Reggie Ball completed 12-of-24 passes and seems to get more comfortable as the weeks pass. Of the 225 yards that Ball threw for, Jonathan Smith was on the receiving end for 194 of them, doing so on seven grabs. P.J. Daniels was sensational as well, as he posted 175 yards and a score on 33 rushing attempts. Ball has completed 52 percent of his passes this season, but the rookie has connected on 59 percent in his last two outings. Smith is a strong candidate for All-ACC honors, as he has already made 40 catches for 725 yards and two touchdowns. Daniels paces the GT ground attack with 623 yards and four scores.
Put simply, the Georgia Tech defense was tremendous in the double-digit victory over Wake Forest. The Yellow Jackets allowed only 277 total yards and came away with two big interceptions. Perhaps the most impressive stat from the game is that they enabled the Demon Deacons to move the chains on only 1- of-13 third-down conversion attempts. In four quarters of football, Wake was able to post only 11 first downs. For the season, Georgia Tech's opponents are averaging just 17.9 ppg and 321 ypg of total offense. The Jackets are toughest against the run, having yielded a mere 94.6 ypg and 2.9 ypc thus far. Several players deserve mention for their efforts on the defensive side of the ball this season. Keyaron Fox leads the squad with 84 total tackles, and James Butler is tops with three interceptions. As for Eric Henderson, he has made 12 TFLs, including six sacks.
Georgia Tech is a solid team, but the edge has to go to Maryland despite the fact that it is playing on the road. Although the Terps probably won't win this game by 24 points like they did in last season's meeting, the stingy UM defense along with the balanced offensive attack should lead to victory.
