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MD : 31                                                                                              Villanova : 14

“Read with Caution, I cramped up 7 times while writing this”

By Bob W.

Overall:  Well if we learned anything today, it’s that you can’t take these D I AA games for granted.  Appalachian State taught Michigan that the hard way.  So just remember things can always be worse.  But this game for Maryland was about so much more than getting the “W”.  This was a dress rehearsal for the Jordan Steffy Offense, and before kickoff it became even more important for Jordan to get off on the right foot since back up QB Josh Portis was declared academically ineligible for the 2007 season. The QB controversy was ended before the teams even took the field.  For better or worse Steffy is the man, and Turner is the back up.

Honestly I could go on and on about this.  I was a Portis man, but as it became clear that Jordan was going to win the starting job, I figured hey, might as well back him.  If we have to switch QB’s during the season, that probably means we’ve hit some rough patches along the way, and who wants to go through all of that.  But instead of dedicating any more lines to the Portis fiasco we should give Steffy his due.  No his performance wasn’t Heisman worthy, but I liked what I saw.  He showed mobility, he showed poise, and the even ran for a TD.  In fact I think he finished with 47 yards rushing which is probably the most rushing yards a QB has had at Maryland for quite some time.

But unfortunately the true story of the Villanova game has been completely over-shadowed.  Keon Lattimore had one hell of a day.  He rushed for over 100 yards and scored 3 TD’s.  All this considering that Lance Ball also had 11 carries for 56 yards. 

I also liked to see Heyward-Bey produce.  He had 6 catches for 81 yards, but what I think I liked most about Hey-Bey was when Lattimore scored one of his TD’s (I forget which one) I saw Hey-Bey on the other side of the field, 30 yards away jumping up and down like a little kid!  You can tell he loves playing and he has fun while he’s out there.  I don’t think he is going to have a sophomore jinx. 

And Finally the special teams.  This was a question mark coming in, but both Travis Baltz and Obi Egekeze played well.  Baltz had 2 punts for an average of 43 yards, and Egekeze made his only attempt, which was no gimmie at 42 yards.

Game Highlights:  With all the positives that happened in this game it should be easy to pick out a highlight and I’m going to go with Steffy’s TD run.  It was 3rd and 2 and a failure to convert would have made the final 27-14.  But Steffy showed his mobility and rushed 10 yards for his first TD.  Though we can’t say our QB has thrown a TD pass, we can at least say that he has rushed for one.  That was a big boost for his confidence as well as mine!

Game Lowlights:  The main Lowlight that comes to mind is the Chris Turner interception that was returned for a TD.  This made a 31-7 game, a 31-14 game.  As important as it was to show everyone that we could handle an easy opponent this made the final score just a little less decisive.  But interestingly enough, I’m not naming it my lowlight.

My low light was the pass that Isaiah Williams dropped.  I don’t remember how long it would have been, but it would have given us one more TD, it would have given Steffy his first TD pass, and it would have improved Steffy’s numbers to 20 of 24 for about 225.  To compound his folly, Williams was flagged for holding on the next play, which pretty much killed the drive. 

MVP:  Unlike that Damn D7 Tailgating MVP Award, this one was rather easy.  Keon Lattimore provided the offensive punch that allowed everyone around him to relax.  Keon had 3 TD’s and 106 yards in mostly a first half performance.  Freidgen raved about Keon all spring and named him the starter, and I can now see why.  I’m excited about Lattimore and think he is going to have a great season.  Our depth is in the RB position, and Lattimore showed that there is little reason to worry about our productivity out of the backfield this season. 

For honorable mention, I’m going with Erin Henderson.  Erin had 9 tackles which is 3 more than anyone else on the defensive side of the ball.  Erin also broke up two passes which gives him the honorable mention nod.  

Random Thought-  The other day I was listening to my radio when Arrested Development’s “Tennessee” came on.  At one point the girl in Arrested Development says “I Challenge you …..to a game of horseshoes, a game of HORSESHOES!”.  What the hell was that?  How did no one when that song came out say, what the hell?  The older I get the less I understand 90’s music! 

Around the ACC:

Game of the Week

Florida State at Clemson- Well this one hasn’t happened yet, but I’m guessing it will be the game of the week.  A Bowden Bowl on ESPN Primetime is always a treat, and factor in that it will go a long way in determining who wins the Atlantic Division and this becomes must see TV.

Miami 31  Marshall 3- For better or worse (probably better) the Larry Coker reign is over.  Under the new regime Miami is 1-0.  Javarris James had 2 TD’s and the Miami Defense recorded 6 sacks as the Hurricane’s rolled Marshall.

Virginia Tech 17  Eastern Carolina 7- Virginia Tech opened up the year with an emotional win in Blacksburg.  A TD from TE Sam Wheeler, and a defensive score by Victor Harris was all the Hokies needed to put ECU away, if just barely.

Connecticut 45  Duke 14-  The joke about this one being a better basketball game than a football game must have hit home for UConn because 45 is more of a basketball half time score than a final Football score.  Duke meanwhile continues their campaign to embarrass the ACC every chance they get.

Wyoming 23  Virginia 3-  Speaking of embarrassing the conference, how about them Wahoo’s??  Virginia was held to 110 total yards in this debacle.  I didn’t see the weather forcast for this one but even if it was a blizzard, those stats are pitiful. 

Boston College 38  Wake Forest 28- A tough start for the Conference Champs.  The Deac’s traveled to Beantown for this early season Atlantic Division match up but Matt Ryan was a little too much to handle.  Ryan had 5 TD’s and DeJuan Tribble had 3 interceptions to escort the Deamon Deacons back to last place, if only for a week.

Georgia Tech 33  Notre Dame 3-  GT did the reverse UVA and actually brought some much needed pride back into ACC football.  The Jackets man handled the Golden Domers with Tashard Choice and his 196 yards rushing and 2 TD’s.  For ND it was only their 6^th ever 30 point loss at home.

North Carolina 37  James Madison 14- Butch Davis gets his first win in Chapel Hill with a little help from TJ Yates.  Yates had 3 TD passes as the Heels handled the James Madison Dukes with ease.

Central Florida 25  NC State 23-  Despite being routed at half time, the Wolfpack actually was able to make a game out of this one, but it just wasn’t to be.  No Chuck in Raleigh anymore, but I guess NC State didn’t get that memo.  Meanwhile Tom O’Brien was spotted in the local Cracker Barrel trying to order Lobster Bisque and talking about the “God Ole Days” in BC.