Terps Host 'Neers in College Park Showdown
By special contributor Brett Gellman of The Upstate Life
This Thursday's nationally televised contest, in which the West Virginia Mountaineers will visit the Maryland Terrapins in College Park, will be the last time these border state rivals meet until 2010. Not only are bragging rights on the line, but the Mountaineers' national title hopes are also at stake. Both schools will be playing their hardest opponent thus far and both stand undefeated at 2-0.
Both squads looked equally unimpressive in their wins last week. Marshall gave West Virginia a run for their money but the Herd ultimately ran out of gas by the late second half as the Mountaineers pulled away 48-23.
Meanwhile, Maryland picked up an unimposing win against lowly Florida International in front of roughly 10,000 at the Orange Bowl last Saturday night. The Terps started off strong with two rushing TDs by senior tailback Keon Lattimore but the offense soon sputtered and failed to capitalize on the momentum generated in the first quarter. The Terrapin defense locked up the victory after turnover mistakes plagued FIU in the forth quarter.
Come this Thursday night at Byrd Stadium, expect the playbooks of the Terps and the 'Neers to be wide open. The offensive schemes should be anything but vanilla as this match-up will set the tone for the rest of the season for each team.
A Maryland win would also bolster the image of the ACC as a whole, especially against a highly-ranked Big East opponent. The Terrapins are seeking revenge after getting pounded in Morgantown last year in front of a national TV audience. West Virginia took advantage of the early turnovers the Terps produced in the '06 match-up (the MD offense did not see the field until the score reached 14-0) and never looked back.
This time, the rivalry returns to College Park in front of a sold-out, rabid crowd accompanied by a black t-shirt donned student section.
This game should be a high-scoring affair as both MD and WVU have solid, if not spectacular offenses. Maryland's one-two punch of running backs- Lattimore and Lance Ball- will keep the ball on the ground and, more importantly, run time off the clock, thereby preventing the shifty RB Steve Slaton and elusive QB Pat White to see the field. Slaton and White, teammates as well as Heisman contenders, may highlight the WVU offensive attack but be sure not to overlook WR Darius Reynaud. The Maryland secondary will have a hard time covering the slot receiver as Reynaud will be White's primary target if WVU can't get the running game going.
Speaking of receivers, expect double-coverage on Maryland redshirt sophomore phenom WR Darius Heyward-Bey. The secret's out on Heyward-Bey's remarkable speed so Isaiah Williams or LaQuan Williams will have to step up as passing targets for junior QB Jordan Steffy. The Terps also have not one but two mammoth tight ends in Joey Haynos and Dan Gronkowski should Steffy need another option to throw to.
Thursday night's game takes place at Chevy Chase Field at Byrd Stadium in College Park. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:45pm and will be nationally televised on ESPN. Only cars with game-day parking permits will be permitted onto campus. Metrorail is strongly encouraged and there will be shuttle busses transporting fans between the College Park Metro and Byrd Stadium. Tickets are sold out.