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[BSLChrisStoner]

The University of Maryland Terrapins were tasked today with facing an offensive powerhouse, and National Top 10 team on the road. Coming into this game as a 4 TD underdog, the Terps found a way to be competitive in their 31-21 loss to the West Virginia Mountaineers.

Brian Stewart's defense had a strong showing, getting to Smith multiple times and causing 7 punts. Freshman QB Perry Hills threw for 299 yards, and 3 scores. Freshman WR Stefon Diggs had 2 of the TD's, and had over 100 yards receiving. The Terps can drive back to College Park feeling good about a lot of what they accomplished today, and yet upset about the chances they left on the field.

The Good:

1) Helped by a kickoff out of bounds, Maryland started their initial drive with good field position. Available for the first time this year, Brandon Ross got a carry right away.

2) Despite allowing a 1st down on WVU's initial series, the Terps defense did some positive things on that first Mountaineers drive. They were able to get pressure several times, and stood up on a 3rd and 4.

3) Maryland's 2nd drive got started with a nice roll out and throw from Hills to Furstenbrug. Furstenburg picked up 9, and would have had additional yardage but stepped out of bounds. Helped by a face-masking penalty the Terps moved into WVU territory. On 3rd and 10, Hills converted to Dorsey on the outside. Quick 3 step drop and fire from Hills. Ross followed with a 5 year rush, and Maryland appeared to be on the verge of doing something positive as they had advanced to the WVU 30 yard line.

4) After losing 4 yards on 1st down on their 3rd series, the Terps picked up another 1st down when Hills rolled for a 2nd time and again found Furstenburg, this time for 15 yards.

5) Maryland had good punt coverage on Renfro's 2nd punt.

6) Down 14-0, Maryland started their 4th offensive series from their 33 yard line. Albert Reid moved the Terps out to around midfield with a 15 yard rush on 1st down. After another Reid run, Ross used a spin move and second effort to gain another 1st down for Maryland. Maryland got on the board, when Hills connected with Diggs on the sideline, and Diggs did the rest on 43 yard TD score. Diggs stopped on a dime after the catch, and changed direction. At the 5 yard line, he leaped into the end zone. Maryland went 67 yards on 5 plays over 2:21, making it a 14-7 game.

7) On WVU's 3rd series, we got a Kenny Tate sighting, who made a nice open field tackle on 2nd down. He showed up again on 3rd down, as Maryland again forced a Mountaineers punt. Great job from the defense, after their offense had gotten their initial points of the day.

8) The first play of the 2nd Quarter, saw Maryland facing 3rd and 5 on their 41 yard line. WVU brought a lot of pressure, and Hills was able to get it just over the pursuing defenders and find Furstenburg who rumbled 29 yards. On 3rd and 8 from the WVU 28, Maryland picked up another first down on a swing pass to Pickett out of the backfield. On 3rd and 8 from the WVU 12 yard line, Hills found Leak for a second Maryland TD, tying the game at 14. The Terps went 64 yards over 9 plays and had the ball for just about 4 minutes. Great job from Hills converting 3 separate 3rd downs.

9) AJ Francis got a sack on 3rd and Goal, forcing WVU into a FG attempt. The made FG put West Virginia up 17-14. Maryland had allowed 3 separate 3rd downs to be converted on that drive, but made plays when WVU got close to the goal line. Multiple times the Terps were able to deliver hits on Smith.

10) On the following WVU series, Francis was again active, making a couple of tackles. Dexter McDougle had good coverage on 3rd down, and WVU was forced to punt with 5 minutes left in the 1st half.

11) Replacing a shaken Hills, Burns came in and gained 16 yards on the QB keeper. Hills reentered the game, and found Diggs, and Dorsey on back-to-back passes. This gave Maryland a 42 yard FG attempt as the half ended.

12) Maryland held the ball for 18+ minutes of the 1st half.

13) The Terps had an important defensive series to start the 2nd half. WVU had picked up one 1st down, when Maryland forced a punt. Good defense from Matt Robinson on 3rd and 7.

14) Maryland brought pressure on 1st down on WVU's 2nd series of the 2nd half. Hartsfield exploded through the line, and delivered a blow on Smith causing a 9 yard loss.

15) Ross had a 7 yard gain on 1st down on the Terps 2nd series of the 2nd half. On the next play, he picked up the 1st down. On play-action, Hills would roll out and again find Furstenburg against pressure. Again on play-action, Hills found Leak on the outside for 16 more yards. The O-line was doing a good job opening up passing lanes for Hills. On 2nd and 8 from the WVU 48, it looked like Ross was going to be tackled for loss. He made a man miss and picked up 5. On 3rd and 3 he again got away from tacklers and picked up a 1st down.

16) Maryland's defense came up big again on WVU's 3rd series of the 2nd half. Twine made a play in open space on 2nd down, and on 3rd and 4 McDougle did the same. Forcing that Mountaineers offense into 3 successive punts coming out of half-time was very impressive.

17) The Terps started the 4th Quarter down 24-14, with the ball on their 23 yard line. On 3rd and 7, Hills found Pickett on another swing pass out of the backfield for 21 yards. After getting sacked for a 10 yard loss on the following play, Hills connected with Leak for what should have been another 1st down. Great job from Hills, despite the Leak fumble.

18) After WVU went up 17 with 8 minutes remaining, the Terps came right back on the attack. In 53 seconds, Maryland went 65 yards, with Diggs scoring from 57 yards out making it a 31-21 game. Not only did Maryland score, they scored quickly enough to give themselves a chance.

19) Down 10 with 7:20 left, the Terps needed a defensive stop. Tate obliged with a 2 yard tackle for loss on 1st down. Vellano came up a 2 yard tackle for loss on 2nd down. On 3rd and 14, McDougle broke up a pass on the sidelines and forced the 3 and out. WVU was punting with 5:56 left.

20) Maryland was 7 of 14 on 3rd down.

21) Maryland held WVU to 26 yards on 25 carries.

The Bad:

1) Looking for Diggs on 3rd and 4 on the Terps initial series, Hills throw was off, and Diggs was not beyond the first down marker anyway.

2) On Maryland's first defensive series, the Terps brought the house on 2nd down, but still allowed a pass to the outside for 1st down.

3) The Terps had a 3rd and 4 on their 3rd series when Hills and Maryland was charged with a delay of game. The subsequent attempt from Hills was just thrown up down the field to Dorsey, with little chance of completion.

4) Maryland recovered, but Diggs fumbled a WVU punt late in the 1st Quarter.

5) WVU started their first drive of the 2nd Quarter with the game tied at 14. On 3rd and 4, the Mountaineers gained a first down when Smith and Austin connected for 17 yards, beating Jeremiah Johnson. WVU converted two more 3rd downs on the series.

6) Following WVU taking the 17-14 lead, the Terps offense was forced into a 3 and out.

7) Starting deep in their own territory, Ross fumbled late in the 2nd Quarter. Disaster was averted when Maryland recovered. However, the Terps were forced into another 3 and out, allowing WVU to start a drive in good field position with 3:10 left in the half.

8) Poor offensive series from the Terps to begin their 2nd half. Hills was sacked on 3rd down for a 7 yard loss.

9) With Maryland facing 3rd and 19 in the 3rd Quarter, Hills found Leak over the middle. Leak would have had a chance at the 1st down, but had a bad drop.

10) After Pickett had gained 21 yards on a 3rd down swing pass early in the 4th, Hills was sacked for a 10 yard loss on the following play. Despite that, Hills would hit Leak for a would be 1st down, but Leak put it on the ground and gave the ball back to the Mountaineers.

11) The WVU offense finally picked up on their 4th series of the 2nd half, following the Leak fumble. Still, MD had forced the Mountaineers into a 3rd and 15, when Maryland allowed Austin to score from 35 yards out. Hartsfield was tasked with covering Austin, which is just unfair. This put WVU up 17 with 8 minutes remaining.

12) On 3rd and 3 on the 50 yard line, the Terps were charged with an illegal formation. Backed up to 3rd and 8, Hills was hit and charged with intentional downing. This lost an additional 13 yards.

The Ugly:

1) In the 1st Quarter, Maryland had a 2nd and 5 from the WVU 30 yard line, when Hills was hit in the backfield and fumbled. The fumble was recovered and returned to the house. So, not only did Maryland lose a chance for points of their own, they gave a team with a great offense a defensive TD.

2) On West Virginia's 2nd offensive series, it took the Mountaineers 31 seconds and 2 plays to traverse 78 yards for the score, and a 14-0 lead. Allowing that quick score, eliminated any good thoughts that arose on the Terps first defensive stand.

3) There was blown coverage from the Terrapins, allowing a wide open 24 yard TD pass to Tavon Austin at the end of the 1st half. This put the Mountaineers up 24-14. Jeremiah Johnson just let Austin go, apparently thinking he had Safety help. It should have been drilled in the heads of Johnson and every other Maryland player tasked with defending Austin, that you don't let him go. Ever.

4) Craddock missed a very make-able 42 yard FG attempt as the 1st half ended. With the Terps down 24-14, Maryland could have used the FG for some positive momentum going into the locker-room.

5) Maryland fumbled 5 times today.

[BSLChrisStoner]

After today, I think Maryland has a chance to do some good things the next 4 games (Wake 10/6, @UVA, NCST, @Boston College).

[glenn__davis]

Honestly, that was a pretty darn good game for MD. If not for a few huge mistakes by Marcus Leak (dropped pass on 3rd down, fumble) MD could have been right there. Very encouraging.

Hills definitely has to get better at reading the blitz. That will come.

I can see this team winning 4 ACC games if they play like that. And keep getting the ball into Diggs' hands.

[Mike B]

After today, I think Maryland has a chance to do some good things the next 4 games (Wake 10/6, @UVA, NCST, @Boston College).

All winable games with the possible exception of NC State. I was checking in between innings of the Oriole game today and it seemed like everytime I did Tavon Austin was catching another pass. Hopefully Diggs develops into a similar player.