Dexter McDougle

Throughout the preseason, Nathan Renfro and Brad Craddock were engaged in a heated battle for the Terrapins football team’s starting punter job. And throughout the preseason, the two were dead even.

So even, coach Randy Edsall said, that you could’ve flipped a coin to decide who was going to be out there Saturday against William & Mary.

But Friday night  — less than 24 hours before kickoff — Edsall knew he had to make a decision. So he told special teams coordinator Andre Powell to let Renfro know he would handle the punting duties in the team’s season opener.

“I didn’t want them to go to bed last night wondering what was going to happen,” Edsall said after the Terps’ 7-6 victory over the Tribe. “And boy, he paid off in a big way.”

No kidding. The redshirt freshman boomed four punts for a 53-yard average, and he even launched a 60-yarder in the second quarter.

But his most impressive kick came when it mattered most. With the Terps clinging to a one-point lead and 2:30 remaining on the game clock, Renfro launched a 57-yard punt that was downed on the 1-yard line. It essentially iced the game.

“Nate Renfro was a player who stepped up huge today,” Edsall said. “He had a great day punting, and then on that last punt — you couldn’t have asked for anything better than that.”

Edsall said Renfro struggled some in practice Sunday, but he’s locked up the job nonetheless. Now, though, it’s up to him to continue performing like he did on Saturday.

“Now that Nate put it on film,” Edsall said yesterday, “we expect that out of him all the time. He’s going to be held to a very high standard.”

DIGGS CONTAINED

When the Terps jogged onto the field Saturday to receive the opening kickoff, there was reason for excitement. Stefon Diggs, the Terps’ first five-star recruit since 2005, was back to return the kick.

But there would be no fireworks.

William & Mary kickoff specialist John Carpenter launched the opening kickoff out of the end zone. After the Tribe scored a field goal three minutes later, he did the exact same thing. Diggs never touched the ball.

“If guys are really good return guys, that’s what some teams will do,” Edsall said. “They’ll kick the ball out of the end zone and say, ‘Hey, we’ll give you the ball on the 25-yard line as opposed to giving you a chance to score seven points on that one particular play.’”

Diggs finished the game with just eight touches — two fewer than Edsall said he wanted to give the explosive freshman. He totaled seven yards on two carries, 30 yards on three receptions and 23 yards on three punt returns.

It likely wasn’t the debut Diggs hoped for, but it clearly wasn’t indicative of Digg’s offensive potential.

“He is always talking and motivating the team, and when it is time to make plays he is always there,” running back Justus Pickett said. “Diggs can do it all, but he is really special in the return game. He can make plays happen at any time.”

SECONDARY STRUGGLES

By all accounts, the play of the Terps’ defense Saturday was ultimately what secured a season-opening win over William & Mary. Even as the offense committed four turnovers and gave the Tribe excellent starting field position all afternoon, the Terps’ defense held strong.

It limited William & Mary to just two field goals in the game, both in the first quarter. It held the Tribe to fewer than 230 yards of total offense and forced two turnovers. And it had many of its players — including linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield and defensive lineman Joe Vellano — turn in strong performances.

But one player who did not perform up to expectations was top cornerback Dexter McDougle. The junior committed three costly pass interference penalties in the game, including one that brought William & Mary into the red zone and ultimately led to a field goal.

“Today I think I had some good plays out there, but ultimately I had some fundamental errors,” McDougle said after the game. “Sometimes I’m not paying attention to my keys, trying to make a big play when I should just do my job.”

Edsall blamed those decisions on players being out of position. When they try to make a big play, he said, they tend to stray from what they’re supposed to do when the ball is in the air.

“I think it was a great lesson for our guys,” Edsall said yesterday. “When we talk about eye discipline, talk about fundamentals, talk about technique, talk about doing your job — I think lesson learned after Saturday.”

With the team’s defense focusing on stopping Temple’s powerful rushing attack this weekend, the Terps will likely need their secondary to avoid allowing big plays.

Edsall, though, isn’t concerned.

“I’m not worried about Dexter McDougle at all,” Edsall said Saturday. “Dexter McDougle will bounce back and Dexter McDougle will wind up making a lot of plays for us in our secondary.”

vitale@umdbk.com