Questions or comments during the game? E-mail me at zuckermandbk@gmail.com.
4TH QUARTER
8:52 pm
Final score MD 27 W&M 14. Overall a very sloppy win for the Terps and probably one Friedgen is not happy about.
Thanks for joining us, and keep checking the web site for more coverage of Terps football.
8:49 pm
On 4th and 7, a pass is incomplete, virtually ending the game. Hollenbach is now into the game, and will take a knee.
8:46 pm
William & Mary is at the Terp 30 yard line. The defense’s first string is back into the game. But Steffy is on the edge of the sideline next to Friedgen while Hollenbach is backed up with a baseball cap on. What happens if the Tribe score here?
8:43 pm
Steffy just botched a hand-off to Allen and fumbles at the Terp 44 yard line. Things are getting interesting here. Still about 2 minutes left and the Tribe has two timeouts left.
8:42 pm
Steffy is still in the game. At this point, I would think it’s just so Friedgen can see more from Steffy after he redshirted last season. However, the Terp offense has shown no signs of life since he’s been in the game.
8:39 pm
Well we just may see Hollenbach in the game after all. The Tribe completes a 49 yard pass as second-string CB Kevin Barnes is beat down the sideline. 27-14 Terps with 4:35 to play. Not the type of score you want to see against a team like William & Mary.
8:37 pm
Another quick 3-and-out from Steffy and Co. On 3rd and eight, the quarterback dropped back, delivered a pump fake and threw into double coverage down the right sideline. Poor decision as it was nearly intercepted. Steffy is 0-for-5 now. William & Mary is set to take over just outside the 50-yard line with 5:38 to play.
8:35 pm
Still only three points for the Terps in the second half. Might be cause for a bit of concern from the Terp Nation. Maryland certainly has not looked as good as it did early on in the game.
8:30 pm
Looks like the starters will begin filing out. Steffy is now in to replace Hollenbach, and once again he does not look crisp. His first play – a halfback toss to Allen - was not the greatest. His second play was an underthrown swing pass that fell incomplete. And finally, on the third snap he put the ball away and scrambled for no gain while losing his cleat. It may be safe to say Hollenbach will be starting next week. Terps 27-7 with under 10 to play.
8:19 pm
Maryland stalls as Adam Podlesh booms his second punt of the game – this one inside the five yard line. The students must feel this one’s over as they’re slowly starting to file out of the stadium. Must be more concerned with the keg parties lined up for tonight than whether or not the Terps can tack on some more points.
8:16 pm
Some stats for you:
Rushing yards: MD – 204, W&M – 60
Passing yards: MD – 153, W&M – 115
Total yards: MD – 357, W&M – 175
Turnovers: MD – 3, W&M – 0
3RD QUARTER
8:14 pm
At the end of the third quarter, the Terps lead 27-7 and are driving once again.
8:10 pm
As Hollenbach leads the Terp offense back onto the field, Josh Allen is on the sidelines riding an excericse bike. It’s Allen’s first game in over a year.
8:09 pm
Testudo’s Troops (the student section) is as loud as it’s been all game as William & Mary is set to begin a drive deep in its own territory.
William & Mary quickly quiets the crowd by picking up a first down two plays into the drive. The Tribe pick up a couple more first downs before the drive stalls at the Maryland 45. The Terps are set to take over inside their own 20 while holding a 27-7 lead with under two minutes to play in the 3rd.
7:55 pm
The rain seems to have completely stopped here in College Park. We thought this game could be played in the midst of Tropical Storm Ernesto, but the storm made its way through Maryland yesterday.
7:51 pm
49,763 in attendance here at Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium.
Right on cue, the Terps pound away using the run to drive into William & Mary territory. After 7 straight runs tallying 53 yards, Hollenbach throws incomplete on 3rd and 4. Ennis connects from 25 yards out with 11:13 left in the 3rd. 27-7 Terps.
7:45 pm
The Terps are set to receive the opening kickoff of the second half. It’ll be interesting to see if Steffy comes into the game if the score gets out of hand. He did not look good on his two passes.
The Terps have excelled in the first half by using a steady running attack and the deep ball. They shouldn’t have any problems doing the same in the second half.
HALFTIME
7:28 pm
Aside from that final touchdown, the Terps looked a bit sloppy in the second quarter. Still wondering why Friedgen put Steffy in. Three turnovers for the Terps is something that MUST change by the time this team starts the ACC season.
Some halftime stats:
Rushing yards: MD – 112, W&M – 44
Passing yards: MD – 149, W&M – 79
Total yards: MD – 261, W&M – 123
Turnovers MD – 3 W&M – 0
Ball has two touchdowns and leads the Terps with 49 yards on 10 carries. Hollenbach has 149 passing yards and is 7-for-11. Danny Oquendo leads the team with 3 receptions for 55 yards.
2ND QUARTER
7:22 pm
Hollenbach responds by throwing a 47-yard pass to Isiah Williams. Perfect pass, perfect timing, perfect catch. Ball carries the ball in on the next play for a 3-yard touchdown run. 24-7 Terps with 53 seconds left.
The 47-yard pass was Hollenbach’s third long completion of the game. On all the passes, the youthful receivers have made nice plays to either adjust with the ball in mid-air or to get a first step on the defender.
Good way for Hollenbach to respond to the brief removal from the game.
7:18 pm
William & Mary stalls at midfield, and Hollenbach is coming back into the game for the Terps. You have to wonder what Friedgen’s reason was for taking him out in a 17-7 game.
7:11 pm
Jordan Steffy is now into the game replacing Hollenbach, who does not appear to be hurt on the sidelines. Hollenbach is not standing anywhere near Friedgen.
Steffy’s first pass is underthrown badly, and his second one – a duck – is intercepted. Still unsure whether Hollenbach is hurt or not. He was not playing badly, and led the Terps down the field with ease on two scoring drives.
Will keep you updated on the quarterback situation.
7:04 pm
William & Mary drives down the field at will on the Terp defense, who did not look good for the first time today. A 9 yard pass to a wide open Tribe receiver puts William & Mary on the board. There wasn’t a Terp within 10 feet of the receiver who walked into the end zone.
The Tribe went 56 yards on 9 plays in a drive that didn’t last three minutes. Not a good showing by the defense.
17-7 Terps with about 7 minutes to play. My prediction of 45-6 is now officially wrong.
6:58 pm
After the Maryland defense forces another 3-and-out, the ensuing punt might have been partially blocked. The wobbly ball came down at the Tribe 45-yard line and hit Isaiah Gardner, a cover man for the Terps.
William & Mary easily recovered the loose ball and is back on offense.
6:53 pm
Hollenbach, on 3rd and long, overthrows a wide-open Oquendo in the end zone. Ennis connects on a 39-yard field goal. 17-0 Terps with 12:19 to play in the first half.
Hollenbach can not miss those open receivers. Maybe tonight it won’t matter, but against ACC teams, games are going to be won or lost by those types of plays. Settling for a field goal is never bad, but it is when your quarterback overthrows a receiver that’s got touchdown written all over it.
6:50 pm
Some first quarter stats for you:
Rushing yards: MD – 68, W&M – 23
Passing yards: MD – 101, W&M – 24
Total yards: MD – 169, W&M – 47
Turnovers: MD – 1, W&M – 0
Lattimore leads the Terps with 32 yards rushing on 6 carries. Hollenbach was 4-for-6 for 101 yards. Danny Oquendo has 2 catches for 50 yards.
1ST QUARTER
6:44 pm
Josh Allen makes his first appearance in a game since the 2004 regular season finale against Wake Forest. The senior missed all of last year with multiple injuries in his left knee and had about a year of recovery to get back into game form.
His first run is a 14-yard scamper to the William & Mary 29. Allen cut back to his left after initially starting out right.
The first quarter ends with Maryland driving again and holding a 14-0 lead.
6:40 pm
Lattimore looked excellent on the Terps’ last drive. After missing most of last season with a shoulder injury, the junior had the bulk of the carries on the drive. He showed no signs of hurting, running into defenders and cutting nicely.
If Lattimore stays healthy, the Terps could be very dangerous on the ground this season. Between the power running back in Ball and the crafty Lattimore, opposing defenses could have a tough time (ala Tiki Barber/Ron Dayne).
6:35 pm
Keon Lattimore runs the ball three times and finishes the drive off with a 1-yard touchdown run. Terps 14-0 with 3:56 remaining in the first.
6:31 pm
On third down, Hollenbach, out of the shotgun, avoids a William & Mary player just in time and throws up a 38-yard pass to a diving Oquendo. Maryland is inside the red zone again.
6:23 pm
Hollenbach connects to a wide-open Joey Haynos for a 42 yard gain. Perfect pass from the senior quarterback – something the Terps will need more of this season if they want to get back to a bowl game.
Two plays later, Hollenbach pitches an option to Lance Ball, who waltzes in for a 2 yard touchdown run. Dan Ennis adds the extra point. 7-0 Terps with 8:04 remaining in the first.
6:21 pm
After William & Mary stalls on the Terp 40 yard line, Josh Wilson comes in untouched to block the ensuing punt. Hollenbach and the offense takes over on the Tribe 48 with about 9 minutes left. 0-0 still.
6:18 pm
If the Terps turn the ball over as much as they did last season, they’re going to have problems this year. In 2005, there wasn’t one game when the Terps did not have a turnover. Hollenbach threw 15 interceptions and fumbled quite often. It’s a problem that needs to get fixed.
6:11 pm
After the Terps get the ball to midfield with a couple of runs, Sam Hollenbach threw a 10-yard out pass to Oquendo, who broke a tackle and fumbled after running into his own teammate, tight end Dan Gronkowski while fighting for extra yardage. Oquendo may have been down when he fumbled. The play is reviewed, and it stands as a fumble. Tribe ball.
6:08 pm
The Terp defense forces William & Mary to go 3 and out on its first drive. Sophomore Danny Oquendo looks to be returning punts today.
6:05 pm
The Terps have made their way onto the field, led by senior cornerback Josh Wilson’s leap into Testudo’s Troops. Adrian Moten followed Wilson with a leap of his own into the student section. Might have been a response to The Diamondback’s football columnist Daniel Chiat, who pleaded to see some passion and excitement tonight.
The Terps won the coin toss, choosing to defer. William & Mary will receive.
6:00 pm
Welcome to The Diamondback’s live coverage of the Terps’ 2006 season opener against William & Mary from Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium. We’re about five minutes from kickoff with the Terps about to take the field.
Only about half of the stadium is full right now, but the student section is packed and making noise. The rain has stopped and the gametime temperature is 69 degrees and cloudy, with winds at 7 mph.
5:50 pm
Senior wide receiver Drew Weatherly is not dressed for tonight’s game. He hurt his right foot earlier this week.
Weatherly has missed practice since Wednesday and was on the field during pregame warmups wearing long pants and his jersey over a long-sleeved shirt.
Posted 3:30 pm
The Terps, coming off two straight 5-6 seasons, begin their 2006 campaign tonight against Division I-AA William & Mary at 6:00 at Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium.
The Diamondback will have continuous live updates from the game. As the game progresses, feel free to e-mail me at zuckermandbk@gmail.com with questions.
Pregame Notes:
– The Terps are 68-43-2 all-time in season openers and 3-2 under Friedgen.
– The last two openers have been a little close for comfort with a 23-20 win over Navy last year and a 23-20 win over Northern Illinois two years ago.
– The Terps lost their home opener to Clemson last year 28-24.
– The last time the Terps played a Division I-AA team, they crushed The Citadel 61-0 in 2003.
– The Terps and Tribe haven’t played since 1946 – a 41-7 William & Mary victory. The Tribe lead the all-time series 2-1.
