Bryce Ford will play in his first installment of “The Rivalry” this week.

The No. 3 Terps host Johns Hopkins on Friday, where they’ll seek to snap a two-game skid to unranked opponents in a matchup that has taken place more than any other in Division I lacrosse history.

“Going into this game, records are thrown to the side. It doesn’t matter if you’re winless or undefeated,” the graduate student said. “It doesn’t matter how each team is doing, it’s going to be a great game, and kind of a dog fight going into it.”

The team’s first meeting was in 1924, with the Blue Jays holding a 67-50-1 lead in the series, according to Maryland. The Terps don’t recognize the seven games played before the team became a varsity program, but Johns Hopkins does.

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Coach John Tillman compared the rivalry to Army-Navy clashes, a series he knows well from his time as the Midshipmen’s offensive coordinator from 2002 to 2007. Tillman is 12-9 against Johns Hopkins, but the Blue Jays have taken the last two regular-season bouts.

Goalie Chayse Ierlan dominated Maryland in a 7-5 win last season and saved more than 70 percent of shots on goal. But now that the former All-American has graduated, the Blue Jays have gone from the best defense in the Big Ten to the worst, allowing a goal more per game this season.

Graduate student Luke Staudt started John Hopkins’ first seven games before he was injured and replaced by junior Oran Gelinas, who is 1-4 in the cage. Tillman said the Terps are preparing for both goalies as Staudt is considered day-to-day, according to Inside Lacrosse.

Ford said Johns Hopkins plays a fast style of defense and that the Terps will need to use quick passes to create openings like they did last week when they scored 13 goals. Maryland practices with players all over the field. 

“We’re definitely a positionless offense,” Ford said. “Everyone has that trust that no matter where someone is … there’s no worry about them being there.”

Maryland’s defense, ranked second nationally allowing 7.64 goals per game, is preparing for changes in the Blue Jays’ approach.  

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Tillman said that previous All-American midfielder Matt Collison played more often at attack last week. Former first team All-Big Ten honoree Russell Melendez has missed Johns Hopkins’ conference matchups — all of which it lost by at least three goals — but is also considered day-to-day, according to Inside Lacrosse.

“We are going through hypotheticals, whether it’s anything from personnel to face-off strategies to what they can do on defense,” Tillman said. “You’re doing the best you can, but you also don’t want to overwhelm your kids, too. You’re trying to keep it somewhat consistent to what you’ve done.”

Maryland secures a home game in the Big Ten tournament if it can best its rival. But a loss extends the Terps’ problems against inferior opponents, leaving them in a concerning spot as the regular season closes.

“You want to manage the moment. You don’t want the moment to manage you,” Tillman said.