When he ran through two North Carolina State defenders and scored on a four-yard pass play in the third quarter Saturday, Maryland running back Josh Allen?s rehabilitation process had come full circle.
He had scored a key touchdown in the Terps? 26-20 homecoming win ? his senior homecoming.
“I?m happy for Josh,” junior running back Keon Lattimore said. “When he scored, it wasn?t like it was new to him.”
It was his second receiving score of the year and the 22nd overall touchdown in his Terrapins career ? good for sixth all-time.
“It felt pretty good,” said Allen, who missed the 2005 season with a knee injury. “Everything right now is my last go-round.”
While the Terrapins (5-2) rushed for 165 total yards ? 62 of which from quarterback Sam Hollenbach ? the backfield unit found other ways to get involved in the offense.
Junior tailback Keon Lattimore led the team with three catches for 72 yards, as the passing game also revolved around the talented group.
“It was like high school again,” said Lattimore, who played receiver at Mount St. Joseph.
And the Maryland passing game ? slow to get started this year because of inexperienced receivers ? may lean more heavily on the versatile backs as the ACC season rumbles on.
“We knew if we could outflank them, then the passes would be there,” Lattimore said of a straightforward blitzing North Carolina State defense. “It?s definitely something we?re going to keep in our repertoire.”
Lattimore said that Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen added pass catching to the role of the running backs in the preseason. Now it?s being implemented on the field, and the play of the position will be crucial throughout the rest of the season.
“The running game is definitely going to be key,” Lattimore said. “We?re not going to go away from it.”
In fact, the Terps may lean more on it heading into a big ACC battle with Florida State (4-3), which lost to Boston College, 24-19, Saturday.
“We?re in the right mindset going into the Florida State game next week,” junior running back Lance Ball said. “We just want to keep the momentum that we?ve gotten over the past two weeks going.
Racing terrapins
» Lance Ball led the team with 17 carries and 77 yards, including a two-yard touchdown.
» Fullback Tim Cesa had his first career carry in Saturday?s game, an 11-yard dive play in the second quarter.
» Keon Lattimore?s 107 all-purpose yards included 63 in the first quarter.
