It didn?t take long for Maryland to be impacted by Josh Portis? season-long suspension for violating the University?s Code of Academic Integrity.
Two hours after the school announced Portis punishment, Maryland felt the first effect of the former high school All-American when Jordan Steffy went down with a right leg cramp midway through the third quarter of a 31-14 victory over Villanova.
But instead of Portis running onto the Byrd Stadium field to take his place, sophomore Chris Turner entered the game before a befuddled crowd of 50,389.
“It?s definitely not helping our football team,” Terps coach Ralph Friedgen said of Portis? absence. “He is a very good player for us. It puts us in a real tough situation at quarterback right now. If we lose another one, we have a real critical situation going on.”
Steffy returned later in the game and scored on a 10-yard touchdown run, and finished with 174 yards and an interception on 19-of-24 passing. Turner threw two interceptions and completed just 4-of-7 passes for 33 yards.
“[Jordan] had a really good game tonight and I?m really proud of him,” junior linebacker Erin Henderson said. “He?s waited a long time for this opportunity and I think he?s going to continue to do a great job for the rest of the year.”
He?ll have to.
Without Portis, it is imperative Steffy remains on the field if Maryland is going to contend for the Atlantic Coast Conference title or qualify for a bowl game for the second consecutive season.
“We?re held to a higher accountability than other students,” Friedgen said. “That just comes with being an athlete. I think in the end, this will all hurt out. But right now, Josh is going through some tough times. We?ll all be there for him.”
Steffy was compassionate toward the man he beat for the starting position.
“Its unfortunate,” Steffy said. “All you can do is wish for the best for him and hope that he continues fighting. He?s a great player, and with him out, it?s going to be tough. But we?re going to fight on.”
Maryland refused to make Portis available to the media.
“Obviously, we are going to get Josh to help us with the scout team, but I don?t know if I can,” Friedgen said.
Friedgen said during Sunday?s media conference the team has added redshirt freshman quarterback Mitch Levine, who graduated in 2006 from Magruder High in Rockville. Levine transferred from George Mason, where he was on a baseball scholarship, this fall.
Steffy?s first series, which featuring many short passes ? the majority in the direction of primary receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey?was designed to build his confidence after he did not complete any of his five passes last season.
“The coaches did a great job of preparing us,” Steffy said. “We knew what to expect offensively. I was surprised when we got out there, I thought there would be something we wouldn?t be ready for. The defense they gave us was exactly what we were preparing for all week.”
With 58 seconds remaining in the first half, Steffy?s throw from the Villanova 16-yard line was intercepted by safety Zach Mariacher in the end zone. It was the Terps? only unsuccessful venture into the red zone.
“I should have threw it on a line,” Steffy said, “and I put a little too much air on it.”
