Ralph Friedgen has stressed one thing with his quarterback all season: Limiting mistakes. The Maryland football coach has continued to say the success of the Terps? offense would hinge on senior quarterback Sam Hollenbach?s ability to protect the football and play smart.
Hollenbach backed up his coach?s claims Saturday in Maryland?s 26-20 win over N.C. State, which marked just the third game this season in which he did not throw an interception. Hollenbach completed 7 of 9 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown.
“I thought he played a very good game,” Friedgen said. “He did not make any mistakes, and he managed the game very well.”
Hollenbach also demonstrated that he can run the ball. He gained 62 yards on seven carries and was the second-leading rusher on the team.
“I think if Sam made some decisions when to run the ball, if he got that into his game, it would add a whole new dimension,” Friedgen said.
Hollenbach chalked up the performance to being comfortable. He said that comes from a week of good practices.
“It comes out during the week,” Hollenbach said. “For the most part, I felt on rhythm and pretty good.”
Hollenbach?s four-yard touchdown pass to Josh Allen early in the third quarter came after a fumble recovery by the Maryland defense.
“You get a tremendous amount of confidence from getting the job done,” Allen said about converting the turnover. “Sam was patient and threw it at the last minute.”
Hollenbach, who had said earlier this year that he needed to make faster decisions, was only sacked once in the game.
“For Sam just to check down to the running back instead of throwing downfield, it is easy,” said running back Keon Lattimore, who rushed for 35 yards and led the team in receiving with 72 yards on three catches. “It takes a lot of pressure off him.”
Hollenbach is not letting Saturday?s success affect his mentality as the Terps (5-2) prepare for another big Atlantic Coast Conference test this weekend against visiting Florida State (4-3).
“I know I have got to be smarter,” Hollenbach said. “As we have seen so far in the ACC, it has been all over the place. Anybody can beat anybody.”
Sam I am
» Terps QB Sam Hollenbach?s average pass yards per game has dropped off by nearly 70 yards from last season.
» Interceptions were the bane of Hollenbach?s existence in 2005. He threw the ball away 15 times last year. This season, he has only thrown five picks.
» Hollenbach came into this season with negative-35 rushing yards on 80 carries in his career. This year, he had negative-57 yards entering the N.C. State game. He is now 30 yards from having positive rushing yardage in his career.
