There is no doubt that the Maryland football team has to win Saturday.
The Terps are 4-2 overall (1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) and are two wins away from being bowl eligible for the first time since 2003, but to meet the team?s goal of winning the ACC title, it can?t lose.
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Add to that the fact that Saturday?s game is Maryland?s homecoming and features a dangerous ACC opponent in North Carolina State (3-3, 2-1), and it is going to be a big weekend at Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium.
“They are an outstanding offensive team,” Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said. “They have a big strong physical line.”
Maryland must be wary of the Wolfpack?s running game, but quarterback Daniel Evans (666 yards, 5 TDs) is also a threat in the pocket. Evans has led N.C. State to big wins over Boston College and Florida State.
On defense, Friedgen sees a typically fast and aggressive Wolfpack unit that he has come to know through five career games against coach Chuck Amato.
“I have tremendous respect for Chuck,” Friedgen said. “Both of us are disciplined coaches who work very hard at their job. I think there are a lot of similarities between us.”
Maryland has been consistently working to open up its passing game this season, and N.C. State would be a prime opponent to pick on. The Terps will look to take advantage of the Wolfpack?s man coverage to move the ball vertically Saturday.
“If we get one-on-one coverage, because they want to bring eight men in the box to cut off our running game, then we are definitely going to take a shot at going up top,” Terps running back Keon Lattimore said.
The Terps? wide receivers have the speed and the talent to take advantage of that coverage, according to Lattimore, but another advantage Maryland is looking for will be a mismatch on tight end Joey Haynos.
“They do a lot of man-to-man coverage, and that can do a lot of good things with a linebacker or a safety matching up with a tight end,” Haynos said.
Defensive back Isaiah Gardner succinctly summed up what Friedgen has been saying all season.
“We just need to come out on top and perform at our level and not make mistakes,” he said.
HOMECOMING HOPES
» Maryland and N.C. State have met every year since 1956, with the Wolfpack leading the series, 30-28-4.
» Terps senior quarterback Sam Hollenbach needs a game with no interceptions. He has thrown at least one pick in the last four games.
» The Wolfpack have played homecoming spoiler before, beating Maryland, 13-3, in 2004.
