Final
Maryland-West Virginia Preview
Sep 14, 2010 - 8:25 PM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior WriterMaryland (2-0) at No. 16 West Virginia (2-0), 12:00 p.m. EDT
After meeting every year from 1980-2007, Maryland and West Virginia are renewing their annual rivalry.
The No. 21 Mountaineers look to win their fifth straight matchup with the Terrapins when these unbeaten teams play Saturday in Morgantown.
"They're 2-0 and we're 2-0," Maryland defensive lineman Drew Gloster said. "There is a good rivalry between us. We are just looking forward to the opportunity to be 3-0."
Maryland has faced West Virginia more than any other non-conference opponent, with the Mountaineers leading the series 23-21-2.
It's clear that this rivalry means plenty to both sides. The teams haven't met since the Mountaineers won 31-14 in 2007, but this contest starts a stretch of at least eight straight matchups since the schools announced Monday they will meet through the 2017 season.
"We gotta get ready for a border war," West Virginia coach Bill Stewart said. "Maryland is back on the schedule."
The Mountaineers haven't lost to the Terps since a 41-7 defeat in the Gator Bowl at the end of the 2003 season, averaging 303.5 rushing yards over the last four meetings under former coach Rich Rodriguez.
The approach should be different this time under Stewart, with a more balanced attack built around the tandem of quarterback Geno Smith and tailback Noel Devine.
While Devine has gained 223 yards on the ground in 2010, Smith has added a new dimension to the offense. He completed 32 of 45 passes for 316 yards - the third-highest total in the last nine seasons for the Mountaineers - in a 24-21 overtime victory at Marshall last Friday.
West Virginia was down 21-6 in the fourth quarter before Smith engineered touchdown drives of 96 and 98 yards.
"I'm always extremely confident in myself," Smith said. "This is something that I've done numerous times throughout high school."
Confidence doesn't seem to be a problem for a Maryland team that has already matched its win total of last year. The Terrapins are trying to move to 3-0 for the first time since starting 7-0 in 2001, coach Ralph Friedgen's first year.
"I think this team has a chance to be very good. I've said that all along," Friedgen said. "And what I see happening is just what I thought."
The Terps are hoping a full week of practice pays off after winning twice in a six-day span, beating Navy 17-14 on Sept. 6 and dominating FCS foe Morgan State 62-3 on Saturday in their home opener.
Maryland is faring better in its second season under defensive coordinator Don Brown, who believes his players are starting to adjust to his aggressive scheme. Sophomore lineman Joe Vellano has 2 1/2 sacks after registering none last year.
Friedgen will continue to employ both Jamarr Robinson and Danny O'Brien at quarterback. Robinson, the starter, threw for two touchdowns last week, and O'Brien had three TDs among his five completions before leaving with an ankle injury that is not expected to cause him to miss action.
"I think it's a good problem to have," tight end Matt Furstenburg said. "If anyone ever gets injured, we know we have someone who is capable of leading this offense. Plus, it leads to great competition, which makes everyone else step their game up."
West Virginia's defense suffered a blow Tuesday when Stewart suspended starting cornerback Brandon Hogan indefinitely after a drunken driving arrest - his second run-in with police in five months.
The senior has 25 career starts and ranks fourth on the team with 11 tackles this season.
The Mountaineers have won 14 straight nonconference home games.
- NCAAF FINAL
1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MARYLAND 0 0 14 3 17
WEST VIRGINIA (21) 14 7 7 3 31 FINAL
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: WEST VIRGI - TD, TAVON AUSTIN 6 YD PASS FROM
GENO SMITH (TYLER BITANCURT
KICK), 2:51. WEST VIRGINIA 7-0
WEST VIRGI - TD, TAVON AUSTIN 5 YD PASS FROM
GENO SMITH (TYLER BITANCURT
KICK), 6:51.
Sep 18 3:27 PM - NCAAF
MARYLAND 17
WEST VIRGINIA (21) 31 0:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Sep 18 3:27 PM - NCAAF
MARYLAND 17
WEST VIRGINIA (21) 31 3:07 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Maryland 17, West Virginia(21) 31 4th - 3:07Sep 18 3:16 PM - NCAAF
MARYLAND 17
WEST VIRGINIA (21) 28 11:59 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Maryland 17, West Virginia(21) 28 4th - 11:59Sep 18 2:58 PM - NCAAF
MARYLAND 14
WEST VIRGINIA (21) 28 0:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Sep 18 2:50 PM
TD MARYLAND TORREY SMITH 80 YD PASS FROM JAMARR ROBINSON (TRAVIS BALTZ KICK)
Maryland 14, West Virginia(21) 28 3rd - 4:07Sep 18 2:31 PM
TD MARYLAND TORREY SMITH 80 YD PASS FROM JAMARR ROBINSON (TRAVIS BALTZ KICK)
Maryland 14, West Virginia(21) 28 3rd - 4:07Sep 18 2:31 PM
TD MARYLAND TORREY SMITH 80 YD PASS FROM JAMARR ROBINSON (TRAVIS BALTZ KICK)
Maryland 14, West Virginia(21) 28 3rd - 4:07Sep 18 2:31 PM- NCAAF
MARYLAND 14
WEST VIRGINIA (21) 28 4:07 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Maryland 14, West Virginia(21) 28 3rd - 4:07Sep 18 2:31 PM
TD MARYLAND TORREY SMITH 60 YD PASS FROM JAMARR ROBINSON (TRAVIS BALTZ KICK)
Maryland 7, West Virginia(21) 28 3rd - 10:25Sep 18 2:08 PM
TD MARYLAND TORREY SMITH 60 YD PASS FROM JAMARR ROBINSON (TRAVIS BALTZ KICK)
Maryland 7, West Virginia(21) 28 3rd - 10:25Sep 18 2:08 PM
TD MARYLAND TORREY SMITH 60 YD PASS FROM JAMARR ROBINSON (TRAVIS BALTZ KICK)
Maryland 7, West Virginia(21) 28 3rd - 10:25Sep 18 2:08 PM- NCAAF
MARYLAND 7
WEST VIRGINIA (21) 28 10:25 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Maryland 7, West Virginia(21) 28 3rd - 10:25Sep 18 2:08 PM
TD WEST VIRGINIA STEDMAN BAILEY 5 YD PASS FROM GENO SMITH (TYLER BITANCURT KICK)
Maryland 0, West Virginia(21) 28 3rd - 12:22Sep 18 2:01 PM
TD WEST VIRGINIA STEDMAN BAILEY 5 YD PASS FROM GENO SMITH (TYLER BITANCURT KICK)
Maryland 0, West Virginia(21) 28 3rd - 12:22Sep 18 2:01 PM
TD WEST VIRGINIA STEDMAN BAILEY 5 YD PASS FROM GENO SMITH (TYLER BITANCURT KICK)
Maryland 0, West Virginia(21) 28 3rd - 12:22Sep 18 2:01 PM- NCAAF
MARYLAND 0
WEST VIRGINIA (21) 28 12:22 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Maryland 0, West Virginia(21) 28 3rd - 12:22Sep 18 2:01 PM - NCAAF
MARYLAND 0
WEST VIRGINIA (21) 21 0:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Sep 18 1:32 PM
TD WEST VIRGINIA STEDMAN BAILEY 26 YD PASS FROM GENO SMITH (TYLER BITANCURT KICK)
Maryland 0, West Virginia(21) 21 2nd - 12:35Sep 18 12:51 PM
TD WEST VIRGINIA STEDMAN BAILEY 26 YD PASS FROM GENO SMITH (TYLER BITANCURT KICK)
Maryland 0, West Virginia(21) 21 2nd - 12:35Sep 18 12:51 PM
TD WEST VIRGINIA STEDMAN BAILEY 26 YD PASS FROM GENO SMITH (TYLER BITANCURT KICK)
Maryland 0, West Virginia(21) 21 2nd - 12:35Sep 18 12:51 PM- NCAAF
MARYLAND 0
WEST VIRGINIA (21) 21 12:35 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Maryland 0, West Virginia(21) 21 2nd - 12:35Sep 18 12:51 PM - NCAAF
MARYLAND 0
WEST VIRGINIA (21) 14 0:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Sep 18 12:43 PM
TD WEST VIRGINIA TAVON AUSTIN 5 YD PASS FROM GENO SMITH (TYLER BITANCURT KICK)
Maryland 0, West Virginia(21) 14 1st - 8:09Sep 18 12:22 PM
TD WEST VIRGINIA TAVON AUSTIN 5 YD PASS FROM GENO SMITH (TYLER BITANCURT KICK)
Maryland 0, West Virginia(21) 14 1st - 8:09Sep 18 12:22 PM
TD WEST VIRGINIA TAVON AUSTIN 5 YD PASS FROM GENO SMITH (TYLER BITANCURT KICK)
Maryland 0, West Virginia(21) 14 1st - 8:09Sep 18 12:22 PM- NCAAF
MARYLAND 0
WEST VIRGINIA (21) 14 8:09 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Maryland 0, West Virginia(21) 14 1st - 8:09Sep 18 12:22 PM
TD WEST VIRGINIA TAVON AUSTIN 6 YD PASS FROM GENO SMITH (JEREMY KASH KICK)
Maryland 0, West Virginia(21) 7 1st - 12:09Sep 18 12:07 PM
TD WEST VIRGINIA TAVON AUSTIN 6 YD PASS FROM GENO SMITH (JEREMY KASH KICK)
Maryland 0, West Virginia(21) 7 1st - 12:09Sep 18 12:07 PM
TD WEST VIRGINIA TAVON AUSTIN 6 YD PASS FROM GENO SMITH (JEREMY KASH KICK)
Maryland 0, West Virginia(21) 7 1st - 12:09Sep 18 12:07 PM- NCAAF
MARYLAND 0
WEST VIRGINIA (21) 7 12:09 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Maryland 0, West Virginia(21) 7 1st - 12:09Sep 18 12:07 PM
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