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Best leads high-powered California attack vs. Maryland

Sep 13, 2008 - 10:01 AM No. 25 California (2-0) at Maryland (1-1), 12:00 pm EDT

COLLEGE PARK, Maryland (Ticker) -- Fresh off its highest-scoring game in five years, 25th-ranked California looks to keep its offense in gear when it heads east to face Maryland on Saturday.

The Golden Bears have scored 102 points in their first two contests, including a 66-3 drubbing of Washington State last week, which established a school record for most points in a Pac-10 Conference game.

The 66 points are the second-most scored in the Jeff Tedford era and the most for the Bears since they put up 70 against Baylor in 2002.

California (2-0) may have found a star in sophomore running back Jahvid Best, who rushed for 200 yards and three touchdown on 14 carries in his first career start against Washington State.

Best, who has gained 311 yards in California's first two games, had TD runs of 80 and 86 yards last week, marking the first time the Bears have had two runs of more than 80 yards in the same contest.

Already this season, the Bears have had three rushing TDs in excess of 80 yards. Shane Vereen ripped off an 81-yard touchdown in a season-opening 38-31 victory over Michigan State.

Maryland (1-1) will need major improvement following last week's 24-14 loss at Middle Tennessee of the Sun Belt Conference. The Terrapins struggled to get past Delaware of the Football Championship Subdivision, 14-7, in their opener.

Unlike California, Maryland's offense has been spotty early in the season, as Chris Turner has completed just 14-of-31 passes and threw three interceptions last week.

However, Da'Rel Scott, also a sophomore, has 320 rushing yards through the first two games. That total is the most in a two-game period by a Terrapin since Josh Allen rushed for a combined 401 yards against Virginia and North Carolina State in November 2003.

Saturday's meeting is the first between the teams.