SIMON ON THE MARYLAND CAREER RECEIVING YARDAGE LISTS
Rank University of Maryland Yards Needed
1. Jermaine Lewis, 1992-95 2.932 1,058
2. Azizuddin Abdur-Ra'oof, 1984-87 1,895 21
3. Geroy Simon, 1993-Present 1,874
MAKING HIS POINT
Geroy Simon's 60-yard rushing touchdown versus Carolina represented the third way he has scored a touchdown in his career. In addition to his eight career touchdown receptions, he also returned a kickoff 94 yards in 1994 against NC State. His touchdown last weekend now gives him 64 total points in his career.
Year Rec.TD KO Return TD Rush TD 2-Pt Conv. Tot Points
1996 1 0 1 1 14
1995 0 0 0 1 2
1994 5 1 0 0 36
1993 2 0 0 0 12
Totals 8 1 1 2 64
THOMAS CONTINUES TO PILE UP TACKLES
Senior Butkus Award candidate Ratcliff Thomas enters the game versus Wake Forest with 392 career tackles. He is currently in fourth place all-time at Maryland and needs eight tackles to become only the fourth player in school history to record 400 or more tackles. After missing the first two games of the 1996 season, Thomas has returned with 45 tackles in four games, an average of over 11 per contest. Thomas is looking to become the first player in school history to lead the Terps in tackles over four consecutive seasons. He is currently in second despite missing the first two games of the season with a separated shoulder.
THOMAS' TACKLES - YEAR BY YEAR
Year UT AT Total Tackles Avg./game
1996 24 21 45 11.3
1995 63 40 103 9.4
1994 82 55 137 12.5
1993 77 30 107 9.7
Total 246 146 392 10.6
TERPS TOP ALL-TIME TACKLERS
Rank Player, Year Tackles To Reach
1. Eric Wilson, 1981-84 481 89
2. Chuck Faucette, 1983-86 466 74
3. Mike Jarmolowich, 1989-92 414 22
4 Ratcliff Thomas, 1993-Pres 392
5. Brad Carr, 1974-77 386
TERPS PENETRATE TOUGH TAR HEEL DEFENSE
Maryland became the first team to score a first quarter touchdown versus North Carolina this season. The Tar Heel defense was ranked as the fourth best in the nation and had allowed only an average of 5.8 points per game. The Tar Heels have pitched two shutouts this season and had held three of its first five opponents without a touchdown. In addition, the Terps became only the second team to rush for more than 100 yards versus the North Carolina rushing defense which had been allowing only 77.6 yards per game.
TERPS BEGIN STRONG ON GROUND
The Terps compiled 88 yards rushing in the first half against UNC last week. The total represents the highest first half rushing mark since Sept. 16, 1995 when the Terps rushed for 124 yards in the first two quarters against WVA. The Terps played 12 games between WVA last year and UNC last Saturday and averaged 31.4 yards rushing in the first half over that span.
1st Half Rush Yards
Previous 12 Games (Avg.) 31.4
UNC 1996 88
Difference 56.6 yards
SUCCEEDING AT FIRST
Geroy Simon's six points on a 60-yard rushing touchdown off of a reverse were the first points the Tar Heels yielded at home in 1996. Clemson and Georgia Tech were unable to score against UNC and were shut out 45-0 and 16-0, respectively. It was also MarylandÕs first touchdown in the first quarter this year. The Terps had previously put a field goal on the board in the first stanza in the season opener against Northern Illinois.
UNDERWOOD CONTINUES TO CARRY THE LOAD
Redshirt junior Brian Underwood rushed for 40 yards on four carries, a 10.0 yards per carry average, versus North Carolina Saturday night in Chapel Hill. Underwood has rushed for a team-high 88 yards in the Terps' last two games and averages 4.3 yards per carry in those two games. Underwood currently leads the Terps in rushing this season with 213 yards. He is averaging a career-high 4.7 yards per carry and a team-leading 35.5 yards per game. Underwood has now rushed for 683 yards in 159 career carries, for a career average of 4.3 yards per carry.
Season Yards Carries RPC
1995 290 73 4.0
1994 180 41 4.4
1996 213 45 4.7
Totals 683 159 4.3
UNDERWOOD'S EMERGENCE BUOYS RUSHING GAME
Redshirt junior Brian Underwood has gained 88 of his 213 rushing yards (41 percent) on the season in the last two weeks. Underwood gained 133 yards versus Northern Illinois and Alabama Birmingham. His 213 rushing yards this season is the second best single season total of his career. He gained a career -high 290 yards in 1995.
UNDERWOOD ADDS TO RUSHING GAME
Opponent Underwood Yds Team Yds Pct. of Rush Yards
Northern Illinois 74 288 26
Alabama Birmingham 59 216 27
Virginia -8 115 0
West Virginia 0 39 0
NC State 48 119 40
North Carolina 40 133 30
Total 213 910 23.4
EDWARDS PUTTING HIS FOOT INTO HIS WORK
Redshirt sophomore Russell Edwards punted for a 40.7 yards per punt average versus North Carolina. It marked the third time in the last four games and fourth time during his career that he had punted for better than a 40 yard average in any single game. Edwards averaged 42.3 yards per punt versus West Virginia in the cold rain of Byrd Stadium on September 16, 1995. He has kicked at least one punt of 40 yards or more in five of his six games this season.
EDWARDS GAME-BY-GAME IN 1996
Opponent Punts Average Long
Northern Illinois 4 37.3 43
Alabama Birmingham 7 36.4 48
Virginia 9 43.0 76
West Virginia 8 42.0 60
NC State 7 30.6 37
North Carolina 9 40.7 53
Totals 44 38.8 76
O'DONNELL KICKOFFS HELPING DEFENSE
Through the first six games of the season, eight of kicker Joe O'Donnell's 17 kickoffs (42 percent) have been unreturnable, allowing the defense to gain a foot hold against its opponent deep in its own territory.
O'DONNELL KICKING UP HIS HEELS
Senior place-kicker Joe O'Donnell, with an 80 percent success rate on his field goals during his three-year career at Maryland, is the most accurate kicker in school history. He has connected on 20 of 25 attempts during his 21-game career in College Park. He became only the eighth kicker in school history to kick 20 or more fields goals during his career as he split the uprights in the third quarter of MarylandÕs game versus Virginia on September 7. He ranks eighth on the all-time list of field goals made while his 25 career attempts rank him 10th all-time.
Rank Player, Years FGM FGA .PCT
1. Joe O'Donnell (1994-Present) 20 25 .800
2. Dan Plocki (1985-88) 47 63 .746
3. Dan DeArmas (1988-91) 32 43 .744
4. Jess Atkinson (1981-84) 60 82 .731
5. Kambiz Behbahani (1970-71) 12 19 .631
6. John Hannigan (1961-62) 22 36 .611
7. Mike Sachko (1975-76) 17 28 .607
8. Dale Castro (1979-80) 27 39 .692
9. Ed Loncar (1976-78) 22 41 .537
10. Steve Mike-Meyer (1972-74) 37 71 .521
SIMON GOES 60 YARDS ON THE GROUND
Senior Geroy Simon's 60-yard touchdown run versus North Carolina was 1) the longest running play of his career; 2) the first rushing touchdown of his career; 3) the longest rushing play by a Maryland player since Mark Mason went 71 yards versus Syracuse on September 14, 1991; 4) the longest Maryland scoring play since Simon returned a kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown versus NC State on November 11, 1994.
MORE ON SIMON'S 60-YARD RUN
Geroy Simon's 60-yard touchdown run ties the longest Maryland score from the line of scrimmage since Scott Milanovich and Jermaine Lewis hooked up for a 60-yd touchdown pass play on Oct. 22, 1994 versus Georgia Tech.
SIMON HAS AT LEAST ONE RECEPTION IN 31 CONSECUTIVE GAMES
Senior Biletnikoff Award candidate Geroy Simon has caught at least one pass in 31 consecutive games and in 35 of 36 career games overall. The only time Simon did not catch a pass was versus Clemson on October 30, 1993. He has caught a pass versus each team in the ACC.
SIMON'S FIRST DOWN RECEPTIONS
Senior wide receiver Geroy Simon continued his extraordinary possession receiving versus North Carolina as both of his catches during the game were long enough for first downs. For the season, Simon has caught 23 passes and 17 have resulted in a first down for the Terps.
Recpts 1st Dns Pct.
vs. Northern Illinois 2 1 .500
vs. UAB 9 7 .778
vs. Virginia 4 3 .750
vs. West Virginia 3 1 .333
vs. NC State 3 3 1.00
vs. North Carolina 2 2 1.00
23 17 .740
SCOTT ALL OVER THE FIELD
Senior safety Chad Scott was all over the field last weekend against UNC. He knocked out Carolina QB Chris Keldorf for several plays on a safety blitz with 3:30 remaining in the third quarter. In that same quarter, he provided a tremendous hit on a Carolina punt return that caused a fumble. Teammate Mancel Johnson eventually recovered the ball, but the officials ruled Johnson's shoulder pads were out of bounds when he came down. Scott returned three punts for 61 yards including a long of 26. Also, he registered his third sack of the season. He totaled seven tackles on the night.
SCOTT HELPING OUT ON DEFENSE AND SPECIAL TEAMS
Senior co-captain Chad Scott is the team leader in kickoff returns with a 21.3 yards per return average on 12 kickoff returns. He averaged a career-high 23.0 yards per return on three returns versus West Virginia. He returned a career-high four kicks for a career-high 84 yards versus Georgia Tech on September 28, 1995.
TERPS TOP ALL-TIME KICK-OFF RETURNERS*
Rank Player, Years No. Yds. Avg.
1. Timmy Quander, 1981-82 28 714 25.5
2. Larry Marshall, 1969-71 65 1,507 23.2
3. Louis Carter, 1972-74 45 1,113 22.2
4. Jermaine Lewis, 1992-95 34 723 21.3
5. Bren Lowery, 1986-89 51 1,091 21.3
6. Chad Scott, 1995-Pres 38 804 21.2
7. K. Covington, 1983-86 75 1,520 21.1
(* Minimum 25 career returns)
SCOTT LOOKING FOR RARE DOUBLE
Senior Chad Scott is looking to become only the sixth player in school history to lead the team in kick-off returns in back-to-back seasons. Keeta Covington (1984-86) is the last player to lead the Terps in kickoff returns in consecutive season as he led the Terps in kickoff return yardage over the course of three consecutive seasons.
CONSECUTIVE YEAR KICKOFF RETURN LEADERS
Player Years
Bob Shemonski 1949-50
Larry Marshall 1970-71
Louis Carter 1973-74
Timmy Quander 1981-82
Keeta Covington 1984-86
THREE THROWS
Russ Edwards became the first Maryland punter to attempt a pass
since Darryl Wright went air born against Miami on Oct. 10, 1987. In all, three
Maryland players were credited with pass attempts versus North Carolina last
weekend. It marked the first time since Sept. 26, 1992 that three different
Terps attempted passes. John Kaleo, Scott Milanovich and Tom Marchese each
attempted passes against Penn State in Mark Duffner's first year at Maryland.
The Terps would have set a school record with four players attempting at least
one pass in a game, but Buddy Rodgers' completion to quarterback Brian Cummings
on a halfback option was called back after a holding penalty.
BUDDY RODGERS: THE NEXT GREAT MARYLAND QB?
Junior tailback/fullback Buddy
Rodgers took to the air for the second time in his career last week against
Carolina. Rodgers completed a halfback option to Cummings and the play would
have gone for more than 30 yards, but the play was called back due to a Maryland
hold. If the play stood it would have resulted in a first down and left the
Terps at the Tar Heels' 16-yard line. Rodgers completed a 32-yard touchdown
strike to Mancel Johnson last year against the Tar Heels for his only official
career pass attempt.
CUMMINGS IN THE ALL-TIME COMPLETION PERCENTAGE TOP 10
Quarterback Brian Cummings is currently ranked eighth in pass completion percentage in school history.
Rank .Pct Comp./Att. Player, Years
1. .662 650/982 Scott Milanovich (1992-95)
2. .629 132/210 Frank Reich (1983-84)
3. .590 231-394 Bob Avellini (1972-74)
4. .5882 180-306 Larry Dick (1975, 77)
5. .5881 387-658 Neil OÕDonnell (1987-89)
6. .582 127-218 Dale Betty (1958-60)
6. .571 52-91 Ben Kinard (1973-74)
7. .568 305-537 John Kaleo (1991-92)
8. .554 138-249 Brian Cummings ('94-96)
TERPS VERSUS WAKE FOREST THE LAST 10 YEARS
Maryland boasts a 7-3 record versus
Wake Forest over the last 10 years. The Terps are in the midst of a three-game
winning streak in the series. Maryland has outscored the Deacons 246-171 over
the last decade. The average margin of victory in the TerpsÕ last seven wins in
the series is 13.
1995 Away W, 9-6 1990 Home W, 41-13
1994 Home W, 31-7 1989 Away W, 27-7
1993 Away W, 33-32 1988 Home L, 24-27
1992 Home L, 23-30 1987 Away W, 14-0
1991 Away W, 23-22 1986 Home L, 21-27
DOWN BUT NOT OUT
Senior defensive end and co-captain Al Wallace was carried off the field on a
stretcher late in the fourth quarter against Carolina. X-rays later revealed no
broken bones and Wallace returned to College Park on the teamÕs charter flight
that evening. Team physician Dr. Stan Lavine said the injury is a severe
contusion of the lower back and Wallace is listed as day-to-day. Wallace was
injured while making his eighth and final tackle of the night. Two of his
tackles were recorded as tackle for losses, including a 14-yard loss in which he
stuffed an attempted Carolina reverse. That play is Maryland's longest tackle
for loss on the season.
OVERALL: Maryland leads, 32-11-1
LAST YEAR: Maryland, 9-6
LAST MARYLAND WIN: 1995, 9-6
LAST MARYLAND WIN AT BYRD: 1994, 31-7
Maryland 0 3 6 0 9
Wake Forest 0 3 0 3 6
Passing: Cummings- 20-30-0, 222 yds, 0 TD; Milanovich- 5-12-0, 33 yds
Wake LaRue- 18-34-2, 152 yds, 0 TD
Rushing: Rodgers- 19-47, 1 TD; Cummings- 6-12, 0 TD
Wake Lewis- 19-63, 0 TD; Shaw- 2-9, 0 TD
Receiving: Lewis- 7-87, 0 TD; Johnson- 7-84, 0 TD
Wake Braswell- 9-82, 0 TD; Clark- 2-23, 0 TD
Att: 19,107
MARYLAND WFU
Record 2-4 2-4
Points Scored 87 80
Points Allowed 127 178
Rushing Attempts 230 205
Yard Rushing 637 658
Yards Rushing Per Game 106.2 70.5
Touchdowns Rushing 8 2
Pass Completions 69 108
Pass Attempts 147 212
Passes Had Intercepted 9 7
Touchdown Passes 2 6
Yards Passing 707 1497
Yards Passing Per Game 117.8 249.5
Total Yards 1344 1920
Total Yards Per Game 224 320
First Downs 71 100
First Downs Rushing 35 31
First Downs Passing 34 64
Field Goals 3-5 8-13
Punting 37.9 36.9
QB Sacks By 18 7
Defense
Yards Rushing Allowed 862 1409
Yards Rushing Per Game Allowed 143.7 234.8
Yards Passing Allowed 1080 1354
Yards Passing Per Game Allowed 180.0 225.7
Total Yards Allowed 1942 2763
Total Yards Per Game Allowed 323.7 460.5
First Downs Allowed 98 134
First Downs Allowed Rushing 44 68
First Downs Allowed Passing 50 62
