Maryland football will face storied rival Virginia under the lights in Charlottesville at 8 p.m. on Sept. 14.
Saturday will mark the 80th meeting all time between the two programs, making the Cavaliers the Terps’ most common opponent. Maryland holds a 45-32-2 record against Virginia, most recently a 42-14 win on Sept. 15, 2023.
Maryland opened up their 2023 season 5-0, but now the Terps must respond after a disappointing 27-24 loss against Michigan State on Sept. 7. But first, here three things to look for:
Will Maryland get the running game going?
Maryland managed just 86 rushing yards on 31 attempts against Michigan State, struggling to get it going at any point.
Junior running back Roman Hemby led the team with 35 yards on the ground and redshirt freshman running back Nolan Ray was second with 20.
“Just get back to the basics,” Hemby said of getting the run game going. “Having the mentality that we’re going to out-physical the defense.”
Virginia has allowed 230 rushing yards to Richmond and 165 to and Wake Forest in their first two games.
“So far I’ve seen a lot of their defensive lineman and linebackers step up and they’re jumping off the film,” Hemby said. “I feel like it’s going to be a good battle for us.”
“The goal is to be able to efficiently [pass and run],” head coach Mike Locksley said.
Can Maryland limit the big plays?
Michigan State took the top off of the Maryland secondary multiple times. Not every pass was completed, but the Terps’ defense never looked able to stop it.
“We’ve got to keep the ball in front of us,” Locksley said.
Michigan State freshman receiver Nick Marsh finished with eight receptions, 194 yards and a touchdown a week ago. His longest catch was a 77-yard touchdown to tie the game at 24 in the fourth quarter.
Virginia senior receiver Malachi Fields poses a challenge this week. He had 100 receiving yards against Richmond and 148 against Wake Forest.
“Malachi, their No. 1 receiver, is a threat and their slot guy [Trell Harris, who] transferred in, is another threat,” Locksley said. “The things that jump out for us is in last week’s game the big plays are what the difference in the game was so for us how do we limit the big plays.”
Will Tai Felton eclipse 100 yards?
Fields isn’t the only receiver to go over 100 yards receiving. Maryland senior wideout Tai Felton is the first Terps receiver to post 100 receiving yards in back-to-back games (178, 152) since 2021 when Dontay Demus Jr did it.
A week ago, Virginia allowed Wake Forest receiver Donovan Green to rack up 166 receiving yards and Taylor Morin 91.
“Tai has been one of those guys consistently that’s come through with those plays, and we’re going to need him. We’re going to need his leadership,” Locksley said after the loss to Michigan State.
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox
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Publish date : 2024-09-13 01:05:00
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