Sep 132 min read

Old ACC Foes, Terps, Cavaliers to Clash in Scott Stadium

Maryland celebrating — © Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images

On Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. EST, the Virginia Cavaliers (2-0) will host their former Atlantic Coast Conference foe in the Maryland Terrapins (1-1) at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Va. Virginia is coming off a comeback win over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (1-1, 0-1 ACC) in Winston-Salem, N.C. For Maryland, they are coming off a tough three-point loss to Michigan State (2-0) last weekend.

Battle Between Old Foes

Maryland and Virginia both both played in the ACC from 1954 to 2014, and the respective football teams played for the first time in 1919. Maryland leads the all-time series by a record of 45-32-2. Both teams met last season, resulting in a Maryland 42-14 blowout win. There have been some memorable games between the two teams whose campuses are just 126.5 miles apart. A game that pops into the memories of both teams was a 35-30 victory for the Terps, who joined the Big Ten Conference in 2014, over the then-No. 8-ranked Virginia Cavaliers in a game that saw Maryland running back Mark Mason run 8 yards for the go-ahead touchdown to put Maryland in front. The Terps have the longest win streak between the two teams at 16 from 1972-1987.

Run Hemby Run

Last year redshirt junior running back Roman Hemby ran for 2 rushing touchdowns on just 9 carries. This season he has been Maryland’s lead back thus far getting the bulk of the touches with 26 and rushing for 101 yards and a touchdown. The offense shied away from him last week in the loss only carrying the ball 12 times for just 35 yards. Since Virginia also gave up 141 yards on the ground to Wake Forest this past weekend and two touchdowns the opportunity is there for Hemby to have a big game.

The pass rush for Maryland has to generate sacks. With just 2 sacks in the first two games of the year Maryland has to generate a pass-rush to get back to Virginia quarterback Anthony Colandrea. Colandrea has only been sacked 3 times this season and for the Terps setting a tone early could be important.

Biletnikoff Winner?

Senior wide receiver Malachi Fields was named to the preseason Biletnikoff award Watch List and he has opened up his season with 16 receptions for 248 yards. Last year he caught 7 passes for 70 yards against the Terrapins defense. Maryland’s defense gave up 363 yards through the air from MSU quarterback Aidan Chiles who struggled in Week 1 against FAU. Even if Fields doesn’t put up big numbers (open to your interpretation) he’ll open up different throwing lanes for other receivers.

Graduate student defensive lineman Kameron Butler might not be the most popular pick to have a big game on Sept. 14, but he had 2 tackles for loss last year against Maryland. Adding his veteran experience in his seventh season, one would expect him to have an impact against the Terps.