If you didn’t tune into the ESPN360 feed of today’s Terrapin football game against Duke, you didn’t miss any major revelations.

By this point in the season, we know what the Terps bring to the table. Even with a variety of factors working in their favor, including an off-and-on rain that at times inhibited the Blue Devils’ powerful passing attack, it wasn’t enough to net the Terps their second conference win.

Once again, too many mistakes and an anemic offense doomed the Terps, this time resulting in a disappointing 17-13 loss.

Here’s what else you can take from the Terps’ sixth loss of the season:

1. The Terps tried to use their physical advantages and it ultimately cost them. - The rain had a big factor in the Terps’ abandoning the passing game, but there came a certain point when enough was enough. Pounding diminuitive Caleb Porzel through the rain and mud just wasn’t working. Offensive coordinator James Franklin needed to let his senior quarterback Chris Turner try to make plays with his arm. Sticking him in third down situations because of two poor running plays time and again was a lot to ask. Or how about the call of a quarterback draw on 3rd and 3 midway through the fourth quarter? The Terps definitely had a physical advantage in theory against the Blue Devils, but with the sloppy mess at Wallace Wade Stadium, it just wasn’t working out. “I thought we’d get more out of Porzel. I don’t know if the field was a problem for him or what. I thought he’d give us something, and he really didn’t. We’ve got to make more plays in the throwing game, too.” If Thaddeus Lewis could pass through the rain, why not give Turner a chance to make a few plays down field and do the same?

(more…)

DURHAM, N.C.–Chris Turner’s interception and Tony Logan’s muffed punt return cost the Terps any chance they might have had at a late comeback.

The Terps fall to 2-6 on the year, their worst eight-game start since 1998. 

If it’s even worth mentioning at this point, they need to win their remaining four games to qualify for a bowl game.

We’ll have more later.

Greg Schimmel is The Diamondback’s Terrapin Football beat writer. He can be reached at Schimmeldbk@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Greg_Schimmel

I’m not going to put too much on here, because there will be a full article in Monday’s Diamondback, but in the first game like action for James Padgett and Jordan Williams, the duo looked good.

(more…)

DURHAM, N.C.– A quarter that started very slowly saw some excitement toward the end and we might actually have a watchable football game on our hands.

Duke had another long drive down the field that led to the first score of the half.

Thad Lewis hit Connor Vernon with a pass over Cam Chism deep down the left sideline. Vernon was originally ruled out of bounds at the Terps’ 6 yardline but after a lengthy review he was ruled out at the 1.

Three plays later, tight end Danny Parker made a nice one-handed catch on a play-action pass from Lewis for a 2-yard touchdown that made it 17-6 with 5:35 to play in the quarter.

The Terps responded about a minute later with a 67-yard touchdown on a screen pass from Chris Turner to Davin Meggett.

The screen, called on 3rd and 18, was executed perfectly and it really just came out of nowhere.

The Terps’ first touchdown in two weeks made it 17-13.

We’ll have more after the game.

Greg Schimmel is The Diamondback’s Terrapin Football beat writer. He can be reached at schimmeldbk@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Greg_Schimmel

The No. 1 Terps beat the Tar Heels 4-1, dominating to preserve their undefeated record. The team played through a downpour in Chapel Hill to clinch the top seed in the ACC Tournament.

Check back later for more.

While the Terp basketball team’s schedule annually features a trip to Cameron Indoor Stadium down here in Durham, the Terp football team hasn’t played the Blue Devils since 2004.

The Terps won big that day at Wallace Wade Stadium. The ACC expanded to become a 12-team conference and the teams haven’t met since.

That means the only Terp player to play Duke is 6th-year cornerback Richard Taylor.

But that doesn’t mean a trip to Durham is anything special for these guys. Most of them have been to the triangle region before as trips to North Carolina and N.C. State marked the team’s 2007 schedule. They’ll be back in the area on Nov. 7 for their date with the Wolfpack at nearby Carter-Finley Stadium.

Also, in case you forget, Duke has been so bad for so long, this hasn’t been a match-up anyone has been clamoring to see.

(more…)