Fork Union 14, Maryland 13.

That’s what the scoreboard read. Or should have read. There weren’t scoreboards at this afternoon’s Terp football junior varsity game, in which a bunch of scout team players and a few guys who occasionally play in games for the Terps lost to Fork Union Military Academy, home of several future Division 1 football players and few guys over the age of 19.

It was an ugly affair, to be sure. There were ballboy errors, referees cracking jokes on the sidelines and a number of turnovers. The game featured a running clock until the final few minutes of the fourth quarter, and fans were forced to line the hill next to the Terps’ practice field, where the game was played.

It was very much a high school football game.

Defensive back Anthony Green played quarterback for the first time since the spring game, a result of the Terps’ being unable to use players who are ineligible for regular games (Clay Belton) or redshirting (Danny O’Brien and C.J. Brown) and not wanting to risk injury to players who might be needed in the season’s final four games (Chris Turner and Jamarr Robinson). Green completed 5-of-11 pass attempts for 30 yards and ran seven times for 18 yards. Wide receiver Tony Logan, the Terps’ starting punt returner, also took a few snaps and threw an interception on one of his two passes.

The Terps’ touchdowns were scored by fullback Louis Berman and running back Andrew Braxton, both on the scout team. And, for what its worth, the Fork Union touchdowns were scored by Jahseer Bronson and Adarius Bellamy.

As far as players of relevance go, neither of Maryland’s two recruits on Fork Union played. Linebackers David Mackall and Lorne Goree will join the Terps in January for winter and spring sessions, but for right now both nursed injuries.

The standouts for the Terps were clearly Berman, who would likely be the third-string fullback for the Terps had it not been for knee problems, and linebacker Ryan Donahue, who led the team with nine tackles and has played quite a bit on special teams as a true freshman this year.

Other notables were defensive tackle Justin Anderson and defensive back Eric Franklin, both true freshmen who have debuted for the Terps the past two weeks, and guard Maurice Hampton, the only player with an official start under his belt to play, by my count.

It’s tough to say there was really anything to take out of this game. But I’m sure the players would have liked to get a win, seeing as the varsity squad hasn’t had one in a few weeks.

Still, the players clearly had some fun out there being in the spotlight, of sorts. That attitude was most obvious in Green’s wide grin as he came over for interviews.

“Sorry I’m smiling,” Green said. “I just never been interviewed before.”

ajoseph@umdbk.com

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