Penn St. hits the road vs. 2-1 Terps
After three home games to open the season, Penn State goes on the road for the first time tonight at sold-out Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium.
The No. 12 Nittany Lions (30) welcome the challenge against the explosive Terrapins (2-1) in a Big Ten opener at 8 p.m. (TV-FS1; WEEU-AM/830).
“I love away games,” tight end Pat Freiermuth said. “I treat it with an us against the world mentality. We definitely have to block out the noise. We’re there to do our thing.”
Penn State has dominated the series, which resumed in 2014 when Maryland joined the Big Ten. The Lions are 39-2-1 against the Terps, losing only at Beaver Stadium in 2014 and at College Park in 1961.
The many ties between the programs add spice to tonight’s matchup. Penn State coach James Franklin was a Maryland assistant during two tenures (200004 and 2008-10) and worked with first-year Terps coach Mike Locksley when both were assistants from 2000-02.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Franklin said. “It’s going to be a really good environment. I’ve been in that place for Thursday night games on ESPN. I think it’s going to be a similar environment. We had the fight song playing at practice.”
Maryland opened some eyes in its first two games, trouncing Howard 79-0 and Syracuse 63-20, before falling to Temple 20-17 two weeks ago in Philadelphia.
The Terps use a Spread offense that’s averaging more than 277 rushing yards a game. Anthony McFarland, a sophomore, is their top rusher with 225 yards and five touchdowns, but two others average at least 10 yards a carry.
“Anthony McFarland is a guy who could change the game at any moment,” Franklin said. “They
have a number of running backs that can hurt you. They’re committed to running the ball and are doing a good job with it.”
Josh Jackson, a transfer from Virginia Tech, has taken over at quarterback and has completed 51 percent of his passes for 724 yards and eight touchdowns with two interceptions. Temple sacked him four times.
Penn State’s defense has 11 sacks, but its pass rush was spotty against Buffalo and Pittsburgh.
“That’s important,” Franklin said, “when you’re facing this type of offense and this type of quarterback who can hurt you in multiple ways. He’s played a lot of football and he’s surrounded by a lot of speed and athleticism.”
Maryland has speed and athleticism on defense, too. Defensive end Shaq Smith is a graduate transfer from Clemson who played in every game for the Tigers last season. Linebacker Keandre Jones is a transfer from Ohio State who leads the Terps with 3½ sacks.
“They’re fast and explosive,” Freiermuth said. “They love to make plays and they’re very physical. If we do our thing, we’ll be all right.”
Like Maryland, Penn State scored plenty of points in its first two games, a 79-7 win over Idaho and a 45-13 victory over Buffalo. The Lions, though, struggled to beat Pitt 17-10.
Tonight’s game will serve as a gauge for both teams. Franklin expects the Terps to give Penn State their best shot like most Lions opponents.
“We have gotten to the point as a program that we’re getting people’s best version of themselves,” Franklin said. “I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. People are putting a lot into preparing for us and they’re executing their game plans.
“I know it’s going to be a good game. Our guys are excited about it.”