PLAYERS TO WATCH
–RB Anthony McFarland or ANY running back, for that matter, need to make something happen. McFarland, who was averaging 7.4 yards per carry coming in, was held to 24 yards on eight carries against Michigan State. He or Ty Johnson, who missed the game with a calf injury, need to have a big game this week. Maryland passed for just 74 yards last week and the Terrapins’ bread is always buttered by their power running game.
–LT Derwin Gray and his line-mates had a rough afternoon Saturday with Maryland rushing for 26 total yards against Michigan State’s top-rated run defense and yielding five sacks. An honorable mention all-conference selection last season, Gray got a bad illegal procedure penalty on a fourth-and-one and has struggled recently.
–DE Byron Cowart had a tipped-pass interception he almost turned into a touchdown (before he got Leon Letted and fumbled for a touchback), but it was a rare highlight for a defensive line that got manhandled by Michigan State. The Terps had one tackle for loss all day and gave up 269 yards on the ground.
–Nickel Back Antoine Brooks, Jr., had five solo tackles against the Spartans, and continues to excel in the much-improved Maryland defense. He is averaging 5.7 tackles per game, has two sacks, and always seems to be around the ball.
–K Joseph Petrino, a true freshman, continued his success as the Maryland offense disappeared against the Spartans. He banged home a 33-yard field goal in second quarter, making him 6-for-6 this season. He is also 34-for-34 on PAT attempts.
–P Wade Lees is having his best season as a junior, averaging 41.1 yards per boot. Lees had eight punts for a 45.0-yard average to help Maryland hang around against the Spartans, consistently giving them a long field. He had a career-best 67-yard punt, uncorked a 50-yarder and put three kicks inside the 20.
SERIES HISTORY: Indiana leads Maryland, 4-2, but lost the last meeting last season. Maryland won a wild 42-39 game with third-string QB Max Bortenschlager throwing for four touchdowns and Darnell Savage Jr. setting up a score with an interception and scoring on a blocked punt.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “Kasim (Hill) actually early in the game I thought was playing well. I thought he made some good plays and made some good reads. He had a couple reads later and some opportunities that we missed some plays, which he knows and he was very frustrated with himself on one because we had a guy open and he missed him … But he’s continuing to get better.” — Coach Matt Canada after the Michigan State game.