If Terp fans were worried about what might become of the 2008 season, today gave them the hope that this team still can make things happen as they completely picked apart Eastern Michigan, 51-24.
The Terps had another balanced day on offense with Chris Turner throwing t for 212 yards and two touchdonws for the Terps who moved to 3-1and the scored on nine of their 13 possessions.
After the game Terps Head Coach Ralph Friedgen seemed happy with the results of his team, but knows today is just a warm up for their next two games on the road.
“I would have loved to be 4-0 but maybe you have to learn some things along the way. I see us getting better. I think sometimes my expectations are higher than theirs, I don’t know. To me, you need to practice hard if you want to be good. We are still struggling to get that done and that frustrates me, because if you want to be good you have to work at it. You have to pay the price and hopefully it will start sinking in, but I do think we played better in some areas today. The team that is going to win the whole thing is going to be the team that can’t have a letdown the next 11 or 12 games. You have to win on the road and we haven’t shown that we are capable of doing that, said Friegen. ”
The 51 points were the most Maryland has scored since 2004, and it signaled an emphatic end to the nonconference season. After the game, Friedgen told his players to enjoy the victory for a few hours and quickly turn their focus to next Saturday’s game at No. 23 Clemson
On the other side of the ball Eastern Michigan’s Kyle McMahon, a backup quarterback for EMU, completed 16 of 22 passes for 217 yards in the first half alone. Friedgen called his defense “lethargic,” adding that it often lacked intensity and focus and that there were “a lot of breakdowns with the linebackers.”
While Eastern Michigan made a small run before the half closing the gap to 21-14, the Terps emerged from the tunnel in the second half with an new look on their faces. The Terps just seemed to score at will with 17 points in the fourth quarter to put EMU away for foood.
