News - 04/24/2004

NCAA - University of Maryland

U. of Maryland Unveils New Football Uniforms

White Tops Red 33-7 In 2004 Terrapin Football Spring Game

Defense dominates on Maryland Day.

Steve Suter and D'Qwell Jackson model the Terrapins' new UnderArmour uniforms, which were unveiled during halftime of the game. COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Terrapin football spring game capped a tremendous Maryland Day and the 2004 spring football season as a crowd of 18,238 was on hand to watch the White Team post a 33-7 victory, and get the first glimpse of the new UnderArmour uniforms that the Terps will don this fall. Defense ruled the day, as the Terps' No. 1 defensive players on the White squad turned a pair of first-half interceptions into scores that set the tone early.

Rising senior safety Chris Kelley picked off a first quarter pass by Joel Statham, returning it to the one yard line to set up a Mario Merrills touchdown run. The score put the White team up 9-0, before a 69-yard interception return by rising junior quarterback Gerrick McPherson staked White to a 16-0 lead in the second quarter.

Sophomore Dan Ennis chipped in a 21-yard field goal to give White a 19-0 halftime advantage.

Both sides' offenses kicked into gear following halftime, with the Red team striking first when Sam Hollenbach found Josh Allen in the flat, who then broke a tackle and scampered into the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown reception, cutting the lead to 19-7 with 6:46 remaining in the third quarter.

Statham, who completed all five of his pass attempts in the second half for 94 yards and two touchdowns, hit Vernon Davis down the sideline for a 27-yard strike to extend the lead to 26-7 with 4:54 left in the third quarter.

Statham would again find Davis - this time over the middle - on the first play of the fourth quarter for a 32-yard touchdown, capping the day's scoring. Davis, a sophomore tight end, totaled three receptions for a team-high 71 yards and two scores.

Defensively, redshirt freshman linebacker Tim Cesa played on both squads and finished with 11 total tackles, including one sack, and recovered his own forced fumble in the end zone. Junior linebacker D'Qwell Jackson made two impressive interceptions, while William Kershaw had six tackles and senior linebacker Jon Condo made five two, including two sacks.

On special teams, junior Jo Jo Walker corralled five kickoffs for 129 yards - an average of 25.8 yards per return - and sophomore Adam Podlesh averaged 43 yards on four punts while Ennis connected on a pair of field goals.

Senior C.J. Brooks, Jackson and former Terp Eric Ogbogu - the star of the "We Must Protect the House" commercial - gave the crowd a first look at Maryland's new uniforms in an on-field halftime ceremony.