Friday, September 17, 2004
Maryland has beaten the Mountaineers four straight times, including three routs.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) -- Maryland's Steve Suter has given West Virginia fits, zigzagging his way to a pair of long punt returns for touchdowns in their last three meetings.
The one play that stands out for him, though, is a hit by Adam "Pac Man" Jones that stopped Suter in his tracks.
"I couldn't eat for a week," Suter said. "My jaw was sore. I couldn't eat nothing."
Now, Jones, is building a reputation as a formidable punt returner, too, and the pair could make the difference for their teams Saturday (Noon, ESPN2) when No. 21 Maryland visits No. 7 West Virginia.
Suter has been one reason the Terrapins (2-0) have beaten West Virginia (2-0) four straight times, including three consecutive blowouts.
On the brink
He needs 35 more return yards to become the ACC's career leader, surpassing the mark of 1,191 yards set by North Carolina State's Ledel George from 1990 to 1993.
Suter, who has never called for a fair catch, holds the school record with six returns for touchdowns and tied the NCAA record for a season with four in 2002.
He's averaging only 8 yards per return this season. But his reputation is well known in Morgantown. Mountaineer coach Rich Rodriguez calls Suter his team's most dangerous threat.
"He's killed us," Rodriguez said. "We've purposely tried to kick away from him at times. We've made the mistake of kicking to him in the last game and he brought it back. We can't let him beat us."
Difference-maker
Until this season, Jones was known mostly for his hard hits. He was the team's sixth-leading tackler as a sophomore last year. In his second career start against Miami, he had an interception, a forced fumble which he then recovered and 12 tackles in the 22-20 loss.
In the season opener against East Carolina, he scored on a 76-yard punt return. He had a 28-yarder last week before getting tripped up by the UCF punter, Jones' last obstacle before the end zone.
Jones ranks second in the nation at 28 yards per punt return. But he hopes the Mountaineers are playing well enough that he won't be counted on to make a difference.
"We've got a good enough team that if we stay focused, it won't come down to just one play in the game," he said.
Perhaps the most nervous players Saturday will be the punters.
Over the past two years, West Virginia often used a rugby-style punt, sending the ball end-over-end and low to the ground in an attempt to limit opponents' return yardage.