A post on one of the many Internet fan message boards proclaims this week as one of the most important for Duke football in 15 years.
That might be overstating just what today's 1:30 home game against Maryland means. Yes, it's important for the Blue Devils (3-3, 1-1 ACC), but Coach David Cutcliffe is keeping things in perspective.
"We are all fighting, scratching and clawing, (and both teams) have something to play for," Cutcliffe said. "Maryland has played well, but they've turned the ball over at inopportune times."
Coach Ralph Friedgen's Terrapins (2-5, 1-3) are reeling after two straight losses, and the key for them will be stopping quarterback Thaddeus Lewis. In his last game, Oct. 10 against N.C. State, Lewis completed 40 of 50 passes for career highs of 459 yards and five touchdowns in Duke's 49-28 victory.
"They are very good," Friedgen said. "I see this guy (Lewis) getting better, better and better. They spread the ball around and do a very good job with their screens and their possession passing game. And we're really going to be tested."
The Blue Devils rank eighth in the nation in passing, and Lewis is having an outstanding senior season (1,601 passing yards, 12 touchdowns). He has career totals of 8,336 yards and a school-record 59 touchdowns.
One danger the Blue Devils face is that they're coming off an open date. The hope is that it didn't slow their momentum.
When asked about bowl prospects, Cutcliffe referenced last season, his first at Duke. "We were 4-3 last season but stumbled late in the season," he said. "We're focused on winning one football game."
Cutcliffe said that the play of the offensive line has been one reason for the Blue Devils success. The line will have its hands full today against a Maryland team that leads the ACC in sacks and is very good at applying pressure.
"If we can protect the passer, we can throw," Cutcliffe said. "They lead the conference in sacks and rightfully so. They are a pressure-oriented defense, and that will be the critical part of this game. Can we protect the quarterback?"
The last time the teams met, in 2004, the Terps rolled 44-21 at Wallace Wade Stadium. This time, the Blue Devils are actually favored.
"The head coach doesn't have us favored," Cutcliffe said. "This is going to be a tough matchup for us."
The Terps have won nine of the past 10 and the past five in a row.
Another facet the Blue Devils worked on since the N.C. State win was shoring up the running game. Running back Jay Hollingsworth, who had been out with an injury, was back at practice this week. Freshman Desmond Scott, whom Cutcliffe had hoped to redshirt, has been getting more and more comfortable as well.
Cutcliffe has talked about balance between the run and the pass, but having Lewis playing so well is a nice luxury.
"I am excited about the challenge," Cutcliffe said of the chance for another ACC victory. "The thing were mostly trying to remember is trying get a little better every day, and that's what it's going to take to become the program we want to become."
jdell@wsjournal.com | 727-4081
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