COLLEGE PARK -- Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen seems not to have firmly decided on a punt returner.
Friedgen first selected sophomore safety Kenny Tate for Saturday's game. But Tate was replaced in the second quarter by Tony Logan and Anthony Wiseman. Tate seemed tentative on whether to catch a punt early in the game and had fumbled a week ago.
Tate returned in the third quarter. He made a good running catch on his second return of the half and drew a 15-yard interference penalty on Middle Tennessee State. Wiseman was also used as a returner in the second half, and Logan had one return for 17 yards.
Logan was originally to return punts this season, but he has been limited by an injured shoulder.
Friedgen probably is nostalgic for last season, when the now-graduated Danny Oquendo handled punt returns. The coach liked Oquendo because he was decisive and rarely fumbled.
Benchmark for Scott
Da'Rel Scott surpassed 100 rushing yards with a 35-yard run early in the third quarter.
He is now tied for fifth among Maryland runners with six 100-yard-plus games.
Despite a pair of fumbles, Scott appeared to regain the open-field form he showed early last season. He injured a shoulder when he was slammed to the turf against California in last season's third game and never completely healed.
Friedgen made an interesting decision Saturday regarding Scott. Scott began the game with six carries for 72 yards, including a touchdown. He seemed to be on a roll.
But Friedgen continued to alternate his running backs, as he has for much of the season. Davin Meggett entered immediately after Scott had run 48 yards for a touchdown.
Meggett was in on Maryland's last series of the game, but coaches said they still had faith in Scott despite the fumbles.
Chism steps up
Sophomore Cameron Chism won the task of replacing cornerback Nolan Carroll, the team captain who broke his leg against James Madison last week.
Chism had the distinction of making Maryland's first interception of the season when he jumped a slant route in the second quarter (he later added a second interception).
Before Chism's play, Maryland had been the only Atlantic Coast Conference school without an interception this season.
Travis Ivey got Maryland's first fumble recovery of the season in the second quarter.
O-line shuffle
Friedgen has been using lots of young players on the offensive line.
On Saturday, the coach opted to start the same group as last week - true freshman Bennett Fulper at left guard, Paul Pinegar at left tackle, Andrew Gonnella at right guard and R.J. Dill at right tackle.
Center Phil Costa is the lone senior on the line.
