COLLEGE PARK -- Four weeks into the season, Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen says the Terrapins are still looking for a foothold - a win to lift a young team mired in turnovers and penalties.
"Something has to happen so these kids can grow," Friedgen said in a media conference call Sunday, a day after three interceptions and two lost fumbles helped give Rutgers a 34-13 victory.
But there was more bad news Sunday when punter Travis Baltz awoke to find his nonkicking foot still badly swollen. Friedgen said Baltz, an All-Atlantic Coast Conference player who was hit after a first-quarter punt, will be out at least two weeks.
Kicker Nick Ferrara is Baltz's likely replacement, although Friedgen said he is concerned about placing too much of a load on the freshman.
After reviewing video of the game, Friedgen said his players didn't give up despite watching a competitive game dissolve into a fourth-quarter rout.
"I still don't see it as lack of effort," Friedgen said. "I thought our defense played really, really well until the end of the game. Their intensity and their execution was remarkable."
Maryland (1-3) held Rutgers (3-1) to 129 yards of total offense through three quarters, its best defensive effort of the season. The Terps appeared to seize momentum with their defense in the third quarter. Trailing 13-10, the Scarlet Knights elected to go for it on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line. Running back Jourdan Brooks was stood up by linebackers Alex Wujciak and Adrian Moten, and lost a yard. Wujciak sprinted 30 yards downfield to celebrate after the play.
But the Terps were slowed by two penalties on the next series and couldn't move the ball. On Maryland's next possession, quarterback Chris Turner fumbled in the end zone, and Rutgers recovered it for a touchdown. Maryland's defense seemed to sag soon afterward, allowing fourth-quarter touchdown runs of 29 and 61 yards by Joe Martinek.
Maryland players said they were fighting their own deflated spirits after the game.
"I was pretty down, to be honest," Turner said. "This was a hard loss for me. It really kind of spiraled out of control in the fourth quarter. We've got to find a way to stay positive. This is as hard as I've had it since I've been here, probably."
One of Turner's interceptions came when he was slammed as he released the ball. His costly fumble came when Maryland blockers couldn't keep Rutgers safety Joe Lefeged out of the backfield and Lefeged hit Turner.
