James Madison

COLLEGE PARK - -Heading into its third game, Maryland's football team is trying to remain upbeat while facing the sobering truth that it is too young, injured and untested to presume victory over opponents from non-power conferences it once regarded lightly. Just a few weeks ago, Terrapins players privately expressed hope that they could win 10 games and play in a New Year's Day bowl game. Today, the Terps (1-1), who have lost three starters to injuries, have had their bravado tempered by the reality that the team remains a work in progress.

COLLEGE PARK - - The play wasn't designed for Chris Turner to run. But, with Maryland ahead of James Madison by eight points in the second quarter, the quarterback pump-faked and took off for the end zone. Turner's 3-yard score might have came on a busted play - he had no lane to throw - but coaches say they have encouraged the fifth-year player to run more often this season than last. While Turner won't lead the Terps in rushing, coaches want him to keep the defense guessing by presenting at least the threat of a scamper out of the pocket.

COLLEGE PARK - -Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said he is reluctantly imagining his football team without senior cornerback Nolan Carroll, one of the surest tacklers on a defense that has struggled to bring down opposing ball carriers. Carroll, one of four team captains, was operated on after breaking his leg during Saturday night's 38-35 overtime victory over James Madison. Carroll is likely done for the season. Friedgen told reporters Sunday that doctors inserted a screw to stabilize the bone.

COLLEGE PARK -- All night, it seemed, the Maryland Terrapins were in search of relief. Relief from their fans, who craved a win after a lopsided loss to California a week ago. Relief from their coaches, who expected Maryland to rebound against a team from a conference the Terps had long dominated. And relief from a poised, solid James Madison team, which pressured the Terps with quarterback runs and option plays. But relief didn't come until Maryland (1-1), which had lost a 15-point lead, beat the Dukes 38-35 in overtime on a 26-yard field goal by true freshman Nick Ferrara, the third straight conversion of his young career.

COLLEGE PARK - - Oh, did the Maryland Terrapins need this one. An 0-2 start would have been unthinkable. Another loss on the heels of the 52-13 spanking California gave them in their season-opener would have been devastating to this young team. The big man, coach Ralph Friedgen, would not have handled it well. And the rest of the coaches would have made life miserable for the Terps in practice this week. Running stairs? These Terps would have been running mountains. So the Terps went out Saturday night and took out their frustrations on James Madison, the Colonial Athletic Association power that went 12-2 last season and was ranked sixth in the Football Championship Subdivision preseason poll.

James Madison (0-0) at Maryland (0-1) Time: : 6 p.m. TV: : ESPN360.com Radio: : 105.7 FM, 1300 AM Series: : Maryland leads 1-0 Last meeting: : Maryland won, 23-15, at home in 1998 Maryland offense vs. James Madison defense: : Maryland's home opener is also the debut of the modernized Tyser Tower, with luxury suites and new mezzanine seating. The Terps will face a Dukes team that was unbeaten last season in the CAA and ranked sixth in the Football Championship Subdivision preseason poll.

COLLEGE PARK - -As the Maryland football team's charter flight crept home from a 52-13 embarrassment at California early Sunday morning, most of the players slept - some in the aisles, some sprawled across three seats. The position coaches enjoyed no such luxury. They graded their players' performances on video until their laptop batteries gave out. Then they were handed fresh batteries from a video assistant and started anew. The grading procedure - each Terp is scored from "0" to "2" on each play in which they participate, with "1.5" as a passing grade - is part of the meticulous research that Maryland conducts on itself and its opponents before games.

Broadneck junior attacker Meghan Eshleman takes pride in being at her best in the toughest moments. In those times, she wants the ball and wants to make the difference, whether she's scoring or finding a teammate. The No. 3 Bruins took a season-opening loss to Annapolis as a lesson learned, rolling through the regular season with a 13-1 mark that included the Anne Arundel County championship and the inaugural District V championship, when they beat Howard County champ and No. 4 Mount Hebron last week, 11-9.

James Madison 70, Towson 59 - Robert Nwankwo and Rocky Coleman (Walbrook) each scored 13 points for Towson, but James Madison went on a 17-1 second-half run and came away with a victory in Harrisonburg, Va. The Tigers' Jarrel Smith tied the score at 35 early in the second half, but the Dukes' spurt gave them their biggest lead of the game, 52-36, with 12:53 left. Towson closed to 64-59 on a three-pointer by Josh Thornton with 1:31 left, but the Tigers (7-13, 2-6 Colonial Athletic Association)

Junior Hairston scored 16 points and made two free throws with 46 seconds left to lift host Towson over James Madison, 58-57, last night. The Tigers (6-8, 1-1 Colonial Athletic Association) had trailed the Dukes (8-6, 0-2), who won four of their previous five games, most of the night. However, Towson turned up the defensive pressure and Hairston's free throws gave the Tigers their first lead since 15-13 with nine minutes remaining in the first half. With 25 seconds left, a steal by Hairston gave the Tigers the ball.