Keon Lattimore

Keon Lattimore could hardly wait to deliver the news. The Mount St. Joseph junior had scored twice and made an acrobatic tackle at the goal line in the closing seconds of a 46-41 victory in Steubenville, Ohio. Soon after the game, he reached for his cellular telephone and dialed up his brother, Ravens All-Pro linebacker Ray Lewis, to brag about his accomplishments. Lattimore has had plenty to brag about so far. He has scored eight touchdowns and been all over the field as a running back, wide receiver, defensive back and kick returner, leading the Gaels to a 3-1 record.

SAN FRANCISCO -- It didn't take long for Maryland football coach Ralph Friedgen to issue his first mandate for next season. "We're going to raise our game to a whole 'nother level. They'd better bring their `A' game because I'm going to bring mine," Friedgen said after the Terps closed their season with a 21-14 loss to Oregon State in Friday night's Emerald Bowl at AT&T Park. "We're going to get back to where we need to be." What the Terps were for most of the 2007 season, including the last three quarters against the Beavers, was a very inconsistent football team, especially on offense.

COLLEGE PARK -- Maryland running backs coach Phil Zacharias was perusing Sports Illustrated's college football preview edition, which featured the best running backs in the nation. Buried in the small print at the end of the section was Maryland senior Lance Ball's name, but teammate Keon Lattimore - tonight's starter - was nowhere to be found. Zacharias showed the magazine to his players. Villanova@Maryland Tonight, 6:05, 1300 AM, 105.7 FM

Matchup -- Maryland (5-5, 2-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) at Florida State (6-4, 3-4) Time -- Noon Site -- Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Fla. TV -- Chs. 13, 20 Radio -- 1300 AM, 105.7 FM Line -- Florida State by 7 1/2 Series -- Florida State leads 15-2 Last meeting -- Maryland won, 27-24, on Oct. 21, 2006, at Byrd Stadium Maryland offense vs. Florida State defense -- The Terps will have their work cut out running against a Florida State defense...

Matchup -- Maryland (5-5, 2-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) at Florida State (6-4, 3-4) Time -- Noon Site -- Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Fla. TV -- Chs. 13, 20 Radio -- 1300 AM, 105.7 FM Line -- Florida State by 7 1/2 Series -- Florida State leads 15-2 Last meeting -- Maryland won, 27-24, on Oct. 21, 2006, at Byrd Stadium Maryland offense vs. Florida State defense -- The Terps will have their work cut out running against a Florida State defense...

FROSTBURG - Mount St. Joseph's bid to advance to the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament final at Frostburg State University ended in the final minute last night. The No. 11-ranked Gaels, the last entry into the prestigious boys basketball tournament, were downed by St. John Neumann of Philadelphia, 53-48, in the semifinals. The bitter loss came one night after the Gaels had upset defending champion DeMatha. Neumann (20-7) meets Gonzaga (27-7), a 77-42 semifinal winner over Roman Catholic, at 8:15 tonight in the championship game.

WHEATON - Mount St. Joseph's football players proved they were in better physical condition than Good Counsel's last night, but that wasn't enough to earn a win in the opener for both schools. Five Falcons went down with cramps in the second half. Nevertheless, the Gaels doomed themselves with a variety of miscues in a 35-21 loss before an estimated 2,000 at Good Counsel. Mount St. Joe senior quarterback Nick Tanis, who led the state as a junior in passing yards (2,342) and touchdown passes (36)

After Maryland football coach Ralph Friedgen called a pass play on third-and-one in Saturday night's game against Boston College, players marched to the sideline and grumbled about a call that didn't work. The Terrapins settled for a field goal, and the man in charge got an earful. "I thought it was third-and-two," Friedgen said yesterday during his conference call with reporters. "[The Eagles] were in the defense I wanted. We just didn't do a very good job of executing the play. Then I call time out and the kids are [whining]

COLLEGE PARK - There has been so much focus this spring on Maryland's quest to pick a starting quarterback that it has been easy to overlook another position battle that might be just as important, if not more so, for the Terps. Coach Ralph Friedgen still needs to pick a starting running back, too. It won't be an easy decision, and it didn't get any easier yesterday during Maryland's annual spring game, the last time the team will practice until fall camp opens Aug. 9. But Friedgen has already made this much clear: The Terps will run the ball this year, and run it often.

SAN FRANCISCO -- It didn't take long for Maryland football coach Ralph Friedgen to issue his first mandate for next season. "We're going to raise our game to a whole 'nother level. They'd better bring their `A' game because I'm going to bring mine," Friedgen said after the Terps closed their season with a 21-14 loss to Oregon State in Friday night's Emerald Bowl at AT&T Park. "We're going to get back to where we need to be." What the Terps were for most of the 2007 season, including the last three quarters against the Beavers, was a very inconsistent football team, especially on offense.

College Park -- To this point, the high-water mark in Maryland's disappointing football season came on Senior Day at home in a resounding upset of Boston College. After a week in which they rehashed that win from every possible angle, the Terps will find out what they learned and what was gained when they meet Florida State at noon today. The exam will be administered in Tallahassee, Fla., at Doak Campbell Stadium, a test the Terps never have aced. Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen understands the possible pratfall that awaits his team if it dwelt too long on the past.

After Maryland football coach Ralph Friedgen called a pass play on third-and-one in Saturday night's game against Boston College, players marched to the sideline and grumbled about a call that didn't work. The Terrapins settled for a field goal, and the man in charge got an earful. "I thought it was third-and-two," Friedgen said yesterday during his conference call with reporters. "[The Eagles] were in the defense I wanted. We just didn't do a very good job of executing the play. Then I call time out and the kids are [whining]

COLLEGE PARK -- Maryland running backs coach Phil Zacharias was perusing Sports Illustrated's college football preview edition, which featured the best running backs in the nation. Buried in the small print at the end of the section was Maryland senior Lance Ball's name, but teammate Keon Lattimore - tonight's starter - was nowhere to be found. Zacharias showed the magazine to his players. Villanova@Maryland Tonight, 6:05, 1300 AM, 105.7 FM

COLLEGE PARK -- Yesterday was only the first day of fall football practices at Maryland, but time is already running out for Josh Portis to displace Jordan Steffy as the team's top quarterback in 2007. Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said he'd like to name his starting quarterback for the Sept. 1 season opener within "at least a week, maybe a little more." Friedgen shortened a timetable many thought would extend throughout most of the summer, and in doing so left little question as to who's got his vote.

Each time Brady Smith places his left hand on the ground, the Boston College defensive end glances at the white tape on his right hand, where the initials VB and the number 25 are drawn in bold, black magic marker. "I still consider Van Brooks to be one of my teammates, so every time I look down and see it, I want to push that much harder," says Smith, whose 20th-ranked Eagles host No. 21 Maryland today in a key Atlantic Coast Conference football game at Alumni Stadium. "I want to show Van that ... every time I'm on the field, I'm pushing harder, playing harder because of him," says Smith, a 6-foot-2, 285-pound redshirt freshman who starts on the left side.

COLLEGE PARK - There has been so much focus this spring on Maryland's quest to pick a starting quarterback that it has been easy to overlook another position battle that might be just as important, if not more so, for the Terps. Coach Ralph Friedgen still needs to pick a starting running back, too. It won't be an easy decision, and it didn't get any easier yesterday during Maryland's annual spring game, the last time the team will practice until fall camp opens Aug. 9. But Friedgen has already made this much clear: The Terps will run the ball this year, and run it often.

Jazwyn Cowan, a 6-foot-8 junior, scored 12 of his game-high 29 points in the final quarter, including the game-winning basket with four seconds remaining as No. 13 McDonogh upset No. 7 Mount St. Joseph, 60-59, last night in Owings Mills. McDonogh (6-3), which moved up to the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference this season after winning three straight B Conference titles under coach Matt MacMullan, is off to a 2-0 start in league play. The Eagles and Gaels (8-2) battled back and forth all night long, with the biggest lead a 43-37 advantage by McDonogh late in the third period.

Known for its football team in recent years, the Eastern Tech boys basketball team is etching its own mark these days, and nearly pulled off a huge upset in Irvington yesterday. The visiting Mavericks gave Baltimore Catholic League power Mount St. Joseph all it could handle before bowing, 67-61, as J.J. Outlaw led the Gaels with 29 points to overcome 24 points by the Mavs' senior point guard Ricky Benson. Eastern Tech has never been ranked as high in The Sun's top 20 than it was going into last night's game, at No. 11. The Mavericks dropped to 11-2 with the loss - their other loss was to undefeated No. 8 Dulaney - but still may have answered the skeptics.

WHEATON - Mount St. Joseph's football players proved they were in better physical condition than Good Counsel's last night, but that wasn't enough to earn a win in the opener for both schools. Five Falcons went down with cramps in the second half. Nevertheless, the Gaels doomed themselves with a variety of miscues in a 35-21 loss before an estimated 2,000 at Good Counsel. Mount St. Joe senior quarterback Nick Tanis, who led the state as a junior in passing yards (2,342) and touchdown passes (36)

Keon Lattimore could hardly wait to deliver the news. The Mount St. Joseph junior had scored twice and made an acrobatic tackle at the goal line in the closing seconds of a 46-41 victory in Steubenville, Ohio. Soon after the game, he reached for his cellular telephone and dialed up his brother, Ravens All-Pro linebacker Ray Lewis, to brag about his accomplishments. Lattimore has had plenty to brag about so far. He has scored eight touchdowns and been all over the field as a running back, wide receiver, defensive back and kick returner, leading the Gaels to a 3-1 record.