Zolak

FOXBORO, Mass. -- Sometimes you wonder if the doctors who work for professional sports teams actually went to medical school or just drove by one.When it was announced last week that Hugh Millen would reclaim the Patriots' starting quarterback position after a six-week layoff caused by a separated left shoulder, his backup, Scott Zolak, took the news in stride, saying, "I think I'll be back in there again."Scott Zolak is no medical student.Meanwhile, nearly every football fan in New England knew last Sunday morning what the Patriots' medical staff apparently didn't realize until Monday morning -- that Millen's shoulder could not take another solid hit without disintegrating into broken sprockets.

COLLEGE PARK -- Scott Zolak, Maryland's quarterback emeritus, strode into the room, studied the list of recruits and whistled."Outstanding," Zolak said. "It just goes to show what a year will do, and how one group of seniors turned it around."Zolak, of course, is one of those seniors who turned it around, leading Maryland last fall to its first winning season since 1985.The Terps intend to parlay that into even greater success. They took a step in that direction by rounding up 20 highly rated players when the NCAA's period for signing letters of intent started yesterday.

Villanova@Pennsylvania 3:30 p.m. [CN8] Is this the best college football game of the day? Probably not, but it's a Philadelphia Big Five matchup. Will it fit in the Palestra? Quick, name each school's most famous football product. Don't peek. ... Got it yet? Respectively, Howie Long and Chuck Bednarik. By the way, former Maryland quarterback Scott Zolak (right) is the analyst for this game.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Maryland coach Joe Krivak had a quaint way of putting it. He said the last two games against No. 18 Penn State and No. 8 Virginia were "a great opportunity" for the Terps.This was early last week when Maryland was faced with th prospect of having to beat one of its two remaining opponents for its first winning season since Bobby Ross' 1985 team went 9-3."Playing our last two against nationally ranked teams -- that's great opportunity," Krivak had said.Only half of that great opportunity remains.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- This time, it wasn't even close.Usually a Maryland-Penn State game is decided by one big pla -- maybe a missed field-goal try, a fumble, an interception or an incomplete conversion pass that gives Penn State a victory.But yesterday, Maryland committed several mistakes, as No. 21-ranked Penn State defeated the Terps, 24-10, before 83,000 at Beaver Stadium.Where to start?Well, on the Terps' first offensive series, Scott Zolak threw an interception that was returned 74 yards for a touchdown.

COLLEGE PARK -- Despite being the No. 4, No. 4, No. 3 and No. 2 quarterback at the University of Maryland the past four years, Jim Sandwisch did master one technique -- the art of sleeping during team meetings."

Michael GriffinEdgewoodFootballGriffin, a senior, completed nine of 13 passes for 266 yards, a touchdown and a two-point conversion in the Rams' 46-8 win over previously undefeated Elkton. He also rushed for 103 yards on 11 carries.David BazemoreMilford MillFootballBazemore, a senior, recorded his second consecutive 200-yard-plus game, rushing for 202 yards and three touchdowns as the Millers defeated Woodlawn, 36-28.Briana ZolakCentennialVolleyballZolak, a senior, led the Eagles in kills in three, 3-0 wins over River Hill, Mt. Hebron and Hammond.

It seemed like a day when University of Maryland head football coach Joe Krivak was going to make all the right moves. He caught Clemson off guard with the shotgun formation, surprised the Tigers with an end around and burned them with a shuffle pass.The loss ended Maryland's chances to climb into this week's national rankings.The loss also ended the last-minute heroics by the Terps (2-1 overall, 0-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), who had used two late touchdown passes from Scott Zolak to Gene Thomas to win each of the first two games.

COLLEGE PARK -- It has been more a trip into the twilight zone than into the end zone.The University of Maryland's offense has gotten inside the opposition's 30-yard line 13 times but has scored only three touchdowns and three field goals during those opportunities.Two passes have been intercepted, two field-goal attempts missed, two fumbles lost and one fourth-and-one stopped.Why?"We need more repetitions," coach Joe Krivak said at his weekly news conference yesterday, as the Terps (2-1)

POMFRET -- What began as an intense, competitive match ended last night in a rout.Top-ranked Centennial won a grueling, 28-minute first game, then got better as the match went on for a 15-9, 15-9, 15-1 victory over host McDonough for the Class 2A South region title.The Eagles, winners of six state titles, five in the past six years, will play Loch Raven (13-5) Wednesday at 8 p.m. in a state semifinal match at Essex Community College.Centennial, which needed five games to oust McDonough in a Class 3A state semifinal last year, played phenomenal defense, led by senior Briana Zolak.