WASHINGTON – Often over Chinese buffet, East Carolina quarterback Dominique Davis and wide receiver Dwayne Harris tried to talk about anything but football. Yet they are football players, and the subject flooded even their casual conversations.
Endless exchanges about assignments – placement of passes or route running – set the foundation for the most productive quarterback-receiver combination in ECU school history.
“Communication is key,” said Harris, who with 93 catches set a school season reception record and became Conference USA’s most valuable player.
The Pirates are counting on Davis and Harris communicating and connecting Wednesday during the Military Bowl against Maryland at RFK Stadium, just as the Terrapins expect quarterback Danny O’Brien to find wideout Torrey Smith.
Over the past six games, the Maryland tandem has emerged as one of the most electrifying duos in college football. They torched N.C. State in their season finale for 224 yards and four touchdowns.
As the Pirates and Terps meet for the first time, they will draw on the playmaking abilities of these featured offensive weapons.
Here’s a look at what these duos have accomplished this season and why they’ve been so effective:
Pirates’ pride
The combination of Davis and Harris forced first-year offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley to stretch his imagination this season with the Pirates’ spread passing system.
“We opened some things up,” Riley said. “We did some things we hadn’t done before. We found ways to take advantage of their strengths.”
With three-step drops, Davis has run a quick-strike offense that relies on short and intermediate passes. The Pirates are ranked seventh in the nation in passing yards per game (319.3).
Davis, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound junior transfer, set school season records for attempts (552), completions (358), passing yards (3,699) and touchdown passes (36).
It was an extraordinary season for Davis, who after earning the starting job in the fall closed out the regular season as the nation’s leading point producer, responsible for an average of 22.7 points per game. He was named Conference USA’s newcomer of the year and leads the nation with 29.8 completions per game.
“He gets rid of it quickly,” N.C. State defensive coordinator Mike Archer said.
He’s put the football into tight windows, drilling it or lofting it with accuracy.
Davis has been most effective on second down, completing 62.9 percent of his passes for 66 first downs and 14 touchdowns.
Harris enters Wednesday’s contest with a catch in 43 consecutive games – a streak that is the second longest among Football Bowl Subdivision teams.
“He’s a great route runner,” Archer said of Harris. “He catches the ball in a crowd, and he’s tough.”
Davis has found the 6-0, 205-pound receiver for 1,055 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Harris became the school’s all-time career leader in receptions (260) and yards (2,933). While the only receiver in school history with 2,000 career yards, he could reach another plateau Wednesday by becoming the first 3,000-yard receiver.
The Pirates have used Harris across the line of scrimmage, from quarterback to running back to receiver.
“He’s done about everything,” Riley said. “He’s smart, though, he can handle it.”
Against North Carolina, Harris threw a touchdown pass. He’s also been effective without the ball.
“He’s a great blocker,” N.C. State cornerback Brandon Bishop said.
Still, his first job is to catch. Harris pulled in a 76-yard bomb from Davis against Central Florida but is just as comfortable going over the middle for his quarterback.
“Even though he gets me killed sometimes,” Harris said. “It’s cool. I’m willing to take those hits for him. … I want to make him look good, and he wants to make me look good, it’s natural feeling.”
Terps’ threat
Maryland’s O’Brien and Smith combined to set a single-game school record with four touchdown passes against N.C. State in a 38-31 victory.
Over the past four games, the quarterback and receiver have teamed for 28 receptions, 450 yards and five touchdowns.
“They’re both dynamic,” ECU defensive coordinator Brian Mitchell said. “They’re both playmakers.”
O’Brien is only one of five freshmen to start in Maryland school history. He took over as signal-caller against Florida International on Sept. 25 and has excelled.
With patience, employing a five-step drop, the 6-3, 215-pound redshirt freshman has completed 179 of 315 attempts for 2,257 yards and 21 touchdowns. He’s also scored a touchdown rushing and receiving.
He’s 6-3 in his nine starts, owning a passing efficiency rating of 135.2 that is fourth-best in the ACC and fourth-best among all freshmen on FBS teams.
Using a combination of a multiple-receiver and a power running system, Maryland has distributed the football to 12 receivers for touchdowns. None of them, though, is as feared as the 6-1, 205-pound Smith.
“He’s very strong,” Archer said. “A lot of receivers aren’t physical. … When you try to jam him, he’s going to push you. And he’s going to get open.”
The junior receiver has a team-leading 65 receptions for 1,045 yards and 12 TDs.
Those 12 touchdowns catches rank first in the ACC and top Maryland’s season record list.
This season Maryland has produced 76 plays of 20 yards or longer – and scored 18 times on those plays.
Smith, while also known for his explosiveness as a return specialist, has contributed to those spirit-breaking plays, hauling in touchdown receptions of 60, 68, 71 and 80 yards this season.
He’s averaging 16.1 yards per catch. One more touchdown reception Wednesday would move him into fifth place all-time on the ACC season list.
In his six wins as a starter this season, O’Brien has yet to throw an interception. He’s found his man, often times it’s Smith, open downfield.