Virginia gave Maryland a taste of its own medicine Saturday coming back from 14 points down to beat the Terps 18-17. Sophomore Mikell Simpson scored from one yard out with 16 seconds left in the fourth quarter to put Virginia ahead and seal another close victory for the Cavaliers.

A year ago, Maryland (4-3, 1-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) came back from 12 points down in the fourth quarter to beat the Cavaliers (7-1, 4-0 ACC) in Charlottesville, 28-26.

“It was definitely a tough loss,” Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said. “On that last drive it just seemed like things didn’t go our way.”

Simpson had not played in three weeks, but the wide receiver-turned-tailback scored two touchdowns, gaining 119 yards on 16 carries, and adding 13 catches for 152 yards, filling in for starting junior tailback Andrew Pearman. Prior to Saturday’s game Simpson had six touches all year.

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On fourth-and-four from the Terps 14-yard line, Virginia sophomore quarterback Jameel Sewell completed a swing pass to Simpson who appeared to step out of bounds before reaching the first-down marker.

Twice on the last drive the officials went to the booth to review critical plays – both times the replay sided with the Cavaliers.

“You don’t really see anyone overrule too many calls anymore,” Friedgen said. “I watched the replay on the Jumbotron and the receiver looked to be out of bounds to me on the fourth-down play.”

Lance Ball had 72 rushing yards and one touchdown, and Keon Lattimore added 65 yards and a touchdown for the Terps. The duo each scored first-half touchdowns, moving their season total to 17.

On Maryland’s first possession, sophomore Chris Turner led the Terps on a nine-play drive that culminated in a Keon Lattimore touchdown run from three yards out. Two possessions later, Ball took over in the backfield and answered Lattimore, scoring from the one-yard line to put the Terps ahead 14-3.

Starting his second consecutive game, Chris Turner was less-than-stellar for Maryland, completing 13 of 19 passes for 103 yards. Turner took a critical safety in the endzone when defensive tackle Chris Long burst through the offensive line for his second sack of the game to make the score 17-12.

Senior Dre Moore added two sacks for the Terps and junior Erin Henderson led Maryland with 18 tackles, a career-high.

Junior Jaimie Thomas left in the second quarter with a broken leg, leaving the Terps with five healthy offensive linemen out of their original seven-man rotation.

“We faced some more adversity,” Friedgen said. “The kids are giving it everything they’ve got.”

dduberstein@baltimoreexaminer.com