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Terps blow big lead, fall to Wake Forest
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 runs past Maryland players for the game^^winning touchdown Saturday in overtime, giving Wake Forest a 31^^24 win in a football game in Winston^^Salem, N.C.','pp'))
Wake Forest's Josh Adams (27) runs past Maryland players for the game-winning touchdown Saturday in overtime, giving Wake Forest a 31-24 win in a football game in Winston-Salem, N.C.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Map, News) - Wake Forest needed all 60 minutes of regulation to catch up to Maryland, but only one overtime to finish them off.
Down 24-3, with Maryland threatening to put the game away, Wake Forest cornerback Alphonso Smith picked off Jordan Steffy’s pass in the end zone and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown. The interception sparked a furious comeback by the Demon Deacons, who fought back to tie the game 24-24, before winning it 31-24 in overtime.
With three seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Wake Forest quarterback Riley Skinner completed a five-yard touchdown pass to tight end John Tereshinski in the back of the end zone to tie the game.
In his first game since separating his throwing shoulder two weeks ago, Skinner fought off early struggles to lead his team to victory.
“We just know this guy is a winner,” coach Jim Grobe said about Skinner. “He just finds a way to get it done.”
Josh Adams scored from six yards out in overtime to put Wake Forest ahead for good and finish off the second biggest comeback in Demon Deacon history. Adams rushed 20 times for 91 yards, including 52 in the fourth quarter and overtime.
Maryland dominated the first three quarters, but left the door open for Wake Forest when they could not convert a first-and-goal from the three yard-line.
The game changed on third-and-goal when Smith stepped in front of Steffy’s pass in the end zone and returned it for a school-record 100 yards.
“We always talk about setting the tone,” Smith said. “We just needed someone to set the tone and fortunately it was me.”
The interception was Smith’s second of the year, and the second he returned for a score.
“It definitely changed the momentum,” Steffy said. “(Smith’s) a good player and he jumped (the route).”
On their next possession, the Demon Deacons marched down the field with an 11-play, 82-yard drive that ended with Skinner forcing his way into the end zone for a 1-yard run to close the gap 24-17.
“It’s fun to pull together like that as a team,” Skinner said. “That was the most fired up I’ve seen our offense this season.”
Linebacker Erin Henderson did it all for the Terps Saturday, registering an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, to go along with 12 tackles.
Maryland took advantage of Wake Forest’s early turnovers, using great field position to set up two first-half touchdown runs.
In the first quarter, Henderson stripped the ball from tailback Micah Andrews and recovered the fumble on the Wake Forest 31-yard line.
Steffy led a four-play scoring drive that included a crucial 16-yard completion to LaQuan Williams on third down, and ended with a 12-yard touchdown run by Lance Ball.
Wake Forest threatened on their next position, but came away empty-handed after Kevin Marion dropped a sure touchdown pass from Skinner.
On Wake Forest’s next possession, Henderson intercepted Skinner at the Demon Deacon 26-yard line, giving the Terps excellent field position.
Maryland again capitalized on Wake Forest’s miscue. On first down, Steffy completed a 20-yard pass to tight end Joey Haynos to set up a first-and-goal. Two plays later, fullback Cory Jackson put the Terps ahead 17-3, scoring on a 3-yard run - his first carry of the season.
Tailback Keon Lattimore added a six-yard touchdown run to put Maryland ahead 24-3 in the third quarter. Lattimore finished with 112 yards and a touchdown.
Maryland struggled down the stretch, accumulating only one yard in the fourth quarter and overtime.
The Terps travel to Rutgers next week for the first meeting with the Scarlet Knights since 1942.
dduberstein@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
7:23 AM MST on Sun., Oct. 21, 2007 re: "Terps can't contain Virginia"
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8:21 AM MST on Sun., Sep. 23, 2007
re: "Terps blow big lead, fall to Wake Forest"
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3:28 PM MST on Sat., Sep. 22, 2007
re: "Terps show confidence after West Virginia loss"
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Terp watcher said:
The defensive Turtle's seem to forget a football game is played for 4 quarters. This was a hard lost, but one I hope they build on.
188 agree | 163 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Wow, the Terps must be brimming with confidence this day.
186 agree | 171 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Yep, the more they lose, the more confident they get. Makes sense to me.
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