Terrapins burned by Demon Deacons in fourth quarter

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Map, News) - If Maryland wants to take something positive from Saturday's 31-24 overtime loss at Wake Forest, the Terrapins should focus on the first three quarters.

The Terps (2-2, 0-1 ACC) dominated Wake Forest for 45 minutes, before squandering a 24-3 lead with 16 minutes remaining to turn what would have been an impressive victory into a devastating defeat.

Wake Forest (2-2, 1-1) scored 28 unanswered points and outgained the Terrapins, 196-1, during the fourth quarter and overtime on its way to the second largest comeback in school history.

It doesn’t get any easier for Maryland, either. The Terrapins travel to Piscataway, N.J, to face 11th-ranked Rutgers (3-0) on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 in front of a national television audience on ABC in the teams’ first meeting since 1942.

Rutgers is led by Heisman Trophy candidate Ray Rice, who has rushed for 440 yards and 8 touchdowns in 3 games.

The Maryland defense entered Saturday's game against Wake Forest ranked first in the ACC in total defense—and played that way for most of the first three quarters. Linebacker Erin Henderson finished with a team-high 12 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. However, the rest of the Terrapins could not sustain Henderson’s high level, as the defense wilted as the game progressed.

"We got tired,” Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said. “We were on the field a long time. It was hot, and some of our inexperience and our mistakes continue to show."

Maryland turned the ball over three times, including an errant pass by quarterback Jordan Steffy that was intercepted in the end zone by defensive back Alphonso Smith, who tied an NCAA record by returning it 100 yards for a touchdown that brought Wake Forest to within 24-10 entering the fourth quarter.

Steffy, who had completed 72.6 percent of his passes prior to Saturday's loss, needs to forget about his performance against Wake Forest, against whom he completed just 11-of-20 passes for 115 yards.

He will need to be at his best against Rutgers, which has dominated its three inferior opponents, outscoring them 138-27.

It will be up to Steffy to stop this team’s plummet and salvage a season that is slowly slipping away.

Steffy found this rhythm against Wake Forest early, as he completed passes to eight different receivers, but Steffy played like the novice, first-year starter he is when it mattered most— in the fourth quarter and overtime.

“It's a long season,” Steffy said. “We're going to work to get better. We're not going to give up on the season; it's too early. We're going to go out and keep fighting.”

dduberstein@baltimoreexaminer.com

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