The 27-24 final score shows a game that was close between the victorious Terrapins and N.C. State, and the final stats indicate as much. Each team had 21 first downs and committed one turnover. The Wolfpack outgained the Terps by only 13 yards. But judging from the first half time of possession discrepancy, and the key to the Terps’ victory might have been their ability to keep the game tied after 30 minutes.
The Wolfpack enjoyed a stunning 22:11 to 7:49 advantage in first half time of possession, but a fumble deep in their own territory that was converted into six by the Terps helped keep the score knotted at 17 at half.
By keeping the score tied after the first half, during which N.C. State dominated both possession time and total yards – 200 to 131 – the Terps set themselves up to begin anew in the second half.
The Terps only had four second half possessions, but three went for 57 yards or more, and two resulted in points. The Wolfpack also had four second half possessions, and the first went for 70 yards and a touchdown. But the Terps’ defense bore down, and the Wolfpack gained only 47 yards through the last quarter and a half.
They didn’t play their best game on either side of the ball, but soaked in rain the Terps were able to suck it up when they needed to and were more clutch than the Wolfpack in critical moments. It’s these types of games when the box score does little good, when the reasons behind a victory remain buried in the mud rather than the final stat sheet.
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A win is a win is a win. Thankfully, we won this one. This is the type of game that Ralph has been known to throw away in years past. But I guess he’s doing what he always does, keep us interested until the very end and then he crushes our hopes year after year.
And perhaps they should make a little package of their own called the “Wujciak.” The Ravens have a similar QB situation as the Terps in terms of type of QBs. If the Ravens can utilize their athletic QBs athleticism while their start is still in the game then MD should be able to do the same. Portis and Troy Smith are two similar styles (speed and mobility) and should be utilized more in both gameplans while not taking away from the starters.
i was at that ravens game and let me tell you…that play was awesome. cam cameron opened up pandora’s box with calls like that. but seriously, if portis can’t figure out the playbook full of standard plays in 2 years, i don’t think he’s gonna wrap his head around some trickeration like that.
however, portis should be utilized. we’ve seen his talent in spurts, but we’ve barely seen him the past couple weeks. it would be good to see a couple more option plays with portis and scott in the backfield (that is if scott is healthy). that’s a lot of speed for the defense to worry about
Good win this past weekend vs. an potentially dangerous NC State team. We are now ranked and in a good spot to win the ACC! We have found out many good things in this game, including:
-our linebacking corps is very deep
-darell scott is a star at running back who is a gamechanger
-chris turner can make plays and manage a game
-our offensive line can block
yet there are some questions still
-like why dont we blitz more?…our defensive line can not get any pressure, and that puts way too much pressure on our depleted secondary
-why arent we getting the ball to #24, Tyler, who I see as a guy with game changing ability
-and finally how much are plane tickets to tampa bay?
Potentially dangerous? You must be seeing something that I am not. Yes, a win is a win is a win, but we are now a nationally ranked team and barely got by a 2-6 team? I guess 2-6 is now the new “powerhouse” record.
any college team is “potentially dangerous.” just ask michigan about appalachian state. this is was the biggest win of the season because it showed that md can actually beat a team after a big win and with a big game against vt on a thursday nite coming up. And plus, any team without a conference win is going to be dangerous cause they’re dying for that first win
Ok, and under that respect then every team we play is dangerous. So no sense in getting hyped up after beating a 2-6 team. Of course the win was big, but we have to stay level headed on this one. Each game we win is big, and each game after that is going to be bigger. It was a statement game if you want to look at it that way, but with college football, you have to win all your games no matter who it is you play.
Thats exactly right, any college team is dangerous especially an ACC team hungry for its first conference win, yet what I was trying to say was look at how tough the pack have played in their two prior ACC games, they played Boston college in a tight game 38-31, and then ranked Florida State 17-26, so they were potentially dangerous….
I think what really matters though is that Maryland now is in sole possession of first place in the Atlantic, with a big game on national tv against VT on Thursday night. Its time to show the nation what we can do and that its our time!
All arguments aside, I agree with the latter paragraph. Could prove to be one of the bigger wins this program has seen in the past couple of years.
didn’t you just say that each win is big…but then the game after “is going to be bigger.” according to your own theory, this win may be the biggest win in program’s history for a couple years, but then UNC is the biggest…and then Florida State.
I’m not trying to be a jerk, but you kind of contradicted yourself. Go MD though.
Each win is big if you continue to win. College football is unlike most sports in this regard. If longer a win streak, the more each game is going to mean. However, if you lose in the midst of that then the upcoming game is not as highly touted.