Terps Break 17 Year Losing Streak in Death Valley |
CLEMSON - Whatever magic Ralph Friedgen holds over Clemson, it was even
strong enough to break a 17-year jinx. No. 19 Maryland rode a bruising rushing attack and a strong defensive effort to its eighth straight victory, .30-12 over Clemson Saturday night before an announced crown of 72,000 at Death Valley. It was the Terrapins' (9-2, 5-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) first win at Memorial Stadium since a 34-31 victory in 1985. It also was Friedgen's sixth straight win against Clemson, the first four as Georgia Tech's offensive coordinator and the last two as the Terps' head coach. "Any time we win, I'm happy," said Friedgen. "It was our ninth win and keeps us in the conference race. We've got to hope and pray that N.C. State finds a way to beat Florida State. Next week will be a big determination as to whether or not we play in a Jan. 1 bowl or some other bowl." Clemson's already sour mood took a dark turn midway through the fourth quarter when defensive tackle Todd McClinton suffered a neck injury and had to be taken off the field on a stretcher. The Tigers' defense was backed up to their own three yard line when Maryland's Bruce Perry ran for no gain on a second-and-goal play. Television replays appeared to show McClinton, who went low in trying to block his man, hit the ground head first, turned a flip and landed on his stomach. He laid motionless for several minutes while being attended to by the Clemson medical staff. Eventually he was strapped onto a stretcher and carted off the field, where he was immediately taken to Oconee Memorial Hospital. The early diagnosis was a sprained neck, and Clemson officials reported McClinton had movement in his legs while on his way to the hospital. "He had a bit of a stinger, which made him have some numbness in his arm," Clemson head coach Tommy Bowden said. "He was moving his legs, but I think they braced his neck and took him for x-rays just as a precautionary measure." The game was played in a cold rain for much of the evening, but the weather did little to dampen the Maryland running game. The Terrapins rushed for 285 yards - 101 by starting tailback Chris Downs - and moved the ball well enough to set up quarterback Scott McBrien for a pair of short scoring passes to his tight ends (1 yard to Derek Miller, 4 yards to Jeff Dugan), and a three-yard scoring run of his own. McBrien also threw a 34-yard scoring pass to Jafar Williams. He finished the night 13-of-23 for 153 yards, overcoming three interceptions in the process. Two of the picks came from freshman Justin Miller, giving him seven for the season, one short of the team record. Meanwhile, Clemson's offense could do very little with the Terrapins' defense. The Tigers (6-5, 4-4) could muster just four Aaron Hunt field goals on the evening, two coming after they started drives in Maryland territory - once at the 42 and the other at the 24. Clemson's running game, which blitzed North Carolina for 256 yards a week ago, was held to just 81 yards on 25 carries Saturday. Tigers' quarterback Charlie Whitehurst, coming off a pair of record-setting performances in his first two career starts, completed just 12-of-26 for 130 yards. His fourth-quarter interception snapped a streak of 108 consecutive passes without a pick. "Maryland brought everyone," Bowden said. "They kept us off balance. They had the weak corner blitz, they brought the free safety, and we couldn't adjust. We tried everything we could... "They put a lot of pressure on us and we just could never get our rhythm offensively." First Quarter Maryland 6, Clemson 0 Scoring Drive: 6 plays, 65 yards in 2:57. Scoring Play: McBrien's 1-yard pass to Miller at 6:15 (kick failed). Key Play: McBrien's 54-yard scramble to the Clemson 5-yard line. Second Quarter Maryland 6, Clemson 3 Scoring Drive: 9 plays, 47 yards in 3:35. Scoring Play: Hunt's 29-yard field goal at 12:56. Key Play: Whitehurst's 20-yard scramble to the Maryland 18 on third-and-18. Maryland 13, Clemson 3 Scoring Drive: 10 plays, 78 yards in 5:01. Scoring Play: McBrien's 34-yard pass to Williams at 7:55. Key Play: Lynch's 3-yard run on fourth-and-1 from CU 37. Maryland 13, Clemson 6 Scoring Drive: 4 plays, 6 yards in 1:43. Scoring Play: Hunt's 34-yard field goal at 6:12. Key Play: Miller's 76-yard kickoff return to the Maryland 24. Maryland 16, Clemson 6 Scoring Drive: 14 plays, 49 yards in 5:39. Scoring Play: Novak's 19-yard field goal at :33. Key Play: McBrien's 18-yard pass to Suter to the Clemson 9 on third-and-11. Maryland 16, Clemson 9 Scoring Drive: 5 plays, 53 yards in :33. Scoring Play: Hunt's 22-yard field goal at :00. Key Play: Whitehurst's 42-yard pass to Hamilton to the Maryland 5 at :03. Third Quarter Maryland 23, Clemson 9 Scoring Drive: 13 plays, 82 yards in 6:02. Scoring Play: McBrien's 4-yard pass to Dugan at 5:13. Key Play: Downs' 28-yard run from the Maryland 19 to the Clemson 47. Maryland 23, Clemson 12 Scoring Drive: 5 plays, 17 yards in 1:43. Scoring Play: Hunt's 42-yard field goal at :29. Key Play: None. Fourth Quarter Maryland 30, Clemson 12 Scoring Drive: 12 plays, 64 yards in 5:36. Scoring Play: McBrien's 3-yard run at 8:23. Key Play: Perry's 24-yard run to the Clemson 17. Team Statistics
POST GAME INTERVIEWS
Tommy Bowden
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Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen
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Clemson OC Brad Scott
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DB Justin Miller
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QB Charlie Whitehurst
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ROV Altroy Bodrick
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MARYLAND CLEMSON
Individual Statistics
Rushing
MARYLAND - Chris Downs 20-101, Bruce Perry 17-69, Scott McBrien 9-67, James Lynch 8-28, Josh Allen 3-19, Bernie Fiddler 1-3, - Team 1-MINUS 2.
CLEMSON - Bernard Rambert 12-43, Derrick Hamilton 2-24, Charlie Whitehurst 8-11, Tye Hill 1-3, Yusef Kelly 2-0.
Passing
MARYLAND - Scott McBrien 13-23-153- 3, Latrez Harrison 0-1-0- 0.
CLEMSON - Charlie Whitehurst 12-26-130- 1.
Receiving
MARYLAND - Jafar Williams 2-49, Latrez Harrison 2-37, Steve Suter 2-24, Bruce Perry 2-18, Jeff Dugan 2-13, Scooter Monroe 1-7, Chris Downs 1-4, Derek Miller 1-1.
CLEMSON - Derrick Hamilton 2-59, Kevin Youngblood 3-25, JJ McKelvey 1-11, Jackie Robinson 1-9, Airese Currie 2-9, Yusef Kelly 1-8, Bernard Rambert 1-6, Tye Hill 1-3.
Attendance - 72,000
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