Defense Delivers Terrapins a Victory

Maryland 24, Clemson 21

On three occasions in the fourth quarter Saturday, Maryland handed Clemson golden opportunities to tie or take the lead. And each time, the Terrapins' defense stiffened, made critical stops and bailed out their occasionally mistake-prone offense and head coach, whose highly questionable fourth-down decision nearly cost him the game.

Maryland's 24-21 victory over Clemson will breathe new life into a season that looked lifeless after the team's worst September in Coach Ralph Friedgen's nine-year tenure. And it will be remembered for a wild final six minutes that included two turnovers, two missed field goals and Friedgen's eyebrow-raising call to go for it on fourth and inches from his own 29.

"I was working my rosary pretty good," Friedgen said of the game's final minutes. After his team played well for 54 minutes, Friedgen's biggest concern was "that we'd find a way to lose this thing. We tried to."

Only adding to the unpredictable afternoon at Byrd Stadium was the postgame news conference, where Friedgen announced that Da'Rel Scott would likely miss the remainder of the season with a broken left wrist, and where Friedgen's family applauded before and after a news conference in which Friedgen also delivered a blunt message to critics who have questioned his job security.

"I don't worry about what you say or what you write," Friedgen said to a reporter. "I have been at this 41 years. I have won most of my career. If [school officials or fans] don't want me here, I will go somewhere else. I think I am pretty well respected in the profession."

After struggling mightily through the season's first four games, Saturday's victory before 46,243 fans will lessen the criticism of Friedgen, if only for a week. The Terrapins (2-3, 1-0 ACC) have renewed optimism after surviving the game's wild final minutes to rally from behind against Clemson for the second straight year.

"We sure don't make it easy, do we?" Friedgen said.

The bizarre sequence began with 6 minutes 2 seconds remaining, when Maryland held a three-point lead and faced fourth and inches from its own 29. Offensive coordinator James Franklin wanted to go for it. So did the players. So did defensive coordinator Don Brown, who knew his defense was tiring after holding Clemson to two total yards in the third quarter. After wavering, Friedgen obliged.

But Maryland's offense did not get to the line of scrimmage until seven seconds remained on the play clock. Quarterback Chris Turner saw his footing slip and came up inches short on a dive, putting a good Clemson place kicker, Richard Jackson -- who entered the game tied for first nationally in field goals per game -- in range to potentially tie the game.

"Probably was not a smart call," Friedgen said. "I let my emotions get involved instead of my brain."

Fortunately for Friedgen, Maryland's defense responded.

"We drew a line in the sand," Brown said, and the defense pushed the Tigers back a yard on three plays. Jackson's kick sailed through the uprights, but officials granted Maryland a timeout that Friedgen called just before the snap. On his second attempt, Jackson missed wide right.