North Carolina State University Athletics
N.C. State Looks to Rebound Against Maryland
11/6/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 6, 2002
By DOUG FEINBERG AP MegaSports Writer
NC State looks to rebound from its first loss of the season and stay in the hunt for the Atlantic Coast Conference title as it visits Maryland on Saturday.
The 14th-ranked Wolfpack (9-1, 4-1) is coming off a 24-17 loss to Georgia Tech last Saturday that ruined hopes of an undefeated season and a shot at the national championship.
It was the beginning of a tough four-game stretch that includes games at Maryland and Virginia, then a home game against Florida State. The Wolfpack trails the Seminoles by one game in the ACC standings.
"It'll still be eating at us that we could've gone undefeated," said N.C. State receiver Jerricho Cotchery, who had a 19-yard touchdown catch in Saturday's loss. "Once we get back to work, it will eliminate some of those thoughts. Unfortunately, we probably will carry it over to the next game."
N.C. State was held to just 57 yards rushing. Freshman T.A. McLendon, who came into the game averaging 101.6 yards, finished with 49 yards rushing and 56 receiving.
Quarterback Philip Rivers was just 21-for-41 for 277 yards. He was intercepted on the team's final drive.
"We just didn't make the plays we needed to make," said Wolfpack coach Chuck Amato. "We're not going to point our fingers at any one player. We win as a team and we lose as a team."
The Wolfpack has little time to dwell on the loss as they visit a surging Maryland team that has won six straight games. The Terrapins (7-2, 3-1) routed North Carolina 59-7.
Chris Downs ran for 157 yards and four touchdowns in the win.
NC State leads the all-time series 27-26-4, but has lost the last two meetings. Last season, Maryland clinched the ACC title with its 23-19 win over N.C State.
"This will be a very big-hitting football game," said Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen. "I don't know if this is a litmus test, but this will be the best team we've played since Florida State, no doubt about it."
Maryland travels to Clemson next week.
