NC State
Maryland
Another Maryland Rally Stuns Wolfpack, 26-24
11/22/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 22, 2003
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C.--The Maryland Terrapins are party-poopers once again.
The fairytale ending that NC State was hoping for in quarterback Philip Rivers' last home game at Carter-Finley Stadium blew up in shocking fashion on Saturday night when for the fourth straight year, Maryland staged a dramatic fourth quarter comeback to deny the Wolfpack. Moments after he had missed an extra-point that would have tied the game, Terrapins' kicker Nick Novak booted a 43-yard field goal with just 23 seconds to play, giving the Terps (8-3, 5-2) a 26-24 victory in front of 53,800 stunned fans.
The game-winner was setup by NC State running back T.A. McLendon's fumble at his own 46-yard line with just 1:50 to play.
The wild game ended in controversy when the entire Maryland team, thinking the game was over, spilled onto the field as the Wolfpack (7-5, 4-4) was trying to lateral the football following a completion to McLendon as time expired. After taking a short pass over the middle from Rivers deep in his own territory, McLendon looked to pitch the ball backwards to one of his teammates just as he was going down at the 37. While the ball was being fumbled and kicked around near the NC State 40-yard line, the Terrapins' bench emptied with players and coaches running onto the field and celebrating.
With no sign from the ACC officiating crew that the play had been blown dead, the Wolfpack coaching staff looked for a penalty that would have given the Pack one more play. No flag was thrown and the game ended with players on both sides clashing in a few pushing and shoving matches.
"How can you end a game like that?" asked Wolfpack head coach Chuck Amato. "The ball was still alive."
It was a strange way to end an emotional day that started with Rivers' jersey No. 17 being retired in front of a jacked-up, sell-out crowd.
By the time it was over, however, NC State was feeling d?j? vu as this game closely resembled the previous three against the Terps, who have now posted four consecutive fourth quarter comebacks against the Wolfpack.
"As the game went on, I told our offense on the sideline that this is how it's been every year when we were up," said Rivers, who moved into second place on the all-time NCAA passing list by hitting 16-of-30 for 276 yards. "When it was 14-0, I reminded them that that was the score last year. It's been that way every year and we haven't been able to finish at the end. It's tough, especially for all the seniors going out."
Riding the emotion of the pregame festivities, the Wolfpack used a pair of short touchdown runs from McLendon in the first half to grab a 14-0 advantage. But following a McBrien touchdown pass and a Novak field goal with just five seconds remaining in the half, the comeback Terps trailed by only four at intermission.
It was still 14-10 midway through the third quarter when a crushing block by safety J.J. Jones set up an 83-yard punt return by Tramain Hall to make it 21-10. Following an Adam Kiker field goal with 8:45 remaining, NC State was up 24-10 and the crowd was gearing up for the Philip Rivers sendoff party.
Not so fast.
After tailback Josh Allen picked up 32 of his game high 147 yards to put Maryland into scoring position, McBrien hooked up with receiver J.J. Walker from 10 yards out to get the Terps within seven points with 6:23 left.
Following an NC State punt, the Terps got moving again. Going to the air, McBrien hit Rich Parson for 42 yards down to the State 19. Following a 12-yard run by McBrien and a pass interference penalty on Wolfpack cornerback A.J. Davis in the end zone, the Terps were just two yards away from a potential tying score. And when McBrien crossed the goal line on an option keeper, Maryland was only an extra point away from a 24-24 tie. That's when Novak, an All-ACC kicker, hooked his attempt wide left following a high snap.
"After Nick missed the extra point I told him it's over with, so put it behind you" said Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen. "We need you to get a good kickoff, and we're going to need you to kick a field goal to win the game, so get your composure."
And as his coach promised, Novak would get another chance.
Nursing a one-point lead with just 2:29 left, the Wolfpack turned to McLendon, who ripped off an 18-yard run on first down. But on the very next play, last year's ACC Rookie of the Year coughed the ball up after taking a vicious hit from linebacker Leroy Ambush. And when safety Madieu Williams recovered at the State 46, Maryland was in business. Five plays and one first down later, Novak became the hero instead of the goat.
"We pride ourselves in the fourth quarter, and they outscored us 16-3 in the fourth quarter," Amato said. "The last three years going into this game, they had outscored us 30-7 in the fourth quarter. Add 16 to it...it's 46-10 in the fourth quarter that we've been outscored."
Led by Allen, Maryland rushed for 190 yards and finished with 433 total yards. Held well below its season average, NC State had 374 yards of total offense. Not only did the loss cost NC State a chance at a second place finish in the ACC standings, it threw the Pack's bowl hopes for a loop. While the Peach Bowl in Atlanta may still be a possibility, a return trip to the Gator Bowl is definitely out of the picture.
"I have no idea where we're going," Amato said. "We'll find that out as the week goes on and see who wants us. Whoever gets us is going to get a good football team."
A football team that had its party plans spoiled by another Maryland comeback.
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