Wake Forrest 2005 Recap
22 12
Terps Wake Up
By Bob W.
My take on the game:
Overall:
In another bitter disappointment….oh wait, sorry that first line just seems to flow out this year, but I don’t need it today. Maryland wins! Not a pretty game by any means, but a big Atlantic Division victory for the Terps. I must say after embarrassing back to back performances against Clemson and WVU, the Terps Defense stepped up big time yesterday. Wake Forest was leading the league in rushing and Maryland was last in the league in rush defense, but the Maryland D rose to the occasion. Chris Barclay was held to 86 yards and Wake Forest was held to a total of 111. Terps now look to get above .500 next week verse a UVA squad that has been less than impressive so far in 2005.
Game Highlights:
A question I have been asking all year long is where are the turnovers? Remember back a few years ago when we would always force fumbles (Of course ole TA isn’t in the league any more). It just seems like the last few years we have been unable to punish other teams for their mistakes. Well the Terps returned to their old ways when Josh Wilson picked up a Wake Forest fumble and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown to give Maryland the lead at 10-0.
Game Lowlights:
The lowest point of the afternoon was seeing Josh Wilson botch the Wake Forest punt. It was only the second quarter and we weren’t exactly sure if the Terps Defensive line was going to hold out all day. Maryland forced Wake to punt deep in their own end which would have given us excellent field position and given our embattled defense something to thump their chests over. In past weeks it has been a personal foul, or an offsides that has rejuvenated drives that continued on to future points, this week it was a fumble and as the ref pointed to his left I got that here we go again feeling in my stomach. Fortunately the defense again rose to the occasion and Josh Wilson was able to redeem himself on the fumble he returned for a touch down. Not very often do you see the same player in both the highlights and lowlights of the game recaps, but that was just the kind of day it was for Wilson.
Game MVP:
Josh Wilson’s botch cancels out his fumble recovery for a TD. Vernon Davis only had 2 catches for 28 yards (though if Hollenbach had made a good throw Davis would have added a TD to his stat line). The Defense played great, but I hate to give the MVP award to the entire group. So it boils down to Keon Lattimore and Dan Ennis. Lattimore had 15 carries for 76 yards and if he hadn’t stepped out of bounds on his one run, he would have been close to 100. He also had a TD, but in a controversial move I am giving the MVP award to Dan Ennis. Ennis through 4 games has been perfect on the year. Our kicking game was a HUGE question mark coming into the year, but no one could have predicted how well Ennis has handled the situation. The final score was 22-12 and 10 of those points came off of Ennis’s boot, so the D-7 Wake MVP award goes to Dan Ennis. Maryland is now 2-0 when someone other than Vernon Davis steps up, and that in its self says a lot about what we need to do to win games.
Around the ACC:
BC 16 Clemson 13- Linebacker Brian Toal had a 1 yard TD run to give the Eagles their first ACC victory (that’s right, linebacker). The Tigers now fall to 2-2 and have lost back to back games at home and in overtime. Ironically Clemson’s fourth quarter comeback against Maryland was the most lopsided outcome for Clemson in 2005 so far.
Miami 23 Colorado 3- Kyle Wright threw for 264 yards and had 2 TD’s (one rushing one passing) as the Hurricane’s flexed their muscles against the Buffalo’s. After watching this one I vow never to complain about a noon kick off for Maryland again, it looked pretty damn hot under the 12:00 pm South Florida sun.
UNC 31 NC State 24- In the “NO THEY DID-IN” Category, the Tarheels shocked the Wolfpack 31 to 24. UNC has now beaten State 10 times in the last 13 meetings. I no longer feel confident going to Chapel Hill, but on the other hand I feel much better about our trip to Raleigh.
Virginia 38 Duke 7- Marques Hagans threw for four TD’s and the Cav’s rolled over the Dukies in their tune up for the Battle of the Potomac. Duke also had 4 turn overs to aid the Cav’s. Sounds like the Blue Devils need to recruit a new point guard for the football team.
ACC Standings:
Atlantic
FSU 2-0 3-0
BC 1-1 3-1
Maryland 1-1 2-2
Clemson 1-2 2-2
Wake 0-1 1-3
NC St 0-2 1-2
Coastal
VT 3-0 4-0
Virginia 1-0 3-0
GT 1-1 3-1
Miami 1-1 2-1
UNC 1-1 1-2
Duke 0-2 1-3