No. 25 Maryland Defeats Virginia, 41-21
10/6/2001 8:00:00 AM | Football
Oct 6, 2001
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By DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) - Off to their best start in 23 years, the Maryland Terrapins find themselves in a rather unaccustomed spot - alone atop the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Shaun Hill threw for two touchdown passes and Bruce Perry ran for 143 yards and a score as No. 25 Maryland remained unbeaten by defeating Virginia 41-21 Saturday.
The Terrapins let a 24-7 halftime lead dwindle to three points, then pulled away in the fourth quarter to snap a nine-game losing streak against the Cavaliers and emerge as the lone undefeated team in the ACC.
Maryland, which hasn't been to a bowl game since 1990 and last won the league title in 1985, has turned the ACC standings upside down under the guidance of first-year coach Ralph Friedgen.
"I think we won a very, very big game in Maryland football history," said Friedgen, the first football coach to begin his initial season at the school with five straight wins.
"I know our seniors are happy to end the Virginia streak at nine games," Friedgen said. "Regardless of what happens the rest of the season, they can look at that and say they've accomplished something."
That's not all. Maryland (5-0, 3-0) has already matched its victory total of last season, and should move up in the polls after being ranked this week for the first time since 1995.
Asked to describe what it feels like to be 5-0, receiver Guilian Gary said, "I don't really have words for it, because I've never been here."
The Terrapins, long doormats for Virginia and the rest of the ACC, have gained newfound respect within the conference.
"This was certainly the best team we've played this year, and the most physical team we've played," Virginia first-year coach Al Groh said. "I was impressed."
Billy McMullen had 11 catches for 175 yards and a touchdown for Virginia (3-2, 2-1). Backup quarterback Matt Schaub was 20-for-33 for 271 yards and a touchdown, but he threw a costly fourth-quarter interception.
"I thought we were a dumb team today. In the first half we really weren't up to it," Groh said.
After Virginia closed to 24-21 late in the third quarter, Hill capped an 80-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jafar Williams with 13:26 left. Maryland's Tony Okanlawon then returned an interception 34 yards to the Virginia 28, setting up a 6-yard touchdown run by Perry.
That assured Maryland its first win over Virginia since 1991 and its first 5-0 start since 1978.
"This was for first place in the ACC. We knew what was at stake, and we got the job done," Maryland center Melvin Fowler said.
Hill went 22-for-35 for 237 yards and ran for a score. Perry had a career-high eight catches for 51 yards.
"I thought Shaun was tight to start the game," Friedgen said. "But as the game went on, he started to see some things and started to adjust."
The Terrapins scored two touchdowns in a 73-second span to go up by 17 points at halftime. After Hill threw a 53-yard touchdown pass to Gary, Maryland's Curtis Williams blocked a punt and teammate Leroy Ambush recovered the loose ball in the end zone.
Held to 4 yards on five carries over the first 15 minutes, Perry took a pitch and ran 45 yards on the first play of the second quarter to set up a 4-yard touchdown run by Hill.
On its next possession, Maryland benefitted from two 15-yard penalties against the Cavaliers to move 77 yards in 14 plays and take a 10-0 lead on a 25-yard field goal by Nick Novak.
Schaub replaced an ineffective Bryson Spinner in the second quarter and produced a touchdown on his second possession, completing three passes to McMullen in a three-play drive. McMullen made an over-the-shoulder catch and eluded two tacklers en route to a 63-yard score, his eighth TD of the season.
But the Cavaliers would get no closer.
"Winning was something we had to do to turn the corner and start something new here at Maryland," Hill said. "We're on the right track, but we can't let up now."
