Sept. 13, 2003
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By DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Josh Allen opened the game with a 72-yard touchdown
run and Steve Suter scored on a punt return in a 24-point first quarter as
Maryland cruised to its most lopsided win in 49 years, 61-0 over The Citadel on
Saturday night.
Eager to rebound from successive losses to Northern Illinois and Florida
State, the Terrapins (1-2) built a 44-0 halftime lead en route to their biggest
blowout since a 74-13 rout of Missouri in 1954.
The Citadel (1-2), a Division I-AA school, fell to 0-11 against I-A teams
since 1992.
The Terrapins scored more points in the first quarter than they did in their
first two games. By halftime, Maryland outgained the Bulldogs 395-41 and held a
21-2 advantage in first downs.
Scott McBrien, who completed only six passes against Florida State, restored
his shaken confidence with a feel-good performance. The senior went 12-for-20
for 178 yards and ran for a touchdown before watching the second half from the
sideline.
Allen finished with 136 yards rushing on 11 attempts. He had 100 yards with
four minutes elapsed and broke his previous career-high of 119 yards late in
the first quarter.
The sophomore tailback set the tone immediately after the opening kickoff,
following a crushing block by tackle Ryan Flynn to the outside and sprinting
down the left sideline for a score.
The Bulldogs then punted, and Maryland promptly covered 99 yards in a
12-play drive capped by a 7-yard touchdown run by Sammy Maldonado.
Minutes later, the 5-foot-9 Suter caught a punt on his own 25 and shook
several tacklers before breaking away for his fifth career punt return for a
touchdown, making it 21-0 with less than 10 minutes elapsed.
The Terrapins added a 3-yard touchdown run by Maldonado and three field
goals by Nick Novak before McBrien scored on a 1-yard sneak on the final play
of the first half.
Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen pulled his starters before the third quarter,
but the onslaught continued. Novak ended the Terrapins' opening possession of
the second half with a field goal and backup quarterback Orlando Evans threw a
62-yard touchdown pass to Derrick Fenner to make it 54-0.
Maryland's first punt came with 35 seconds left in the third quarter.
