Final: Maryland 30, Clemson 12

Maryland used a strong rushing performance and clutch defense to defeat Clemson 30-12 Saturday night in Death Valley. The Terrapins rushed for 285 yards while holding the Tigers to field goals anytime they came within striking defense.

Terrapin quarterback Scott McBrien threw three interceptions but passed for two scores and ran for another. Freshman cornerback Justin Miller highlighted the Clemson effort with two interceptions, a forced fumble and a 76-yard kickoff return.

Miller started off the fourth quarter with a leaping interception, his second of the game and seventh of the season. He is one short of the Clemson record set by Robert O’Neal in 1989. The offense gave the ball right back when Charlie Whitehurst’s deep pass was intercepted by Domonique Foxsworth.

Maryland put the game away on McBrien’s 3-yard touchdown run with 8:23 remaining that put the Terps up 30-12.

Defensive end Moe Fountain provided some excitement for Clemson early in the third period when he batted a McBrien pass at the line of scrimmage and then dove to catch the deflection. Fountain’s second interception of the year gave the offense the ball near midfield, but it was unable to capitalize.

Maryland mounted another long drive on its next possession, going 82 yards in 13 plays. The Terrapins punched it in on 3rd-and-goal when Scott McBrien found Jeff Dougan for a 4-yard touchdown pass that stretched the lead to 23-9.

After Wynn Kopp pinned Maryland inside its own 5-yard line and the defense forced a three-and-out, the Tiger offense received the ball in Maryland territory. The Tigers were forced to settle for a 42-yard Aaron Hunt field goal with 29 seconds left in the quarter that made it a 23-12 contest.

On the first play of the second quarter, Clemson quarterback Charlie Whitehurst’s scrambled 20 yards on 3rd-and-17 to the Terrapin 20. The run set up a 29-yard field goal by Aaron Hunt that cut the Maryland lead to 6-3.

After converting on 4th-and-1, Maryland got another big play when McBrien threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Jafar Williams. The extra point gave Marlyand a 13-3 lead with 7:55 remaining in the half.

On the ensuing kickoff, Miller got things going again for the Tigers with a 76-yard return to the Maryland 24-yard line. The offense stalled after three plays, so Clemson settled for another Hunt field, this one from 35 yards, to bring Clemson to within 13-6 with 6:12 left in the period.

Maryland countered with a drive that consumed the rest of the half. The key play came on 3rd-and-11 at the Tiger 27-yard line. McBrien threaded the needle and delivered an 18-yard pass to Steve Suter between three defenders for a first down. The Clemson defense held on three plays and Maryland settled for a short field goal and a 16-6 lead with 33 seconds left.

But the Clemson offense was not through. Whitehurst completed a 17-yard pass to Derek Hamilton and, following a sack and an incompletion, heaved a 42-yard pass that Hamilton brought down at the five-yard line. Hunt then kicked his third field goal of the quarter as time expired to make it a 16-9 lead at halftime.

Maryland used a big third down play to set up a touchdown and take a 6-0 lead over Clemson heading into the second quarter Saturday night at Memorial Stadium. It was the defenses started the game strong, and Justin Miller made his sixth interception of the year in the first quarter to thwart Maryland’s second drive.

But the Terps broke through on their next possession when quarterback Scott McBrien dropped back, avoided a rush of four Tigers that appeared to have him in the backfield and ran 54 yards straight up the middle to the five-yard line. McrBrien threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Derek Miller. The extra point attempt was no good, so the Maryland lead remained 6-0.

Charlie Whitehurst’s stands in the pocket. Bernard Rambertbursts through the hole. Bryant McNeal and Donnel Washington bringdown Bruce Perry.

Justin Miller races for 76 yards on this kickoff return.

Airese Currie tries to track down the deep ball.

Khaleed Vaughan takes down Chris Downs.

Kelvin Morris reaches for Maryland’s Steve Suter.

The defense gangs up on Downs.