Wahoo Wire

Photo Courtesy rivals.com

Senior Day did not end fittingly for the Wahoos, as the Terrapins scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to seal a comfortable victory on Saturday. A three game winning streak against the Terps came to an end, helping them improve to 7-3 (4-2 ACC). The Terps had a lot more on the line going into the game, and came out still in position to play for the ACC Championship.

Virginia went into the fourth quarter leading the Terps 23-21, but a pivotal play changed the course of the game. On a third-and-14, an easy interception went through the hands of Virginia linebacker Darnell Carter, and into the arms of wide receiver LaQuan Williams for a 26-yard gain. That Maryland drive was capped off by a 2-yard touchdown run by D.J. Adams, his third of the game.

The following Cavalier drive stalled, and ended with favorable field position for the Terps. Danny O’Brien threw a 2-yard pass to Da’rel Scott, pushing the score to 35-23. Marc Verica went on to throw two interceptions, halting any chance for a Wahoo comeback.

Verica was 25 for 43 for 265 yards, throwing one touchdown and getting intercepted twice.  He was outmatched by his younger freshman rival from Maryland, Danny O’Brien, who went 17 for 28 for 289 yards, finishing with two touchdowns and no interceptions. O’Brien also had a touchdown on the ground.

Keith Payne led the stagnant rushing attack for the ‘Hoos, racking up only 68 yards on 18 carries.

Virginia’s outsider chances at bowl eligibility were eliminated with the loss to Maryland. However, with the team’s sporadic and unbalanced play over the course of the season, bowl eligibility was never really a realistic expectation. The Wahoos are a rebuilding team under a new regime, and that fact should be remembered when trying to gauge the effectiveness of the current season. Maryland’s quick rise back to respectability complicates matters though, proving that some teams can turn fortunes around quicker than others.