Terps lose again, 13-3

Maryland lost at home for the second straight week to North Carolina State, 13-3 before 52,179. North Carolina State yielded only five first downs and 24 yards passing, and quarterback Jay Davis provided enough offense to help the Wolfpack end a four-game skid against the Terps. N.C. State (4-2, 3-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) permitted only 91 yards of offense, 31 after the Terrapins' first drive. The Wolfpack was winless against Maryland since 1999, blowing a second-half lead in all four games, but the nation's third-ranked defense wouldn't allow that to happen again.

It was the second straight defeat for the Terrapins (3-3, 1-2), who one week earlier managed only 81 yards in a 20-7 loss to Georgia Tech. Maryland had won 13 in a row at home ("We must protect this house") before the two-game skid. Joel Statham went 6-for-11 for 18 yards before being replaced by true freshman Jordan Steffy in the third quarter for the second consecutive week. Steffy completed one of seven passes for six yards.

Maryland gained 61 yards and made four first downs on its first possession, but had 53 yards in total offense and remained stuck on four first downs by the time coach Ralph Friedgen called upon Steffy with the Terrapins trailing 13-0. Steffy's first series resulted in Maryland's seventh straight three-and-out, but he did direct the offense to a first down late in the third quarter -- the only one the Terrapins could muster over the final 52 minutes.

Maryland opened the game with a 14-play drive that appeared to end with Novak kicking a 32-yard field goal, but the Terrapins were called for illegal procedure on the play and Novak missed the subsequent attempt. The same thing happened to the Wolfpack late in the first quarter, but John Deraney kicked a 32-yard field goal after a procedure penalty wiped out his first try.

Several calls went againt the Terps allowing the Wolfpack to score 10 of their 13 points. One touchdown resulted when the Terps were called for a facemask after sacking the quarterback for a huge loss. The Terps also sacked the quarterback in the end-zone for a safety, only to find out a time-out had been called before the play was run. Add in the field goal take away on the opening drive, and the final score could have easily been reversed.