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Evans, defense help Virginia Tech knock off Maryland

Nov 7, 2008 - 5:55 AM BLACKSBURG, Virginia (Ticker) -- Freshman tailback Darren Evans rushed for a career-high and school record 254 yards and the Virginia Tech defense held 15th-ranked Maryland to minus-12 yards rushing en route to a 23-13 triumph on Thursday.

Evans, who had never broken the century mark for the Hokies, cruised past that plateau in the first half with 116 yards on 13 carries before the break. He broke the record previously set by Mike Imoh, who rushed for 243 yards against North Carolina in 2004.

"You think about (having this type of game) all the time," Evans said. "You always visualize busting out and having big games. Sometimes, it doesn't work the way you want it to work, but (Thursday), it worked out beautifully. The offensive line was pushing the defensive linemen back and making good blocks. They made it easy for me to go and do what I do."

Virginia Tech jumped to a 7-0 lead when Sean Glennon hit Greg Boone with a 5-yard TD pass. After the Terrapins pulled to within 7-3 on a field goal early in the second, Evans capped an eight play, 80-yard drive with a 1-yard TD dive.

"We said we needed to run the football better," Hokies coach Frank Beamer said. "And when (Evans) got in there, he got hot. There were some holes there and when he got in there he ran strong, really strong at the end.

Maryland could get nothing done on the ground, totaling minus-12 yards on 18 carries, including minus-16 yards in the second half. Top running back Da'Rel Scott, who was not 100 percent after injuring his shoulder last week, finished with 11 yards on 10 carries for the Terrapins.

"Da'Rel had a tough (time) because the line was not giving him help and he didn't practice most of the week with contact," Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said.

Maryland (6-3, 3-2 ACC) falls out of sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference's Atlantic Division and into a tie with Florida State and Wake Forest.

"I thought we would be able to run some but we struggled and we go into a throwing contest," Friedgen said. "I also knew we had to throw to win tonight. It is tough to win when you can not run the ball. We didn't run the ball like we are capable of doing."

The Coastal Division is just as much of a mess, with the Hokies (6-3, 3-2) joining Virginia and North Carolina one-half game behind Georgia Tech.

Evans broke off runs of 50 and 45 yards en route to his record-setting night, finishing with 32 carries.

"I talked to them all week about stopping the run, but Virginia Tech ran the ball down our throats," Friedgen said. "Hats off to them. They are a good team."

Virginia Tech increased its advantage to 20-3 early in the third quarter. Maryland had possession to start the second half, but quarterback Chris Turner fumbled while being sacked on the team's first play and the Hokies converted the turnover into three points.

The Terrapins showed some fight by battling back to make it 20-13. Turner threw a 63-yard touchdown pass and Obi Egekeze connected on a 27-yard field goal before the end of the third quarter.

"I thought that was a pretty game," Beamer said. "In the third quarter there were some ugly things, but what we are really proud of is our football team hung in there."

But Virginia Tech clamped back down in the fourth quarter and did not allow another score.

Glennon, who started in place of injured Tyrod Taylor, finished 14-of-20 for 120 yards and a touchdown.