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Maryland trying to hold off Florida State in ACC Atlantic

Nov 22, 2008 - 11:23 AM Florida State (7-3) at (23) Maryland (7-3), 7:45 pm EST

COLLEGE PARK, Maryland (Ticker) -- Florida State's fall from the rankings this week could be a bad sign for Maryland.

The 23rd-ranked Terrapins, who have defeated all four of the ranked teams they have played this season, will host the Seminoles on Saturday.

Last Saturday's dramatic win kept Maryland (7-3, 4-2 ACC Atlantic) in control of its own destiny in the division race, as it will qualify for the conference championship game by winning the final two regular-season contests.

Obi Egekeze's 26-yard field goal with 1:42 remaining capped a 19-play drive as the Terrapins rallied for a 17-15 victory over then-No. 17 North Carolina.

During the march, which consumed 8:43, Maryland converted three third downs and a fourth down when quarterback Chris Turner scrambled for nine yards on 4th-and-5 from the North Carolina 32.

"Chris was extremely poised at the end of the game," Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said. "We all knew we were 11 guys with one mission and we had to come out of that drive with some points. Chris really wanted to win this game and he was determined to do it.

"It was an unbelievable game and a huge victory for us and our season. The kids kept fighting and we made a couple of key plays. I thought our defense played very well, and every time Carolina had an opportunity our defense responded."

Christian Ponder passed for 183 yards and was intercepted three times without five suspended receivers - including leading wideout Taiwan Easterling - as then-No. 19 Florida State suffered a 27-17 loss to Boston College last Saturday night.

Ponder refused to blame his lack of receiving weapons, who were suspended by coach Bobby Bowden for their involvement in a campus fight last Wednesday.

"It had nothing to do with the loss," Ponder said. "We missed key guys, but every week we have missed guys. We just didn't do enough."

The loss dropped the Seminoles (7-3, 4-3) into a tie for second in the division with Wake Forest (6-4, 4-3), one-half game behind Maryland.