Many Losses for Terrapins; Fall 34-10

Loss.  The one-syllable word means so much to so many around the University of Maryland football team.  This one loss, however, was much more significant, as the Terps watched as their top two wide receivers fell with severe injuries.  It all started in the second quarter when running back Brandon Ross took a pitch out wide.  Leading wide receiver Deon Long was blocking, and as Ross broke to the outside, Long’s leg got tangled up beneath him, and would be tacklers fell on top of the junior college transfer.  Long subsequently broke both his Tibia and Fibula on the play.

Oct 19, 2013; Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Maryland Terrapins wide receiver Deon Long (6) lays on the field after being injured during the second quarter against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at BB

At this point in the game, Maryland had already struggled to score points, trailing the Demon Deacons 10-0.  Just after halftime, the struggles continued, as Head Coach Randy Edsall decided to bench quarterback C.J. Brown, who was making his first start since suffering a concussion, in favor of back up Caleb Rowe.

On his second pass, Rowe completed a 56-yard touchdown pass to Levern Jacobs to cut the Wake Forest deficit to 24-10.  This was as close as the Terrapins were going to get, as Wake Forest wide receiver Michael Campanero stole the show, running, throwing, and catching a touchdown.

To make matters worse, Maryland lost their other playmaker, wide receiver Stefon Diggs.  Late in the fourth quarter, Diggs converted a fourth down right across the middle, but as he made the catch a defender rolled up on his leg leading to another fracture of the Fibula.

All day long, Maryland was unable to stop the bleeding ultimately falling 34-10.  The game, however, was much more than just a notch in the loss column, it was a loss that hit deep into the Terrapin locker room.  Maryland’s road won’t get much easier as they will take on the Clemson Tigers at 3:30 in College Park, Maryland.