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College Football

Disappointing Terps, N.C. State meet

By JOEDY McCREARY (AP Sports Writer)

Nov 6, 2009

RALEIGH, N.C. — The way injuries have plagued North Carolina State this season, coach Tom O'Brien wishes he could take one for his team.

"I hope I'm the next one hurt, the way we're going," O'Brien said. "I'll take a hit for the team if it keeps somebody else healthy."

The disappointing Wolfpack look to avoid their fifth straight loss Saturday when they play host to a Maryland team that has dropped four in a row and six of seven in a matchup of the two worst teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference's Atlantic Division.

Four games remain, and already 12 injured N.C. State players are done for the season - a list that starts with linebacker Nate Irving (auto accident during the summer) and ends with key offensive lineman R.J. Mattes (knee), who was hurt during last week's loss at Florida State.

The expanded disabled list has derailed a season in which the Wolfpack (3-5, 0-4) have dropped from darkhorse contenders for the division title to the only team winless in ACC play.

"They've kind of accepted the fact that they've been dealt a bad hand," O'Brien said. "There's nothing they can do but fight their way out of it. So we're going to continue to fight and play the best we can."

If nothing else, one team will walk out of Carter-Finley Stadium feeling at least marginally better about itself. The other formally will be eliminated from bowl consideration.

Maryland (2-6, 1-3) has won only once since Week 2 - a 24-21 shocker against Atlantic leader Clemson - and has no victories away from College Park, Md.

The Terrapins have been off since their 17-13 loss to Duke two weeks ago, one of four performances in which they failed to score more than 13 points. They've struggled without Da'Rel Scott, who broke his wrist in the Clemson game, and are one of three ACC teams averaging fewer than 100 yards rushing per game.

To have any hope of their fourth straight bowl appearance, the Terps must turn things around in a hurry and win their final four games against N.C. State, No. 22 Virginia Tech, Florida State and Boston College.

"We are trying to get our running game going again," Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said. "Our off-week, we did more stuff from a coaching aspect of what are we doing well, what we are not doing well and why are we not doing it well. We looked at explosive runs, the red zone and passing. Who's making plays and who isn't, why we aren't making sacks and the whole gamut.

"When you have so many guys that are nicked up, it's tough to get anything really done on the field because most of the guys you need to get it done with aren't practicing."

That could be the balm for an N.C. State defense that has allowed three straight teams to gain at least 480 total yards and roll up at least 45 points, and hasn't held a Bowl Subdivision team to fewer than 256. The continuity-starved Wolfpack have used seven different lineups in the secondary in eight games.

"We're not executing our assignments," safety Clem Johnson said. "The film, it shows it. ... We're not doing our part. If one guy messes up, it messes up the whole defense."

The Wolfpack, who played two Championship Subdivision teams, need seven wins - and, of course, a drastic turnaround - to qualify for a second straight bowl. After Maryland, they play Clemson, the Hokies and North Carolina.