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© St. Petersburg Times, published October 7, 2001
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Off to their best start in 23 years, the Terrapins find themselves in a rather unaccustomed spot -- alone atop the ACC.
Shaun Hill threw two touchdowns, Bruce Perry ran for 143 yards and a score and Maryland remained unbeaten by defeating Virginia 41-21 Saturday.
The Terrapins let a 24-7 halftime lead dwindle to three points, then pulled away in the fourth quarter to snap a nine-game losing streak against the Cavaliers and emerge as the ACC's lone undefeated team.
Maryland, which hasn't been to a bowl game since 1990 and last won the league title in 1985, has turned the ACC standings upside down under the guidance of first-year coach Ralph Friedgen.
"I think we won a very, very big game in Maryland football history," said Friedgen, the first coach to begin his initial season at the school with five straight wins.
"I know our seniors are happy to end the Virginia streak at nine games," Friedgen said. "Regardless of what happens the rest of the season, they can look at that and say they've accomplished something."
That's not all. Maryland has matched its victory total of last season, and should move up in the polls after being ranked this week for the first time since 1995.
"This was certainly the best team we've played this year, and the most physical team we've played," Virginia first-year coach Al Groh said. "I was impressed."
GEORGIA TECH 37, DUKE 10: Tampa's George Godsey threw for 295 yards and two touchdowns, and the visiting Yellow Jackets overcame a slow start.
Georgia Tech led by seven at halftime but pulled away in the third quarter to beat winless Duke for the seventh straight time.
Duke extended a school record with its 18th loss in a row, the longest streak in the nation.
Godsey lost the handle on two of his first three passes in a steady rain and threw interceptions on consecutive passes late in the first half.
Godsey's first interception, by Ryan Fowler at the Georgia Tech 49, led to a 1-yard touchdown run by Chris Douglas with 1:35 left. Ronnie Hamilton intercepted Godsey's next pass at the Georgia Tech 38, leading to a 30-yard field goal by Brent Garber with 31 seconds left.
Georgia Tech also had two first-half drives end after Kelly Campbell dropped potential touchdown passes.
"I thought overall we played well in the first half, but they came out after halftime and stuffed us," Duke coach Carl Franks said. "We didn't pass well, we didn't run well and, defensively, we didn't play well. We didn't play smart. We didn't coach well. We learned that we can play for one half."
UNC 24, E. CAROLINA 21: Darian Durant threw two touchdowns and Derrick Johnson made a key fourth-quarter play on special teams for the host Tar Heels.
North Carolina started 0-3 with losses at Oklahoma, Maryland and Texas, but has won three straight, beating the Pirates (2-3) in their first meeting in 20 years.
Durant threw TDs of 29 and 21 yards to set the North Carolina season freshman record for scoring passes with eight. His last one to Sam Aiken with 12:04 left gave the Tar Heels an eight-point lead.
N.C. STATE 17, WAKE FOREST 14: Philip Rivers was 20-of-32 for 180 yards and a touchdown for the visiting Wolfpack.
Rivers' 1-yard scoring run with 6:02 left in the third quarter finished the Wolfpack's rally from a 14-3 deficit late in the first half. Ray Robinson added 90 yards on 31 carries.
Wake Forest turned the ball over twice and managed only 108 yards offense in the second half, failing to take advantage of good field position. One possession started at the 50, but ended with a Fabian Davis fumble at the N.C. State 20.
Tarence Williams led the Deacons with 113 yards rushing on 25.