Wake Forest

Dino Gaudio listed all the little things his Wake Forest team did right during its rapid rise to No. 1. Then, he watched his Demon Deacons finally do them again. They ran, they rebounded, they defended - and, not coincidentally, they got two of their most dependable scorers back on track. Jeff Teague scored 27 points, freshman Al-Farouq Aminu added a season-high 26, and No. 7 Wake Forest bounced back yesterday after a surprisingly lopsided loss by routing visiting Boston College, 93-76.

COLLEGE PARK -Two years ago, then-freshman Landon Milbourne watched with amusement as Maryland fans rushed the Comcast Center floor, toppling courtside seats in the process, to celebrate an 89-87 victory over fifth-ranked North Carolina. "It was crazy," Milbourne recalled yesterday. "It's one of those reasons you came to Maryland - so you can play in games like that." As the Terrapins prepared to play third-ranked North Carolina today, the image of fans wildly celebrating was a useful one for them to embrace.

COLLEGE PARK -- A bond between brothers and the schools that separated them was captured in a family photo taken this past summer: Maryland junior receiver Isaiah Williams was wearing his jersey from the Champs Sports Bowl, while his older brother, Ira, a 2001 graduate and former receiver for Wake Forest, was sporting a Demon Deacons T-shirt. "Last year he trash-talked me quite a bit," said Isaiah Williams, referring to when Wake Forest beat Maryland in the regular-season finale, knocking the Terps out of the running for the Atlantic Coast Conference championship.

What went right Maryland linebacker Erin Henderson had a team-high 12 tackles (seven solo), one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception. What went wrong Maryland's offense was exposed in overtime, starting on the Wake Forest 25-yard line and finishing on the 47. Defining moment Late in the third quarter, Wake Forest cornerback Alphonso Smith intercepted Jordan Steffy's pass in the end zone and ran it back 100 yards for a touchdown. What it means Against probably their first competition of the same caliber, the Terps didn't match up, and the offense was the reason.

The Atlantic Coast Conference has a chance to make a statement on the national level Saturday, as three league teams will face storied nonconference opponents ranked in the Associated Press Top 25. No. 9 Virginia Tech will travel to No. 2-ranked LSU, Miami will visit No. 5 Oklahoma and Wake Forest will be home to play No. 16 Nebraska. Since 2001, the ACC is 2-27 against nonconference opponents ranked among the AP's top 10. Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said LSU might be "the most talented team we've ever played."

College Park -- After his team's 31-14 loss to No. 4 West Virginia last week, Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen addressed his players in the locker room and spoke of the need to execute more big plays - an exciting aspect of the game that has been lacking this season in the Terps' rather pedestrian offense. That could change this weekend, when Maryland travels to Winston-Salem, N.C., to play Wake Forest, the defending Atlantic Coast Conference champion. Maryland @Wake Forest Saturday, 3:30 p.m., ESPNU, 105.7 FM, 1300 AM Line: Wake Forest by 3

DURHAM, N.C. -- College basketball teams often reflect the personalities of their coaches. As usual, Duke appears poised and determined. As usual, Maryland is flirting with a late-season meltdown.Another embarrassing loss to Duke tonight, and coach Gary Williams again will face the haunting questions about his ability to hold a team together, his ability to lead Maryland to its first Final Four.If it's February, the Terps must be reeling. A strong performance tonight would diminish the impact of Sunday's stunning loss at Wake Forest.

COLLEGE PARK -- Juan Dixon is a freshman who is talking a lot like a senior these days and making a strong bid for a starting position for the slumping Maryland basketball team."

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Maybe Maryland will be ready for No. 2 Duke on Wednesday, because the Terps surely weren't mentally prepared for Wake Forest.No. 4 Maryland was on the wrong side of one of the major upsets of the college basketball season yesterday, as the sleepwalking Terps never awoke from a 10-0 deficit and lost, 85-72, to the heretofore slumping Demon Deacons at Lawrence Joel Memorial Coliseum.A 36-point swing from their Dec. 3 meeting at Cole Field House was hardly the manner in which Maryland (19-3, 7-2)

Aloha BowlArizona State (6-5) vs. Wake Forest (6-5)When: Today, 3: 30 p.m.Where: HonoluluTV: Chs. 2, 7Line: Arizona State by 2 1/2Outlook: Both teams needed victories in the final game of the regular season, Wake Forest against Georgia Tech and Arizona State against Arizona, to qualify for a bowl. The Sun Devils' win was costly: Quarterback Ryan Kealy tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, leaving John Leonard and Griffin Goodman to share passing duties. Coach Bruce Snyder said he has settled on a starter but wouldn't say who; he will play both in the first half and then stay with the hot hand.

Navy (6-2) vs. Temple (5-2) Time: : 3:30 p.m. TV: : CBS College Sports Radio: : 1090 AM, 1430 AM Line: : Navy by 7 Series: : Navy leads 18-13 Last meeting: : Navy won, 33-27, in overtime on Nov. 1, 2008 WHEN NAVY HAS THE BALL: : Sophomore Kriss Proctor will make his second straight start at quarterback in place of Ricky Dobbs, who is sidelined with a knee injury. Proctor rushed for 89 yards and scored the Midshipmen's lone touchdown on a 40-yard run in their 13-10 win over Wake Forest last week.

A service academy football team faces certain challenges whenever it lines up against a team from a major league like the Atlantic Coast Conference. But when Navy hosted Wake Forest on a rainy and windy Saturday afternoon, there was more to deal with. The Midshipmen's top two offensive playmakers - including their quarterback, who was leading the country in touchdowns - were out with injuries, and their back-up quarterback was making his first start, having appeared in 44 fewer games and throwing 1,163 fewer passes than his Demon Deacons counterpart.

Wake Forest (4-3) at Navy (5-2) Time: : 3:30 p.m. TV: : CBS College Sports Radio: : 1090 AM, 1430 AM Line: : Navy by 2 1/2 Series: : Wake Forest leads 7-3 Last meeting: : Wake Forest won, 29-19, in last season's EagleBank Bowl Backup plan: Navy sophomore Kriss Proctor will make his first career start at quarterback, because junior Ricky Dobbs is sidelined with an injured right knee. Proctor is not the passer that Dobbs is, but he is comfortable running the option and is slightly faster than the more physical Dobbs.

Virginia (2-3, 1-0 ACC) at Maryland (2-4, 1-1) Time:: 4 p.m. TV:: ESPNU Radio:: 105.7 FM, 1300 AM Line: : Virginia by 3 1/2 Series:: Maryland leads 41-30-2 Last meeting:: Virginia won, 31-0, on Oct. 4, 2008, in Charlottesville Maryland offense vs. Virginia defense:: Virginia's defense is led by its secondary, which hasn't allowed more than 190 passing yards in a game and surrenders 163.2 yards per outing - 15th fewest nationally. The Terps will need to revive their dormant running game, which has struggled to find holes behind an inexperienced offensive line.

COLLEGE PARK -- Some might have expected Maryland football coach Ralph Friedgen to be pessimistic after his team's 42-32 loss at Wake Forest on Saturday. After all, his defense gave up six big plays in the game and his battered offensive line continued to have trouble opening holes for the running backs and pass-blocking for its quarterback. But Tuesday afternoon at Friedgen's weekly news conference, the coach saw a glass half full, not half empty. "As strange as things are ... here we are at 2-4," he said of the Terps, who are 1-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

COLLEGE PARK - -When Maryland's gambling defense succeeds, it does so with a flourish. Consider the game-clinching sack and fumble it caused against Clemson in the fifth game. But when it fails, it's usually in equally spectacular fashion - at least for the opposition. Saturday night's 42-32 loss to Wake Forest provided further evidence of a disturbing pattern by the Terps of surrendering big plays. Against Wake, Maryland (2-4, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) gave up plays of 51, 48, 33, 25 (twice)

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- It was one thing for Maryland's blitzing defense to bewilder a freshman quarterback in a win over Clemson a week ago. It turned out to be quite another to shut down a poised, senior Wake Forest quarterback who entered Saturday night's game as the Atlantic Coast Conference's hottest passer. If they had any doubt before, the Terrapins now know exactly why Wake Forest's Riley Skinner is on such a roll. Beating blitzes with quick, accurate tosses, Skinner led touchdown drives on Wake Forest's first five possessions in a 42-32 victory over the Terps.

Maryland (2-3, 1-0 ACC) at Wake Forest (3-2, 1-1 ACC) Time:: 6:30 p.m. TV:: ESPN360.com Radio:: 105.7 FM, 1300 AM Line: : Wake Forest by 12 1/2 Series: : Maryland leads 41-15-1. Last meeting:: Maryland won, 26-0, on Oct. 18, 2008, in College Park. Maryland offense vs. Wake Forest defense:: With Da'Rel Scott (broken wrist) out, the Terps will rotate Davin Meggett and Gary Douglas at running back. Coaches might also play one of two freshmen running backs - Caleb Porzel or D.J. Adams.

During his four years playing goalie for the Loyola Dons, Akira Fitzgerald had just about as many compliments sent his way as shots. The three-time All-Metro standout - the area's Player of the Year as a senior in 2005 - was quick and agile, determined and vocal, sure-handed and poised. Fitzgerald's finest attribute, many said, was the smart decisions he made while fiercely protecting his penalty area. It turns out Fitzgerald made another wise choice when, after thorough consideration, he decided to play at Wake Forest.

COLLEGE PARK -- Maryland football supporters have raised about $46,000 so the Terps can fly round trip to games at Wake Forest and North Carolina State instead of taking the bus one way. "It's nice knowing there is the possibility of making a difference," said Larry Grabenstein, chairman of the Maryland Gridiron Network, a booster group that raises money for special football projects. "Many universities are experiencing these types of fiscal pressures for the first time in a while, and it's because of the nature of the recession."