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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) -
Josh Adams
scored on a 6-yard run on the first possession of overtime to help Wake Forest cap a stunning 21-point comeback and beat Maryland
31-24 on Saturday.
Alphonso Smith
had a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the third quarter to jumpstart the
Demon Deacons
(2-2, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), who were trailing 24-3 before coming up with a rally almost as improbable as their run
to last year's ACC championship.
Riley Skinner
- playing in his first game since separating his shoulder in the opener - had a 1-yard TD sneak after Smith's return midway
through the fourth, then found
John Tereshinski
with a 6-yard scoring pass to tie it with 3 seconds left in regulation.
Then, after Adams' score in overtime, the
Demon Deacons
closed the game with consecutive sacks.
Jeremy Thompson
took down
Jordan Steffy
on fourth down and forced a fumble, and
Boo Robinson
tackled offensive lineman
Edwin Williams
after he picked up the ball - a thrilling finish that sent the black-clad
Demon Deacons
spilling onto the field in celebration.
It was a stunning collapse for the Terrapins (2-2, 0-1), who got 112 yards and a touchdown from
Keon Lattimore
along with rushing scores from
Lance Ball
and
Cory Jackson
.
The win helped the
Demon Deacons
keep alive their chances of defending last year's league title, and a loss would have all but dashed those hopes with Boston
College and Clemson remaining unbeaten in the Atlantic Division. Instead, it was Maryland heading home knowing it had let
a sure win get away with shaky play down the stretch.
That was never more evident than on Steffy's third-down pass for Ball at the goalline with Maryland leading by 21 points and
in search of the backbreaking score. Smith jumped in front of the route and raced the length of the field - weaving past Steffy
and
Danny Oquendo
- to revive a listless crowd that had been shedding fans only minutes earlier.
Skinner completed 22 of 35 passes for 219 yards with three interceptions, but the redshirt sophomore came up huge down the
stretch in directing the decisive scoring drives. Adams finished with 91 yards rushing.
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