For Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen, the significance of his team’s game against No. 21 Wake Forest at Byrd Stadium on Saturday at noon is simple.
“This game can get us back in the league,” he said. “It gets us closer to a bowl game. This is an important game for us.”
Maryland (4-2 overall, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) will try to rebound from an inexplicable, 31-0 loss at Virginia on Oct. 4 by defeating the Demon Deacons (4-1, 2-0) for the first time in three years.
The Demon Deacons are coming off a victory over Clemson, and are the lone undefeated team in the ACC’s Atlantic Division, as Florida State, Boston College and Maryland each are 1-1 in league play, followed by Clemson (1-2) and N.C. State (0-2). The winner of the Atlantic Division plays the winner of the Coastal Division for the conference title and berth in a Bowl Championship Series game.
“It’s kind of like our season is starting over again,” Maryland senior center Edwin Williams said. “It’s like a six-game playoff in a way. We just can’t lose. If we win in our division, we have a chance to win this ACC championship.”
The Terrapins’ seniors held a meeting last week, and then gathered the rest of the team last Tuesday for a second meeting to discuss the team’s future.
“We have a lot on us as seniors,” Williams said. “We have to take the responsibility each practice and each game to put the team on our shoulders and will us to a win.”
Maryland plays three ranked teams in the next four weeks. After Wake Forest, the Terrapins host North Carolina State for homecoming on Oct. 25 before visiting No. 17 Virginia Tech (5-1, 2-0) on Oct. 30 before welcoming No. 18 North Carolina on Nov. 15.
The tough schedule might benefit the Terrapins, who seem to play down to weaker competition, and elevate their play against ranked opponents.
“We don’t have any explanation for it,” Williams said. “It’s just about consistency and that’s what we work on everyday. We need to correlate it to the game field, and once we do that, we’ll be fine.”
UP NEXT
Wake Forest at Maryland
When » Saturday, noon
Where » Byrd Stadium
TV » WJZ
Radio » 105.7 FM, 1300 AM
Tickets » Available
