The Baltimore Sun from Baltimore, Maryland • 63

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1988 THE SUN SPORTS 7D COLLEGE FOOTBALL Ross' return to Byrd Stadium draws little reaction Notes Clemson gets past Tigers win on TD with 1 :52 to play him some. We all make mistakes like a missed block or catch. He just happens to miss kicks." Maryland running back Ricky Johnson didn't start, but he may have worked his way back into the starting lineup. Johnson, who started In place of Injured tailback Mike Beasley against Syracuse a week ago, finished as the Terps' leading rusher with 72 yards on 10 carries and had a 1-yard touchdown run. Beasley had only 34 yards on 1 5 attempts.

"I think I Just was starting to get in the flow of the offense," said Johnson. "I would like to start like anyone else, but we'll see how It goes in practice next week." "Right now, we'll keep rotating them as usual," said Maryland coach Joe Krivak. According to several Maryland defensive players, one reason Georgia Tech's offense was Ineffective was its similarity to Maryland's offense. Krivak was an offensive assistant to Ross before he left for Georgia Tech. Maryland defensive back Irvin Smith said the Yellow Jackets were predictable in certain situations, and he picked up on their color scheme for checking off plays.

"It was Just like being on the scout team in my first year," Edwards said. "They didn't do anything that surprised us: that's for sure." By Don Markus and Mike Preston Sun Staff Correspondents COLLEGE PARK It was not boo-Byrd Stadium yesterday for the return of former University of Maryland football coach Bobby Ross. The ballyhooed return of Ros In. the black-and-yellow of Georgia Tech was greeted with indifference. "I wasn't expecting much.

I'm not that important," Ross said after his current team's 13-8 defeat to his former team. Except for a smattering of boos when he came out on the field and a derisive chant of his first name by a few Maryland fans toward the end, the reaction was minimal. Junior center Mark Agent of Baltimore was one, pf, several Maryland players to come up to Ross on the field after the game. Agent was asked later if he felt sorry for his former coach going through such a difficult time. "1 don't feel sorry for him," said Agent.

"I do resent the fact that he left. I have a lot of respect for him as a coach, but I was disappointed in the way he left." Said Ross, "It was Just a football game to me. More was probably made out of it than Maryland basketball." But Williams' return angered several members of the athletic department who said the center's sense of timing wasn't so terrific, considering McCoy announced last week he was redshirting this season. Thomas Palmer has had better days kicking for Georgia Tech. The senior place-kicker from Miami, who nearly won a game with a 47-yarder against Virginia this year, might have lost one yesterday for the Yellow Jackets.

He missed a 26-yard field-goal attempt in the first quarter and a 21-yarder in the second. Indeed, part of Ross' decision to go on fourth-and-1 at the Maryland 19 early in the third quarter apparently stemmed from a lack of confidence In Palmer's kicking. "He's the man. He made the right decision," Palmer said. "I wanted to kick, but he made the right decision.

We'll take it and go on from here." Maryland linebacker Karl Edwards, never known for his diplomacy, had choice words for Palmer after he pushed the 21-yarder to the right. "I told the kicker, 'Hey, buddy, you're not going to make one all Edwards said. "We put a lot of pressure on, and it disturbed CHARLOTTESVILLE, -Even on an off day, No. 1 1 Clemson 'M still managed to come up with -enough for its annual triumph over-! Virginia. "We dodged a bullet," coach Dan -ny Ford said after Rodney Williams- threw a 14-yard touchdown pass Chip Davis with 1 minute, 52 sec" should have been made.

Once I got Into the game, there were no mixed feelings. I wanted to win." But later Ross said, "I'm glad It's over. I'm relieved it's over." Ross' return was not the only celebrated homecoming of sorts around Byrd Stadium After rumors circulated throughout the campus last week, former Terrapins basketball player Brian Williams was back If only for a weekend. Williams, who caused a stir last spring and summer by announcing his plans to transfer and then leaving to go to Arizona, came east to see some of his former teammates, most notably Teyon McCoy. "Just visiting," said Williams, when Maryland fans came up to him wondering what he was doing at the game.

At one point, Williams was standing in a group with freshman forward Jerrod Mustaf and high school star James Bryson, a 6-foot-10 center from Largo whom the Terps hope to sign. "There they are," said someone watching the scene. "The past, present and future of Tfech finds it hard to look for positives Yellow Jackets still winless in ACC since Ross' arrival ACC onds to play yesterday to lift Clemson (4-1, 2-0) to a 10-7 Coast Conference victory over the Cavaliers (2-3, 1-2). The scoring play capped an eight-play, 80-yard march by the Tigers after Virginia had taken a 7-3 lead on Herman Moore's Juggling reception in the end zone at the 5:27. mark.

Clemson, now 28-0 against Vlr- glnia, added to its National Athletic Association record for the" most consecutive victories by one-team over another. I. "We weren't hitting on all 1 1 cyl- inders all day," said Ford. Clemson, which ran for 4032 yards against the Cavaliers last year, was held to 293 yesterday. i "Virginia just played us extremely well," Ford said.

"You could Just see they were gaining confidence asjtl went along." Virginia coach George Welsh said; the Cavaliers' effort bodes well for -his team breaking Its losing streak; against the Tigers in the future. "In subsequent years. If we keep! playing them well like that on de- fense, one of these years, maybewe-can win a 17-14 game," Welsh The Tigers, who entered Xhe; game having committed just one" turnover in 285 offensive plays rjii" season, lost a pair of fumbles Virginia territory in the first half. 'Zz Each team also missed a field -goal In the scoreless first half. Chris Gardocki scored first Clemson with his 33-yard field goal-with 1 :26 left in the third With 10:16 to play, Virginia put-1 together an 1 1 -play, 76-yard march -that ended when quarterback Shawn Moore found Moore in Die-; right corner of the end zone with a 14-yard scoring pass.

Moore and Clemson's Jerome Henderson the ball before Moore hauled it in. Zi Clemson took the ensuing kickoff and moved 66 yards in seven plays before Williams found Davis alone racing down the left sideline. Terry Allen helped set up the score with a-39-yard run that moved the baltto the Virginia 22. ZL If anything, Ross tried to look at the positive side, though he might have strained to find one. Most of them happened on one sequence, when a gallant goal-line stand helped by questionable Maryland play-calling led to a 99-yard scoring drive.

In fact, Rampley's 17-yard scoring pass to tailback T.J. Edwards with 6 minutes, 54 seconds remaining In the game was the team's first touchdown In nearly 10 quarters, a stretch going back to the first half of the Clemson game. "The last drive we had showed us something that I think we need to hang our hat on and get on with it," Ross said. There weren't a lot of hats being hung in the Tech dressing room, just a lot of heads. Ross tried to break the mass depression by introducing his 85-year-old father, Leonard, who had come up for the game from the family's home in Williamsburg, Va.

But otherwise, it was a scene similar to the one that followed close defeats at Virginia Sept. 17 and at North Carolina State last week. The Yellow Jackets have lost four straight by a total of 31 points. The only blowout was a 30-1 3 defeat to Clemson Sept. 24.

"Of the four games we lost, we could have won three of them," said offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Ralph Friedgen, who was offensive line coach under Ross at Maryland. "That's what makes it hard. We had the opportunities, but we didn't cash in. A good football team does that. We're not a good football team right now." Nor is it a very experienced team.

Of his five true freshmen who have seen action this season, three played yesterday. Two of them, flanker Emmett Merchant and free safety Ken Swilling, started against the Terps. "We're going to get better," said Ross. The future might look a little brighter, but the present is bleak. Though the schedule has been eased by the elimination of Auburn, Georgia Tech still could repeat last year's 2-9 disaster.

"The longer we go without winning, the deeper we're going to have to dig in order to win," said senior corner-back Cedric Stallworth, who has been part of 15 straight defeats to Division I-A teams and 1 1 straight losses in the ACC. "We're not going to go into the tank." Maybe not, but right now the Georgia Tech football program is treading dangerously. By Don Markus Sun Staff Correspondent PARK There is something more depressing than being a Maryland basketball fan these being a Georgia Tech football fan. Or worse, a Georgia Tech player. "It's tough being in the situation we're in, being 1-4," quarterback Todd Rampley said after a 13-8 loss to Maryland yesterday at Byrd Stadium.

"It's a challenge, but It's not going to be the most challenging thing In my Iife.V, This is how long it's been since the Yellow Jackets won -an Atlantic Coast Conference game or beat a Division I-A opponent: Bobby Ross still was coaching the Terrapins. S(nce Ross left Maryland after the 1986 season for Georgia Tech via Buffalo, where he briefly had agreed to be the Bills' quarterback coach the Yellow Jackets are 0-1 0 in the ACC and 0-1 3 against Division I-A teams. hard to keep losing," Ross said in the quiet Georgia Tech dressing room. "It's been affecting them the players mentally. You want something good to happen, but something bad always seems to happen." Such as missed field-goal attempts of 26 and 21 yards by the usually efficient Thomas Palmer.

Such as Tech's defense, which has been pushed to the limits all season, breaking down toward the end. r' And, finally, such as Rampley's pass over the middle being, intercepted by Maryland strong safety Kevin Fowlkes with 41 seconds remaining. End of game, continuation of losing streak. "Like everything else, the more you do something, the more the same thing seems to happen," said Palmer, who had hit eight of nine field-goal attempts coming into the game. "Hopefully, we'll win next week." It, doesn't get any easier for the Yellow Jackets, who play South Carolina in Atlanta Saturday.

Nor does It get any easier for Ross, who returned to his old haunts yesterday and saw his new team haunted by the same mistakes he has seen all season. vr 7 1 1 'If i 1 1 A I in THE SUNBO RADER Former Maryland coach Bobby Ross says losing has affected Lis Yellow Jackets' mental approach to the game. 0 0 3 7 .10 0 0 0 7- Clemson Virginia T-erps sidestep Georgia Tech, 13-8, for win over ex-coach Ross the day off for the second straight week. The Terps managed only 289 yard of total offense and almost turned the game around when they were stopped on four successive plays from the Yellow Jackets' 1-yard line after a 14-yard run by Ricky Johnson early in the fourth quarter. On the first two plays at the goal line, Maryland, leading 10-0, tried quarterback sneaks by Neil O'Don-nell.

On third down, the Terps tried Beasley off right tackle, but lost a yard. On fourth down, O'Donnell threw to Beasley for 1 yard around right end. Did Krivak ever think field goal? "Yes, It crossed my mind," Krivak said. "When you're down on the 1-yard line, you should be able to MARYLAND, from ID Bobby' Ross, who had resigned as Maryland's coach in 1986 after saying administrators failed to acknowledge his program was clear of problems that had plagued the college's basketball team In the wake of Len drug-induced death earlier that Srhen there's the fact that Ross ha yet to win an ACC game this season or any other Division I-A gaihe in two years at Georgia Tech. They were all Incentives," said Maryland senior defensive tackle Warren Powers.

"We wanted to show Coach Ross that he left some good football players here. That's why we won." Rarely. Maryland's offense took punch It across. I don't care who you're playing against. But the defense was playing well, and we had them in bad field position.

I thought it may have given us a spark. The decision was made, though, and it's one we have to live with." And one the Terps almost lost with. Georgia Tech, which had only 230 yards of total offense, went the 99 yards In 10 plays. Flanker T.J. Edwards caught a pass in the right flat for an 18-yard touchdown, and the Yellow Jackets converted on the two-point play to close within 10-8 with 6 minutes, 54 seconds left in the game.

Most of the damage in the drive was done by Georgia Tech quarterback Todd Rampley and flanker Emmett Merchant, who connected on three passes for 40 yards. Clem FG Gardocki 33 7L" Va H.Moore 14 pass from S.Moore (Inderlied Davis 1 4 pass from Williams (Seyle kick) 1 Clem Vs; First downs 18 16 Rushes-yards 61-293 3M9S Passing yards 73 Return yards 14 15 Passes 5-8-0 itt Punts 3-43 Fumbles-lost 2-2 Penaltes-yards 2-17 Time of Possession 34:00 28:00 RUSHING Clemson, Allen 24-145. Williams W-59- TJohnson 1352, Henderson 11-38. McFadden 2-2. Vir- -ginia, Wilson 13-88, Greggs 11-58, S.Moore 12-34, Bry- -ant 1-8, Ford 1-7.

PASSING Clemson, Williams 5-8-0-73. Virginia Moore 10-23-1-85. RECEIVING Clemson, Hooper 2-14, Jennings 4-27 Cooper 1-18, Davis 1-14. Virginia, Greggs 6-44, Demp- sey 2-16, H.Moore 1-14, Dooiey 1-11. N.C.

St. 49, E. Tenn. St. 0 RALEIGH, N.C.

Tyrone Jaclu; son and Chris Williams ran for three'-touchdowns each to lead North Gar--" olina State (4-1) over East Tennessee -State (2-3). zS N.C. State amassed 464 yards- of total offense, Including 260 yards; rushing. East Tennesse State; meanwhile, crossed midfield just" once and the offense produced only 80 yards 43 yards passing and; 37 yards on the ground. N.C.

State raced to a 35-0 lead over the Division I-AA Bue-v caneers, using three quarterbacks and piling up 269 yards of total offense in the first two quarters. The Wolfpack scored on the" opening possession of the second, half, marching 67 yards In eight-plays. Quarterback Shane Montgom- ery hit Shad Santee on a 17-yard pass and Dan Hayden on a moving the Wolfpack to the East Tennessee State 1 1 -yard liner; and setting up Jackson's 2-yard run four plays later. Maryland-Georgia Tech at a glance we have a very difficult time getting back from that." Georgia Tech contributed to Maryland's 10 second-quarter points. Beginning their last possession of the first period, the Yellow Jackets removed Rampley in favor of Lee Williamson, who botched a handoff with Edwards on the first play of the possession at the Georgia Tech 47.

Nine plays later, two of which O'Donnell hit on passes of 19 yards to Barry Johnson and another of 24 to Beasley, running back Ricky Johnson carried over from the 1 for a touchdown with 12:11 left in the half. On Georgia Tech's next possession, Williamson, after a strong rush from Powers, had his pass bounce off Edwards, and Maryland linebacker Glenn Page intercepted at the Georgia Tech 33. Maryland gained only 5 yards in three plays, and out came Plocki to kick a 45-yard field goal that put Maryland ahead. 10-0, with 9:45 left in the half. Georgia Tech failed to score on another opportunity in the third period, when O'Donnelll fumbled after a hit while trying to pass.

The Yellow Jackets recovered at the Maryland 28. But on fourth-and-1 at the Maryland 19, Georgia Tech running back Jerry Mays was stopped around right end by Terps linebacker Scott Saylor. "He's the man. He made the right decision," said Palmer, referring to Ross. "I wanted to kick.

We'll take it from here and go on." The two biggest things were the field goals," Ross said. "They made two, and we missed two. That gives us six points, and maybe we win the football game. But the last drive we had showed us something that I think we need to hang our hat on and get on with it." How they scored Md. Art Cmp.

Yds. PctTDs Int Lg. By period Teem let 2nd 3rd 4th Total Gee. Tech 0 0 0 8 8 Maryland 0 10 0 3 13 Scoring plays and times Maryland gained possession at its 19. but before the first play, O'Donnell decided to deliver a speech.

"I told them that we should have scored on the last drive and that this was the time to get it done," O'Donnell said. "We play with a lot of heart. We may not have played well, but we got it done when it counted." O'Donnell's speech was effective, and so was his arm. He completed three of four passes on the drive for 10. 20 and 9 yards.

Then, with 56 seconds left in the game, In came Plocki, whose 22-yard field goal gave Maryland some breathing room. When Fowlkes picked off a pass from Rampley with 52 seconds left at the Maryland 50, Maryland had Its win. "Obviously, we had to make the plays, and we made them," Krivak said. "Our defense did a fine job and gave us an outstanding effort. I guess the best part about this is we're 2-0 in the conference and 3-2 overall." Krivak had to find something good about this, because, If Maryland had played any other team in the conference besides Georgia Tech, the Terps probably would have lost.

Maryland punter Danny DeAr-mas was ineffective throughout the game, particularly in the first half, when he punted five times for an average of 26.6 yards. Maryland failed again to produce a long-ball offense to complement its rushing attack, which netted 159 yards. O'Donnell was 13 of 19 for 130 yards. The result was another power-shortage offense by the Terps, and, coupled with the punting of DeAr-mas, good field position for Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech had the ball in Maryland territory four times in the first half, twice Inside the 9.

but didn't score. Yellow Jackets place-kicker Thomas Palmer missed a 26-yard field-goal attempt with 6:34 left in the first period and a 21-yarder with 4:41 left In the half. "We had our chances in the first half when we had field position and the opportunities," said Ross. "But we missed both field goals, and we're the klnciof football team that, when something bad happens to us, Msrylsnd Johnson 1 run (Plocki kick). 12:11 left in second period.

DRIVE: 7 plays, 44 yards, 2:58. KEY PLAY: Barry Johnson 19 pass from O'Donnell on second and 21 from Maryland 45. Maryland 7, Georgia Tech 0. Maryland Plocki 45 yard field goal, 9:45 left in second quarter. DRIVE: 4 plays, five yards, 1:26.

KEY PLAY: Page intercepts pass giving Maryland possession at the Georgia Tech 33. Maryland 10, Georgia TechO. Georgia Tech Edwards 18 pass from Rampley. (Covington pass from Rampley). 6:54 left in fourth period.

DRIVE: 10 plays, 99 yards, 4:53. KEY PLAY: Merchant 22 pass from Rampley. Maryland 10, Georgia Tech (. Maryland Plock 22 field goal, 56 seconds left in game. DRIVE: 15 plays, 76 yards, 6:02.

KEY PLAY: Spinelll 8 run on third and 8 at Georgia Tech 49. Maryland 13, Georgia Tech t. ACC standings Md. No. Yds.

Avg. Lg. TOs Beaseley 5 36 7.2 24 0 B.Johnson 2 28 140 19 0 Green 1 9 90 9 0 Carr 1 8 60 6 0 Joines 1 20 20 0 20 0 Lowery 2 21 105 12 0 Rose 1 10 10.0 10 0 Totals 13 130 10.0 24 0 Punt returns Ga. Tech No. Yda.

Avg. Lg. TDs Clay 1 1 1.0 1 Totals 1 1 1.0 1 0 Md! No. Yds. Avg.

Lg. TDs Lowery 2 21 10.5 Totale 2 21 10.6 11 0 Klckotf returns Ga. Tech No. Yds. Avg.

Lg. TDs Clay 19 190 19 0 Swilling 3 66 28.7 51 0 Totals 4 105 26.3 61 0 Md! No. Yda. Avg. Lg.

TDs Lowery i 17 170 17 0 R.Johnson 1 17 17.0 17 0 Totals 2 34 17.0 17 0 Punting Oa. Tech No. Avg. Lg! IiS! McDevitt 5 37.0 34 0 Totals 37.0 34 0 Md! No. Avg.

Lg. Blk. DeArmaa 7 29.7 40 0 Totals 7 29,7 40 0 O'Donnell 19 13 130 68.4 0 0 24 R.Johnson 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 Totals 20 13" 190 65.0 6 0 24 Rushing Ga. Tech No. Yds.

Avg. Lg. TDs Kelsey 2 9 45 5 0 Mays 14 68 4.9 13 0 Scotton 1 0 00 0 0 Edwards 8 34 4.3 12 0 Merchant 1 4 -4 0 Moore 1 3 3.0 3 0 Rampley 3 -18 -2 0 Total 30 92 3M 13 0 Md! No. Yds. Avg.

Lg. TDs Lowery 7 20 29 16 0 Beasley 15 34 2.3 11 0 R.Johnson 10 72 7.2 23 1 Spmelli 6 31 5 2 10 0 ODonnell 12 2 0.2 12 0 Total 50 159 il 23 1 Interceptions Ga. Tech No. Yda. Avg.

Lg. TDs None Md! No. Yds. Avg. Lg.

TDs Page 10 0 0 0 Fowkles 1 21 21.0 21 0 Receiving Ga. Tech No. Yda. Avg. Lg.

TDs Davenport i il iTo 11 0 Merchant 4 46 11.5 22 0 Kelsey 2 33 16 5 26 0 Mays 6 30 5 0 12 0 Edwards 1 18 180 18 1 Totals 14 138 il 26 1 Team statistics Ga. Tech Md! First downs 16 16 Rushesyards 30-92 50-159 Passing yards 138 130 Return yards 1 42 Passes 14-25-2 13-20-0 Punts Fumbleslost 2-1 1-1 Penaltiesyards 4-17 B-54 Time of poss. 27:58 32:04 Attendance 38,969 Conference) Overall Clemson 2 0 0 4 1,0 Maryland 2 0 0 3 2 0 Duke 1 0 0 5 0 0 North Carolina 0 0 0 0 4 0 N.Carolina St 2 10 4 1,0 Virginia 1 2 0 2 3 0 Wake Forest 0 1 0 2 2-0 Georgia Tech 0 4 0 1 4 0 Yesterday Maryland 13, Georgia Tech Clemson 10, Virginia 7 N. Carolina St. 49, E.

Tennessee St. 0 North Carolina at Wake Forest Saturday Wake Forest at Maryland, 1:30 p.m. N.C. State at North Carolina, 12:08 p.m. Duke at Clemson, 1 p.m.

South Carolina at Georgia Tech, 1 p.m. Virginia at Louisville, 4 p.m. 1J" Individual statistics Sports Commentary by Mike Littwin Paesing Ga. Tech Att Cmp. Yds.

Pct TDs Int Lg. 23 14 138 61 0 1 1 26 2 0 0.0 0 1 0 injThe Sun Rampley Williamson Totals 25 14 138 66.0 1 2 26.