2009 Week 17

MIAMI, FL - Senior MLB Alex Wujciak saw it coming before it happened. Ten seconds to play, WVU down 5 and at the MD 21 yard line, clock running. On the snap West Virginia HB Ned Devine stayed to help block. But at the last second he snuck away and was taking a sideways (and wide open) path to the endzone. Wujciak, however, hadn't let Devine out of the corner of his eye and arrived just as the pass did. The interception with 5 seconds left sealed the Terps win on the senior's final play of his career.

After losing to the Mountaineers 40-7 earlier in the season, the Terps had plenty to prove against their rival. Darrius Heyward-Bey added another spectacular punt return to his resume to put the Terps up 7-0. Two touchdown runs of 63 and 73 yards by Da'Rel Scott and Maryland was running away with the game at the half, 21-0.

Maryland received the ball to start the 2nd half and wanted to try and have a time consuming opening drive. But two holding penalties and a sack later and West Virginia had caused a safety. The ensuing West Virginia drive was an easy ride to the endzone and suddenly we had a tight game at 21-9. An early 4th quarter drive was capped by back-up HB Best and with 5 minutes to go the Mountaineers only trailed 21-16.

Maryland's defense stiffened from that point on until WVU seemed to be headed toward the winning score in the last minute. An offsides call kept the drive alive on 4th and 2, but on the very next play, a holding call took 6 points off the WVU scoreboard. Two plays late Wujciak made the biggest interception of his life and Maryland had held on to win their 2nd consecutive Orange Bowl.

ACC NOTES: The Conference went just 4-6 in it's bowl games, but both BCS representatives won (VT beat Texas in the Fiesta Bowl).

NCAA NOTES: Ohio State won their 2nd consecutive National Championship, beating USC on a walk-off TD in overtime, 37-34.