1 of 3
Duke's Jay Hollingsworth scrambles past Maryland's Derek Drummond. (Photo by Rob Rowe)
2 of 3
A frustrated Cutcliffe watches as his team fumbles the ball in the 4th quarter. (Photo by Rob Rowe)
3 of 3
Blue Devil Damian Thornton high-fives Duke students after Duke's victory over Maryland. (Photo by Rob Rowe)
WALLACE WADE STADIUM/DURHAM Duke had had an open date to get ready for what may turn out to be its biggest game of the year.
Maryland (2-5, 1-2 ACC) is the visitor on a day when - let's hope - the rain has already fallen. The Blue Devils are 3-3, 1-1 in ACC play, and will very probably need to win this one to meet second-year coach David Cutcliffe's stated goal of an appearance in a bowl game.
To get there Duke, which hasn't made such a trip since 1994 - also the last year in which the Blue Devils beat Maryland in Durham - needs to finish at least 7-5. The seven is necessary because the win over N.C. Central, still in its transition phase from Division II to Division I's Championship Subdivision, won't count.
Representatives from the Chick-Fil-A (Atlanta) and Champs Sports (Orlando) Bowls are in the house.
It's the teams' first meeting since 2004 under the ACC's two-division alignment.
And the stadium seems to be a little over half full at kickoff in a game that's as ugly as the weather - but not on the scoreboard as Duke dodges a bullet to survive 17-13.
Duke gets some early momentum by stopping the Terps on fourth-and-short at the Blue Devils' 31, and then puts together a pretty nine-play, 69-yard march. Thaddeus Lewis hits Donovan Varner across the middle for a 24-yard touchdown, and Will Snyderwine's boot makes it 7-0 with 7:24 left in the first.