Nikita Whitlock has been an nightmare for Maryland, with four tackles for a loss and two sacks in the first quarter, and the Terps trail on the road 10-0 after a quarter.
Maryland had a troubled start to the game, as Whitlock broke through into the backfield and took C.J. Brown down for a 14-yard loss. The Terps punted the ball after a three-and-out, giving the Demon Deacons excellent field position.
Two plays into the next drive, Josh Harris burst through the middle for 28 yards. Maryland's goal-line defense came through on the next two plays, but Harris dove into the end zone on third-and-goal for the one-yard touchdown run and the 7-0 Wake lead.
The Terrapin offense got working on the next drive, with back-to-back completions from C.J. Brown to Deon Long for 17 and eight yards. After a two-yard gain to Stefon Diggs, C.J. Brown ran for a first down. After another Brown run, the play-action pass worked perfectly, finding Dave Stinebaugh for a 16-yard gain and bringing Maryland into the red zone. Whitlock continued to give Brown problems, however, and the Terps settled for a 35-yard field goal attempt from Brad Craddock, which missed wide.
Maryland forced a punt on Wake's next drive, but the Terps' were unable to get anything going after yet another Whitlock sack (his second of the quarter and fourth tackle for a loss). On Wake's next drive, Will Likely made a great play defending Mike Campanaro (his second such play of the day), forcing a 51-yard field goal attempt that Chad Hedlund made, making it 10-0 at the end of the quarter.
Some stats:
C.J. Brown: 5/6, 54 yards
Brandon Ross: Three rushes, eight yards
Deon Long: Three receptions, 27 yards