Maryland: 18
Georgia Tech: 37

After halting a three-game losing streak with a 41-38 defeat of the Duke Blue Devils in Durham, Georgia Tech would return to The Flats to host the 2-8 Maryland Terrapins in their final ACC game of the ’97 season. Despite dominating the all-time series with a record of 6-3, the Jackets fell to the Terps 13-10 a year earlier in College Park, and looked to become bowl eligible for the first time in six years with a victory.

Maryland grabbed the lead midway through the first quarter when Lamont Jordan scored on a 4 yard run to give the Terps a 7-0 lead.

The Jackets answered on the ensuing possession when Charles Wiley scored from 6 yards out to tie the game at seven roughly two minutes later.

Tech then regained possession late in the first quarter after a defensive stand, and eventually took the lead at 14-7 when Joe Hamilton hooked up with Derrick Steagall for a 44 yard touchdown pass with less than a minute to play in the period.

Ed Wilder put the Jackets ahead 21-7 early in the second quarter with a 1 yard touchdown run, but the Terps cut it back to 21-10 six minutes later with a 39 yard Brian Kopka field goal.

The Jackets would eventually get within striking distance once more in the first half, but were forced to settle for a 27 yard Dave Frakes field goal to give them a 24-10 lead at halftime.

After the break, Hamilton and Harvey Middleton hooked up to increase the Yellow Jacket lead just four minutes into the third quarter. Middleton accounted for the touchdown with a four yard reception that gave Tech a 31-10 advantage.

The Terps cut the deficit to thirteen shortly thereafter when Brian Cummings found Buddy Rodgers for a 26 yard touchdown pass at the 7:21 mark in the third. Trey Evans gave Maryland a boost with a run for the two-point conversion, and the score was 31-18.

Hamilton and Middleton answered the threat on the ensuing possession when they hooked up for their second touchdown of the day from 21 yards out. Tech was unable to convert the two-point conversion, however, and the score stood at 37-18. The touchdown came with 3:37 left in the third quarter, and proved to be the final of the day for either team.

Maryland’s 2-9 finish gave them their second losing season in a row.

Statistics:

First downs:
MD – 21
GT – 23

Rushing yards:
MD – 99
GT – 231

Passing (Comp-Att-Yds):
MD – 18-29-221
GT – 18-23-270

Interceptions thrown:
MD – 1
GT – 0

Fumbles (Total-Lost):
MD – 2-1
GT – 3-3

Penalties (Total-Yds):
MD – 5-39
GT – 7-64

References:
USA Today Recap: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/scores97/97326/97326469.htm