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The Maryland Terrapins limped into their game against Georgia Tech with so many injured players that a linebacker was in at quarterback, and the Terps left the game even gimpier than when they started.
Maryland lost key players on both sides of the ball in the 33-13 loss. Freshman Wes Brown, who’d recently claimed the starting running back role, left the game with an ankle injury, and linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield also went out with a leg injury.
Hartsfield’s leg got twisted up on a tackle and he was helped off the field. He’s one player the Terps really can’t afford to lose (not that they have many players to spare these days) – Hartsfield leads the team with 78 tackles, while also making 3.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, and an interception this season. Details of his injury are unknown.
Brown, on the other hand, insists his injury is “very minor.” He led the team in rushing yards in the first half but was sitting on the bench on the sidelines after halftime.
The television broadcast team told viewers Brown tried to stand to watch a Maryland drive but was not putting any weight on his right foot. Terps head coach Randy Edsall confirmed after that game that it was an ankle injury and would continue to be evaluated. He finished with nine carries for 38 yards.
The Terps struggled early in the season to find consistency in the run game, and after returning from a shoulder injury that kept him out of the Virginia game, Brown seemed like he could become the team’s go-to running back.
He even took direct snaps on Saturday from Maryland’s “Wild Crab” formation when linebacker-turned-quarterback Shawn Petty had to go to the locker room with a wrist issue.
Redshirt freshman Brandon Ross took over after Brown left the game, rushing for a team-high 68 yards on 13 carries.
Petty handled the majority of the carries against the Yellow Jackets, rushing 17 times for 24 yards. As expected, he had an up and down game in his first game on offense this year. He went nine-of-18 for 115 yards with two touchdowns and an interception – not bad for a guy who was a true freshman linebacker until very recently. He didn’t seem bothered by his wrist either, throwing his first two career touchdown passes, including an exciting 23-yard touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs as time expired.
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Justine Hendricks is a Pac-12 and ACC Columnist for Rant Sports and is the founder and editor of Sports in Stilettos. Follow her on Twitter: @SportsStilettos
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