Spoiler role could suit Terps well

This was far from the scenario the Terrapins football team had envisioned heading into its penultimate regular-season game tomorrow.

Instead of fighting for an ACC title or scrapping for better bowl standing, the Terps will travel to Winston-Salem, N.C., with the guarantee that their season will end just one week later amid dwindling morale in the locker room.

"If you're 2-8, I would hope there's not too many guys happy," coach Randy Edsall said Tuesday. "If guys aren't disappointed, we've got a problem. If they're not disappointed with where we are right now, I'd be upset."

And with Wake Forest sitting at 5-5 and battling to become bowl eligible, the Terps have an opportunity to play spoiler tomorrow, possibly pushing an ACC foe away from postseason play.

"There's all types of things that you use [to motivate], and that's one of the things you can say. We can be a spoiler … and we can end up making sure we're doing what we want to do and that's to get a win," Edsall said. "As a coach, you're looking at the different things you can use to motivate your guys, but the bottom line is … you still have to go out and play the game and you've got to execute."

Which has been the problem for the Terps (2-8, 1-5 ACC) all season: a lack of execution. They will need it Saturday.

Although Wake Forest (5-5, 4-3) won't flaunt the type of top-level talent the Terps have seen against such opponents as No. 7 Clemson and No. 23 Florida State, the injury-stricken Terps need to do much more than show up to walk off from BB&T Field with a rare taste of victory.

The Demon Deacons are looking to snap a three-game skid. In that stretch, their two most recent losses — a 24-17 loss to Notre Dame and a 31-28 loss to Clemson — proved they can compete at the highest level.

Considering the 62-14 thumping the Terps handed them last season, the Demon Deacons will certainly be out for revenge.

They're far from bulletproof, however. Wake Forest's defense has struggled at times defensively, surrendering 28.2 points per game.

"They give up points, they've shown that on film," said quarterback C.J. Brown, who will enter tomorrow's game as the team's undisputed starter after Danny O'Brien's season-ending arm injury last weekend. "They've had a couple tough losses, but their offense is going to put up points and their defense is going to give up points, so it could be a high-scoring game. We're going to go in there and we're going to play our game and hopefully come out on top."

A win tomorrow or against N.C. State next Saturday wouldn't salvage the Terps' season. Another victory or two would at least push this season above the Terps' miserable 2-10 campaign in 2009.

"Everybody wants to go out with a good taste in your mouth for next season, and for the seniors, letting them out on a positive note," defensive tackle Joe Vellano said.

"We're 2-8. We're trying to be 4-8, so they're in the way," cornerback Trenton Hughes added. "We're not worried about what their bowl game is; we're trying to build for our program. Got to stay positive, got to work."

cwalsh@umdbk.com