Undefeated Maryland rolls past West Virginia

BALTIMORE (AP) -- A.J. Hendy scored on a 28-yard interception return and recovered two fumbles as unbeaten Maryland forced six turnovers in a surprisingly easy 37-0 victory over West Virginia on Saturday.

Off to their best start since 2001, the Terrapins (4-0) led 30-0 at halftime after limiting the Mountaineers (2-2) to two first downs and picking off two passes.

C.J. Brown rushed for a touchdown and passed for a score to help Maryland end a seven-game losing streak against its border rivals. It was the Terrapins' most lopsided win in the series since a 54-7 blowout in 1951.

Maryland gets a bye next weekend before opening their final Atlantic Coast Conference season at Florida State.

Brown and the offense played well, but the defense did most of the damage. Not only did Hendy score, but Yannik Cudjoe-Virgil picked off a pass near the West Virginia goal line to set up another touchdown. The Terrapins also recovered four fumbles.

West Virginia finished with 175 yards in offense in its first shutout loss since a 35-0 defeat against Virginia Tech on Oct. 6, 2001.

The Mountaineers appear to be in full-blown rebuilding mode after losing Geno Smith and Tavon Austin to the NFL. Redshirt freshman Ford Childress was 11 for 22 for 62 yards and two interceptions against the ball-hawking Terrapins.

In the first half, West Virginia compiled a mere 65 yards in offense compared to 61 yards in penalties.

Maryland took advantage of a West Virginia miscue to go up 7-0. A bouncing kick went off the leg of Mountaineers punt returner Ronald Carswell, and Hendy recovered on the West Virginia 24 to set up a deflected 6-yard touchdown pass from Brown to tight end Dave Stinebaugh.

On the second play after the kickoff, Hendy picked off a sideline pass by Childress and went the distance for a 14-0 lead.

It began to rain early in the second quarter while Maryland went on a 34-yard march that led to a 50-yard field goal by Brad Craddock.

Another three-and-out by the Mountaineers was followed by a 62-yard march that produced another field goal to make it 20-0, and Craddock added another three-pointer with 1:35 left in the half.

But Maryland wasn't done. Cudjoe-Virgil deflected a pass at the line of scrimmage and fell with it in his hands. That gave the Terrapins the ball at the West Virginia 6, and Brown scored from the 1 with 18 seconds remaining.

It rained hard in the third quarter, and many of the fans at the home stadium of the Baltimore Ravens decided they'd seen enough. Only a few thousand were in the stands when West Virginia twice lost fumbles inside the Maryland 25.

The lone touchdown of the second half came on a 3-yard run by Brandon Ross with 4:18 remaining.