Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!

BALTIMORE, Maryland November 17, 2013 - This is the day of the Lord, and the day that the Ravens are in the Windy City - which the weather folk say will more than live up to its name as a cold front moves through - and the day that Maryland and Virginia play for the Atlantic Coast Conference Soccer Championship. Football: A Terrapin Stunner: Yesterday was the day that Maryland's football team overcame a massive dose of injuries and stunned Virginia Tech, 27-24, in overtime.  Brandon Ross and Quarterback C. J. Brown combined for 195 rushing yards, and fill-in receivers Nigel King and Amba Etta-Tawo combined for ten receptions, as the Terps won for the first time in Blacksburg since 1949. 1949!  In overtime, the Hokies drove inside the Terrapin ten yard line - thanks, mainly, to a pass interference call against the visiting Terps - for a first and goal, but the Terp defense dug in and, on a critical third down, sacked Hokie quarterback Logan Thomas for a loss.  That forced Virginia Tech to settle for a field goal and a 24-21 advantage.  Maryland then took over at the Tech 25 and on two Ross runs gained a first and goal at the Hokie 3-yard line.  On second down, Brown dropped to throw after play action faking, then, finding no one open, ran to his left.  At about the two, he dove at the goal line pylon.  His entire body was airborne when the ball, secured in one hand, crashed into the pylon for a touchdown.  A wild celebration ensued because the game immediately ended.  Terp coach Randy Edsall joyously jumped into the air time after time, his snow white Maryland sweat shirt compelling attention from the disappointed Hokie  crowd.  The win made Maryland bowl eligible and left Tech's ACC divisional title hopes in ruin.   Soccer: Terps, Cavaliers to play for ACC Title and Automatic NCAA Berth: The Terp soccer team has beaten back Clemson in the ACC semi-finals, setting the stage for today's 2 pm showdown with the Virginia Cavaliers for the ACC title and the conference's automatic berth in the NCAA National Championship Tournament, the field for which will be announced Monday at noon.  The match will be nationally televised on ESPNU.  Freshman Michael Sauers scored the only goal of the semi-final win with six seconds left in overtime.  The Terps were swarming in the Tiger penalty area, taking shot after shot.  Sauers moved onto a rebound and richochet and launched a rocket past the Clemson keeper. Game, Set and Match.   Virginia, for its part, staged an amazing comeback against No. 1 Notre Dame.  The Irish have lost but two games all season, both to the Cavaliers.  And, amazingly, neither win was at Charlottesville.  Notre Dame, at one point well into the second half, had a 2-0 lead and was preparing to take a penalty kick.  But the kick was no good.  From my viewpoint, the Cav's keeper got a hand on the shot, deflecting it just enough to cause it to smash off the post.  The Virginia defense swarmed over the rebound and a major bullet was dodged.  Shortly thereafter Virginia was awarded a penalty kick of their own and converted.  But Notre Dame scored again and was ahead, 3-1, with just 15 minutes to play.  At this juncture Virginia let it all go and in the space of just a few minutes tied the game.  Into overtime the two teams played, but after six goals in 90 minutes of regulation, neither team scored in overtime.  Then came penalty kicks and here, the Cavaliers prevailed, 4-3.

As I finish this piece the Ravens have moved ahead of Chicago, 10-0, thanks to superior running by Ray Rice.  He broke a long run from scrimmage, then scored a touchdown on an explosive short run.  He also ran for key yardage on Baltimore's next possession, setting up a long 52-yard field goal by Justin Tucker.  Then the cold wave hit with an imminent tornado threat, wild swirling winds and rains, and equally wild lightning.  A delay was announced and continues now after some 40 minutes.

The Terp basketball team is in action tonight on national TV against Oregon State.  The game is scheduled in College Park.