TENNESSEE	3
MARYLAND	30

ATLANTA (Dec. 31, 2002)- Maryland handed Tennessee its worst bowl loss in school history, a 30-3 blitz at the 35th annual Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

The Terrapins took advantage of two key UT turnovers and used a balanced attack in defeating the Vols for the third time in five postseason meetings.

Tennessee had eight penalties for 68 yards and Vols quarterback Casey Clausen was sacked six times for minus-36 yards. In addition, UT converted only four of 13 third-down opportunities and rushed 27 times for just 45 net yards -- the school's third lowest figure in 43 bowl appearances.

Tennessee's defense played well enough to jump to No. 5 nationally in total defense by game's end after allowing the Terrapins only 274 yards from scrimmage. But Maryland balanced 154 rushing yards and 120 passing yards with 177 return yards on some timely special teams play.

The Terps' second touchdown was a 54-yard interception and return by Curome Cox, the longest against a Tennessee team in bowl history. Later, return specialist Steve Suter fielded a Dustin Colquitt punt and scampered 79 yards to the UT 14, setting up Maryland's final three points of the game.

Maryland quarterback Scott McBrien scored twice and place-kicker Nick Novak hit on all three field goal tries.

Tennessee finished the game with more first downs than Maryland, ran the same number of offensive plays and compiled more yards of total offense. Yet Alex Walls' 38-yard field goal in the second quarter was the only scoring the Vols could muster.

 

	1	2	3	4	Final
TENNESSEE	0	3	0	0	3
Maryland	7	10	3	10	30

Scoring Summary

MD - McBrien 1 run (Novak kick)
MD - Cox 54 interception return (Novak kick)
TENN- Walls 38 FG
MD - Novak 48 FG
MD - Novak 44 FG
MD - McBrien 6 run (Novak kick)
MD- Novak 25 FG