Maryland Beats Virginia, 33-21, for Third Title in Row

Coach Bobby Ross hinted strongly that he would stay at Maryland after the Terrapins squelched Virginia’s second-half comeback to beat the Cavaliers, 33-21, Friday and win their third straight Atlantic Coast Conference championship.

A 40-yard scoring pass from Stan Gelbaugh to Ferrell Edmunds gave the Terps breathing room early in the fourth quarter after Virginia had scored twice to pull within 23-21.

Ross, mentioned as a candidate for almost every open coaching job despite no concrete offers, promised to make a decision soon after meeting with his family.

“As of right now, nobody has come to me,” he said, “so it looks like I’m going to stay here. I want to stay at Maryland.”

The Terps, headed for a game against Syracuse in the Cherry Bowl at Pontiac, Mich., on Dec. 21, finished with their fourth straight 8-3 regular-season mark under Ross. They were 6-0 in the ACC after posting a 17th consecutive league victory and their 14th in a row over the Cavaliers.

Virginia, 6-5 overall and 4-3 in the ACC, pulled within two points on a one-yard touchdown run by Don Majkowski on the first play of the final period.

But on the fourth play after the ensuing kickoff, Edmunds pulled loose from the grasp of Chris Warren after his clutch reception and went the final 12 yards to score.