Wounded Terps snap No. 8 Boston College, 42-35

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) -- Judging by their performance against crippled Maryland, it's hard to believe Boston College was unbeaten and ranked second in the nation just two weeks ago.

Playing against a struggling team mired in a three-game losing streak, the No. 8 Eagles yielded 472 yards and five touchdowns in a 42-35 loss Saturday night.

It was the most points Boston College has allowed in an Atlantic Coast Conference game since joining the league in 2005. In addition, the nation's top-ranked rushing defense (58 yards per game) surrendered a season-high 135 yards, even though Maryland was without its leading ground gainer.

Had they not lost one week ago to Florida State, the Eagles (8-2, 4-2) probably would have been playing for a chance to be No. 1 because top-ranked Ohio State lost earlier Saturday.

It's hopes for a national championship are over, but Boston College can still earn a berth in the ACC championship game with a win over Clemson next week.

Matt Ryan, who threw three interceptions against Florida State, went 33-for-56 for 421 yards and three touchdowns, but was intercepted twice.

The injury-plagued Terrapins (5-5, 2-4) played with a makeshift offensive line and without leading rusher Keon Lattimore (hamstring). Maryland was also without second-leading receiver Danny Oquendo (knee), and standout linebacker Erin Henderson played despite sitting out practice all week with a sore back.

But the Terps received a solid performance from Chris Turner, who went 21-for-27 for 337 yards and three touchdowns. Knowing it would be difficult to pound the ball inside, Maryland relied heavily on the passing game, often throwing deep and spreading the Boston College defense with quick tosses to the outside.

That enabled Lance Ball to rush 32 times for 109 yards and a score. Jason Goode caught two touchdown throws and had six catches, matching his total in Maryland's first nine games.

The Terrapins let a 42-21 lead dwindle to seven points when Ryan threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Purvis with 52 seconds left, but the subsequent onside kick failed to go the required 10 yards, giving Maryland possession and the victory.

At game's end, the fans rushed the field to celebrate the Terps' second win this season over a top-10 team. Maryland beat then-No. 10 Rutgers on Sept. 29.

Down 20-14 at halftime, Boston College took its first lead by opening the third quarter with a march that ended with Ryan throwing a 3-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Challenger.

Turner promptly passed for all the yardage in an 82-yard drive that ended with a 7-yarder to Goode for a 27-21 lead.

After Boston College's first punt of the game, Turner flipped a screen pass to Da'Rel Scott, who sprinted down the left sideline for a 57-yard score.

It became 42-21 when Maryland wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey ran for a 37-yard touchdown on a reverse with 14:21 left.

Ryan threw a touchdown pass to Purvis with 7:31 to go, but the Eagles couldn't complete the comeback after trailing at halftime in a third straight game.

Only minutes after bidding farewell to 15 seniors before the final home game, Maryland launched a crisp opening drive that covered 76 yards for a 7-0 lead. Turner completed three passes for 66 yards, including a 43-yarder to Heyward-Bey and a 10-yard touchdown toss to Goode.

The Terrapins then forced a punt, but a roughing-the-kicker penalty provided Boston College with a second chance at the Maryland 40. Ryan completed a 29-yard pass to Rich Gunnell to set up a 1-yard touchdown run by James McCluskey.

On the Eagles' next possession, however, a mistake by Ryan paved the way for the Terps to go up 14-7. Following the first career interception by Maryland senior tackle Dre Moore, Ball ran in from the 5, only the fifth rushing touchdown against BC this season.

McCluskey then capped an 86-yard drive by scoring from the 1 on the first play of the second quarter.

Maryland answered with a field goal before Boston College's Steve Aponavicius shanked a 34-yard attempt.

Source: ncaafootball.com; Photo Credit: Gene Galin (For more accfootballphotos.com)

Boston College seeks to rebound against desperate Maryland

By DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) -- One true test for a football team is its ability to bounce back from a defeat. Maryland has had plenty of
practice at it, and still hasn't perfected the technique.

Now, it's time to see how Boston College fares. The Eagles' pursuit of a national championship was interrupted last week with a 27-17 loss to Florida State. The setback dropped Boston College from second to eighth in the AP poll and put the Eagles in position for the first time to see how they cope with adversity.

Boston College (8-1, 4-1 ACC) is absolutely certain there will be no letdown against Maryland (4-5, 1-4) on Saturday night.

"I don't think it's going to be a problem at all. Our goal has always been to win the ACC championship game, and anything else would have been extra," Eagles coach Jeff Jagodzinski said. "We're still right in the thick of things. Our goal is to win the ACC first. If that happens, we'll see what happens after that."

Boston College had four turnovers against the Seminoles, but there's nothing to be gained by lamenting the loss.

"It's just one game, it's one isolated incident and you have to go ahead and put it behind you and make sure we prepare and try and play well this week," Eagles quarterback Matt Ryan said. "That's the focus."

Boston College's loss was no less agonizing than Maryland's first defeat, an overtime disaster at Wake Forest on Sept. 22 in which the Terrapins blew a 24-3 lead. Maryland rebounded to beat Rutgers the following week.

After their next loss, however, the Terrapins lost again. And again. Now mired in a three-game skid, Maryland needs to win two of three to qualify for a bowl bid.

The problem is that the Terps have been left woefully short-handed by a series of injuries that has wiped out the offensive line and picked apart a defense that needs all the help it can get against Ryan & Co.

"I've never had a season like this -- ever," coach Ralph Friedgen said. "The good thing about it is our players. They haven't responded negatively to negative things. I told them that the only thing we have to worry about is what we can control. We're not going to undo what's been done."

Junior linebacker Erin Henderson, who already missed a game this season with a sore knee, intends to play Saturday despite being hindered by a back injury. He expects to see a Boston College team looking for redemption.

"They were having a dream season. I know they're going to be trying to get back on track, and I know they're just as excited to get that taste out of their mouth as we have been for the past three weeks," Henderson said.

This will be the final home game for 15 Maryland seniors. "I'm sure they're going to be pumped up and ready to go," Ryan said. "And night games, they always provide a little bit of extra excitement. It's going to be fun, and we're going to be prepared for it."

Boston College linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar, who scored two touchdowns in last year's 38-16 rout of Maryland, sprained his ankle against Florida State and is questionable for Saturday night. If he's not healthy enough to go, he will provide plenty of vocal support on the sideline.

"We sill have a lot of play for. Our season isn't over," Dunbar said. "We still have a lot of goals that can be reached. So, as long as we continue to play hard and focus and execute, we should be all right."

Source: A.P. Wire; Photo Credit: Collegiate Images

Despite injuries, Terps haven't abandoned hope of bowl bid

By DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) -- They've tried desperately to overcome an uncanny rash of injuries, and all the Maryland Terrapins have received for their effort is three straight losses.

Now things really get tough. After facing eighth-ranked Boston College at home Saturday night, the Terps close out the season with road games against Florida State and North Carolina State.

Maryland (4-5, 1-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) must win two of three to qualify for a bowl bid. It won't be easy, but at least the Terrapins haven't given up hope of salvaging a once-promising season.

"The type of team we are, we're not going to sit here and make excuses and feel sorry for ourselves," defensive end Jeremy Navarre said Tuesday. "For the past three or four weeks, we've heard about the whole injury thing. We're over it. We have to win with who we have. We can't throw the season away because we're hurt."

Only four offensive starters have played in all nine games, and the defense has been similarly stricken. Coach Ralph Friedgen says he's never experienced anything like it.

"I'm doing the best I can with what I've got," he said. A month ago, the Terrapins were soaring after successive wins over then-No. 10 Rutgers and Georgia Tech. Then came the injuries -- and losses to Virginia, Clemson and North Carolina.

If nothing else, Maryland knows exactly what must be done to extend its season beyond 12 games.

"We have a tough road ahead of us. We understand that," said standout linebacker Erin Henderson, who's nursing a strained back. "We've dealt with tough times this year with the injuries and the adversity we've had to face, but it's a pride thing. We're going to keep our heads high and compete every day."

Two out of three would give the Terps the minimum victories needed to receive a bowl bid. Why settle for just that, when a 7-5 record would be even more inviting to bowl scouts?

"We feel we need to win all three," Navarre said. "Boston College is No. 8 in the country and Florida State beat Boston College. It's not an easy way out, but it's like that every year."

Friedgen has spoken to his players individually and collectively in an effort to ensure they play hard to the end. He has no reason to expect anything less.

"We've got two ways to go. I told them I'd be disappointed if we didn't give everything we had," he said. "We haven't reached the goals we want to reach, but I really feel good about this team and how hard they've been playing. I know they're hurting. I understand that. I would be worried if they weren't."

Friedgen is hurting, too. Before the injuries began to mount, he expected the Terrapins to compete for the ACC title. Now they're in a desperate situation, but there's nothing to be gained by throwing down his whistle and cursing his luck.

"I'm not backing down. I'm not going to stop working," Friedgen said. "I'm not down. If anything, I'm motivated. I'm going to get this thing right and we're going to win football games here at Maryland."

Source: AP; Photo Credit: Gene Galin; To see more: accfootballphotos.com.

CFI: THE ACC REPORT

BY CHRISTOPHER J. KRESGE
ACC COASTAL INSIDER

MIAMI 37 FLORIDA STATE 29
Not since 1977 has this game been played where both teams were NOT ranked in the top 25. And to make matters worse, South Florida was ranked number two heading into the week. College football is definitely in a state of change needless to say. Ugly Betty could best describe this game. Five combined interceptions and it wasn’t because the defenses were playing at such a high level -- both quarterbacks were just really bad. As a side note -- Xavier Lee might have the legs of Michael Vick, but has the arm and quarterback sense of someone not worthy of a starting position. Lee was literally skipping passes to his receivers on ten yard out patterns. Jimbo Fisher almost had a cardiac arrest on some plays wishing he still had JaMarcus Russell. Bobby Bowden might start reconsidering how much longer he can go at it in an increasingly improving ACC. For The Canes, it was a lot of the same, running hard with Graig Cooper and Javarris James, inconsistent quarterback play and a high-octane effort on defense. Game ball goes to backup quarterback Kirby Freeman after standing tall in the pocket and delivering the winning touchdown throw to the corner of the end zone. Both teams are mediocre but it will be interesting to see how they end the season.
NEXT WEEK: November 3 MIAMI vs. NC STATE

VIRGINIA 18 MARYLAND 17
Virginia is in first place? Mikkel Simpson had 271 all-purpose yards against Maryland and two touchdowns? Al Groh has not been fired yet? Yes, yes and yes. Again, it is one of those college football seasons. Oh, I also forgot to add that quarterback Jameel Sewell threw NO interceptions. Simpson was listed on the depth chart as a backup tight end, now he can be listed as superman after last Saturday's performance. Simpson was thrown into duty due to injuries and I do not think he is ready to go back to the bench anytime soon. Virginia's defense played well against the run all day, which is Maryland's strong point. Also what was impressive was Virginia's no quit attitude. Down three at half, they came out in the second half and laid the wood. Virginia vs. Boston College in the ACC Championship game? As Lee Corso says, "Not so fast my friend!" There is whole lot of games to be played. Stay tuned...........
NEXT WEEK: Virginia vs. NC STATE

GEORGIA TECH 34 – ARMY 10
If you missed this game, don’t worry, you didn’t miss much. A lot of the same from Georgia Tech -- a very conservative offense, a young quarterback that only throws out patterns and a solid, well-disciplined defense. The biggest news out of this game was the knee injury sustained by running back Tashard Choice. He opted for knee surgery this week but no substantial damage was done to his ligaments and he could be back for the Virginia Tech game on November 1. Overall, Georgia Tech is a well-coached team but they do not have the playmakers to make a push to the ACC Championship game. I am predicting they will play the spoiler role towards the end of the season if teams do not take them seriously.
NEXT WEEK: November 1 Georgia Tech vs. Virginia Tech

PHOTO CREDIT: University of Miami Sports Media Relations Office