This was not the same Maryland football team that lost their past three games and became an afterthought in the race for the Atlantic Coast Conference championship.
I'd been waiting for this all year. I can't believe this team stunned the #8 team in the country. As banged up as the Terps have been the past month, I thought they would get roasted last night, especially since Boston College lost at home to Florida State the prior week and the Terps suffered a disappointing defeat at North Carolina.
Last night the Terps dished out some punches, took some from BC and continued to punch back. I don't know how else to describe it. There was no quit in this team, even when Boston College took a 21-20 lead in the 3rd quarter. I've been a season ticket holder for four seasons now and I've never been more proud of a Maryland football team than I am of this one after seeing this game. Last night they played hard, showed heart and gave a tremendous effort. That's all I ask for when I go to watch these games. They are 5-5 with road games at Florida State and at North Carolina State and will probably need to win both for a post season bowl bid. But the way this team has bounced back from several devastating injuries to pull together and defeat a very good Boston College team was incredible to see. I loved the effort I saw out there.
Sure Heisman hopeful Matt Ryan had over 400 yards passing for Boston College. But the Terps defense, lead by junior Linebacker Dave Philistin, was applying tons of pressure on Ryan, blitzing several times and forcing Ryan into several mistakes. The defense sacked Ryan four times and intercepted him twice. The Terps turned those two interceptions into touchdowns. HUGE!
Maryland QB Chris Turner looked like a senior veteran last night. He was 21-27 for 337 yards and three touchdowns. He wasn't the only star tonight. RB Lance Ball: 32 carries, 132 yards 1 TD. TE Jason Goode: 6 catches, 56 yards 2 TD's. WR Darrius Heyward-Bey: 5 catches, 75 yards. They even got help from a fill in WR, Emani Lee-Odai, who played in place of injured WR Danny Oquendo. Emani had three catches for 78 yards.
There were two plays that stood out. One was to back up RB Da'Rel Scott (see below), who normally returns kick offs. Scott caught Chris Turner's screen pass and raced 57 yards for the score to put Maryland ahead 34-21 with a little over 4:00 left in the third quarter. It was his first career reception.
The other was Heyward-Bey running for a 37-yard touchdown on a reverse with a little over 14:00 left in the game. Heyward-Bey also caught the 2 point conversion to make it 42-21 Terps.
Boston College then struck for two TD's and it was a nailbiter until the end when their attempt at an onside kick failed to travel the required ten yards with under a minute to go. It was celebration time for the Terps, fans and students. For the first time in school history, Maryland has defeated two top ten teams in the same season. "We play enough of them" said Head Coach Ralph Friedgen in his radio press conference.
This was also the last home game for the Maryland seniors. I remember seeing these guys come into the program, play a little in their first year. They'd make mistakes and learn, work hard and gradually become starters. Hard to believe that four years have passed by and these guys won't be in a Maryland uniform next season. It's been a lot of fun going out to Byrd Stadium and cheering for them from Section 19. So for Lance Ball, Keon Lattimore, Isaiah Gardner, Andrew Crummey, Carlos Feliciano, J.J. Justice, Christian Varner and Dre Moore, thanks for the effort and best wishes.
Hard to believe the home season is over with. It's been a blast cheering from Section 19 this year and I can't wait to do it again next season.
Game recap
Washington Post summary
Post game quotes
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