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| Maryland finishes 2-10 after tough loss to BC
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| Staff CollegeFootballNews.com | Nov 28, 2009 | ||
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Maryland Terrapins 2009 ... Head Coach: Ralph Friedgen
Maryland Terrapins Nov. 28 Boston College 19 … at Maryland 17 Boston College got four Steve Aponovicius field goals and a 66-yard touchdown catch from Colin Larmond Jr. on the way to a tough win. Maryland tied the score at ten in the second quarter on a six-yard DaRel Scott run pulled within two with 1:34 to play on a 28-yard Torrey Smith catch, but BC recovered the onside kick and closed out the game. BC outgained Maryland 353 yards to 277 with Montel Harris running for 142 yards on 41 carries. Player of the Game: Boston College LB Luke Kuechly made 16 tackles, and Montel Harris ran 41 times for 142 yards and caught a 30-yard pass. Maryland: Passing: Jamarr Robinson, 9-15, 115 yds, 1 TD Rushing: DaRel Scott, 11-45, 1 TD, Receiving: Torrey Smith, 6-68, 1 TD Boston College: Passing: Dave Shinskie, 14-23, 227 yds, 1 TD Rushing: Montel Harris, 41-142, Receiving: Rich Gunnell, 5-42 What It All Means: A ten-loss season, a seven-loss losing streak, and the two wins coming in a three-point stunner over Clemson and an overtime win over FCSer James Madison … uh-oh. It might be time for a change with Ralph Friedgen clearly not getting the job done this year with nothing working on a consistent basis. The offense was mediocre, the secondary was a disaster, and the lines struggled throughout. The only positive out of the BC loss was the return of QB Chris Turner from a knee injury to see time in his final game. Nov. 21 at Florida State 29 … Maryland 26 Greg Reid came up with an electrifying 48-yard punt return to set up a Lonnie Pryor three-yard touchdown run with 32 seconds to play to give Florida State the win and become bowl eligible. Maryland got two Davin Meggett touchdown runs, including a nine-yarder late in the fourth to take the lead, but the offense couldn’t run out the clock. Pryor also tore off a 50-yard scoring run for the Noles in the first half on the way to a 14-3 lead, but Maryland scored 16 straight points including a 20-yard Adrian Cannon 20-yard touchdown catch before FSU took the lead back on a 42-yard Bert Reed touchdown catch in the fourth. Player of the Game: Florida State LB Nigel Bradham made ten tackles and a sack Maryland: Passing: Jamarr Robinson, 20-27, 214 yds, 1 TD Rushing: DaRel Scott, 19-83, Receiving: Torrey Smith, 7-74 Florida State: Passing: E.J. Manuel, 17-27, 206 yds, 3 INT Rushing: Lonnie Pryor, 2-57, 2 TD, Receiving: Jarmon Fortson, 5-71 What It All Means: Maryland could easily pack it in and go into the tank, but it battled hard against Florida State and came within a late stop of pulling out the win. Now on a six-game losing streak, the Terps are in the midst of a disaster that had the potential to be turned around late. It’s not like they’re being blown away, four losses this year were close and could’ve gone the other way, but losses are losses and Maryland is unable to come up with big plays in key spots. There’s one more shot to get something positive with Boston College coming up at home to finish up the season. Showing more offensive pop would be nice. Nov. 7 at NC State 38 … Maryland 31 NC State overcame four turnovers with 482 yards of total offense with Russell Wilson throwing three touchdown passes and running for another. The Wolfpack outplayed the Terps, but struggled to put the game away as Alex Wujciak took one of Wilson’s three interceptions 70 yards for a touchdown, and Torrey Smith returned a kickoff 82 yards for a score. But the Maryland offense only managed three points in the second half and couldn’t get any closer than seven after a 31-yard Nick Ferrara field goal. Wujciak made 14 tackles. Player of the Game: NC State QB Russell Wilson completed 25-of-38 passes for 343 yards and three scores and three interceptions, and he ran nine times for 11 yards and a score. Maryland: Passing: Chris Turner, 12-19, 135 yds, 1 INT Rushing: Jamarr Robinson, 9-38, Receiving: Torrey Smith, 8-64 NC State: Passing: Russell Wilson, 25-38, 343 yds, 3 TD, 3 INT Rushing: Toney Baker, 19-75, Receiving: Jarvis Williams, 7-107 What It All Means: Maryland’s ugly season got a lot worse as QB Chris Turner was lost with a knee injury as the team is now ensured of a losing season. The running game can’t get going as the line continues to have problems. Even with a brilliant year, and a great game, from LB Alex Wujciak, the Term defense couldn’t keep the Pack in check. The takeaways were there, but the offense couldn’t produce in the second half. It doesn’t get any easier with Virginia Tech and at Florida State up next. Oct. 24 at Duke 17 … Maryland 13 Duke got 371 passing yards from Thaddeus Lewis with a 24-yard throw to Donovan Varner to start the scoring and a one-yarder to Danny Parker in the third quarter for the final Blue Devil points. Maryland made several attempts to come back, getting a 67-yard Davin Meggett touchdown catch to pull within four, but the Blue Devil defense held tough the rest of the way. Duke committed 12 penalties to Maryland’s three. Player of the Game: Duke QB Thaddeus Lewis completed 30-of-43 passes for 371 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. Maryland: Passing: Chris Turner, 16-23, 182 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing: Dave Meggett, 9-38, Receiving: Adrian Cannon, 6-66 Duke: Passing: Thaddeus Lewis, 30-43, 371 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing: Thaddeus Lewis, 14-14, Receiving: Austin Kelly, 9-67 What It All Means: And the disaster keeps on rolling. The Terps didn’t get any offense, and failed to come through when the chances were there, and it was a third loss in a row and a fifth loss in six games. The culprit continues to be an offensive line as it paved the way for just 67 rushing yards. The O came up with just 11 first downs and 249 yards of offense. Coming up next is a trip to NC State, and the Terps have to come up with a win over the struggling Pack or that’s it. They’re not beating Virginia Tech, Florida State in Tallahassee, or Boston College. Oct. 17 Virginia 20 … at Maryland 9 In lousy conditions, Virginia was helped by four takeaways and overcame a 9-3 deficit with a 32-yard Nate Collins interception return for a touchdown and a two-yard touchdown run from Rashawn Jackson. Maryland only managed 284 yards and three Nick Ferrara field goals, but the defense kept Virginia to 201 yards of total offense and nine first downs. The Terps were killed by turnovers and weren’t able to answer over the last 17 minutes. Player of the Game: Virginia DT Nate Collins made nine tackles with a sack and two tackles for loss Maryland: Passing: Chris Turner, 16-38, 158 yds, 2 INT Rushing: Davin Meggett, 11-52, Receiving: Adrian Cannon & Torrey Smith, 3-34 Virginia: Passing: Jameel Sewell, 13-23, 137 yds Rushing: Rashawn Jackson, 19-90, 1 TD, Receiving: Vic Hall, 5-53 What It All Means: The Maryland defense did its job against Virginia, keeping the Cav attack to just 201 yards, but turnovers once against were a killer. The offensive line has been awful, and it keeps having problems with not room for the running backs to work and not allowing time for Chris Turner to get comfortable for the passing game. There’s no momentum from the win over Clemson with losses to Wake Forest and Virginia in back to back weeks, but there’s still time to make something positive happen with games against Duke and NC State up next. However, those are on the road. Oct. 10 at Wake Forest 42 … Maryland 32 Wake Forest scored touchdowns on its first five possessions with Riley Skinner throwing for three scores and Josh Adams tearing off a 48-yard touchdown run. Maryland trued to mount a late comeback, but it was too little, too late, with 15 points in the fourth quarter on two Chris Turner touchdown passes. The Demon Deacons outgained the Terps 516 yards to 369. Player of the Game: Wake Forest QB Riley Skinner completed 24-of-33 passes for 360 yards and four touchdowns. Maryland: Passing: Chris Turner, 24-44, 307 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT Rushing: Chris Turner, 16-27, Receiving: Adrian Cannon, 4-48, 2 TD Wake Forest: Passing: Riley Skinner, 24-33, 360 yds, 4 TD Rushing: Josh Adams, 13-94, 1 TD, Receiving: Marshall Williams 6-71, 1 TD What It All Means: Maryland can’t tackle. The Terps didn’t have anything planned for a Wake Forest attack that picked apart the defense with midrange throw after midrange throw. The Terps are getting decent pressure, but the secondary isn’t wrapping up after allowing the pass. The O line has to do a far better job and has to finally get the middling ground game rolling. This was supposed to be the easy part of the schedule coming up, but Virginia and Duke are playing far better than Maryland is at the moment, and it’s going to take more firepower and more big plays on defense (more takeaways) to pull off wins. Oct. 3 at Maryland 24 … Clemson 21 Clemson jumped out to a 10-0 lead helped by a 17-yard Jacoby Ford touchdown run, and then Maryland took over as the defense kept the Tigers out of the end zone while Chris Turner and the Terp offense got hot. Turner connected with Torrey Smith for a 29-yard touchdown and on a four-yarder to Ronnie Tyler in the final 4:32 of the first half, and Davin Meggett ran for a one-yard score in the third for what would turn out to be the game-winner. C.J. Spiller answered with a kickoff return for a touchdown, but the Tigers couldn’t get back on the board. Player of the Game: Maryland LB Demetrius Hartfield made ten tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Clemson: Passing: Kyle Parker, 20-37, 180 yds, 1 INT Rushing: C.J. Spiller, 18-72, Receiving: Michael Palmer, 5-65 Maryland: Passing: Chris Turner, 19-26, 215 yds, 2 TD Rushing: Davin Meggett, 10-27, 1 TD, Receiving: Ronnie Tyler, 5-39, 1 TD What It All Means: It’s not like Maryland played a perfect game, but the defense was a rock over the final three quarters and Chris Turner had his best game of the season. The carries were spread around with nine players getting work, and while no one produced and the offensive line struggled both in pass protection and for the ground game, Turner held up well. Backup punter Nick Ferrara deserves credit for a big game averaging 43.2 yards per kick and putting three inside the 20. Was this game the spark for the rest of the year? The Terps have to go on the road for three of the next four games, but Virginia and Duke are coming up after the trip to Wake Forest. Sept. 26 Rutgers 34 … at Maryland 13 The Rutgers defense forced five turnovers with Antonio Lowery returning an interception on the first play of the game 36 yards for a touchdown and George Johnson recovered a fumble in the end zone in the third on the way to an ugly win. Maryland fought back in the first half holding a 13-10 lead into the lockerroom, highlighted by a 24-yard LaQuan Williams catch, but it was all Rutgers in the second half with 24 unanswered points. Joe Martinek put a nail in the coffin with runs of 29 and 61 yards late in the fourth. Player of the Game: Rutgers RB Joe Martinek ran 19 times for 147 yards and two touchdowns, and he led the team with two catches for 24 yards. Maryland: Passing: Chris Turner, 21-38, 271 yds, 1 TD, 3 INT Rushing: Da’Rel Scott, 9-22, Receiving: Adrian Cannon, 5-46 Rutgers: Passing: Domenic Natale, 4-12, 42 TD Rushing: Joe Martinek, 19-147, 2 TD, Receiving: Joe Martinek, 2-24 What It All Means: Rutgers was miserable on offense. The passing game was a disaster, the running game did nothing for 55 minutes, and there was chance after chance for Maryland to take over the game. But the Terps were bumbling and inept with two fumbles, three interceptions, and ten penalties to keep the disaster of a season sinking even further. The schedule doesn’t ease up with Rutgers coming in next week, and while Maryland might not be that good, it has to at least show that it’s not so horrible when it comes to making mistakes. Sept. 19 Middle Tennessee 32 … at Maryland 31 Alan Gendreau nailed a 19-yard field goal with no time left on the clock as Middle Tennessee beat Maryland for the second year in a row. Maryland came up with several big plays highlighted by a 64-yard Torrey Smith touchdown in the fourth quarter. Dwight Dasher ran for a three-yard score and he threw a seven-yard scoring pass to Sancho McDonald and a 32-yarder to Garrett Andrews to rally the Blue Raiders back from a 21-13 second half deficit, but Maryland took a late lead on a 42-yard Nick Ferrara field goal. Dasher was perfect leading the final drive for the game-winning kick. Player of the Game: Middle Tennessee QB Dwight Dasher completed 27-of-44 passes for 324 yards and two touchdowns and two interceptions, and he ran 20 times for 26 yards and a score. Maryland: Passing: Chris Turner, 19-30, 288 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing: DaRel Scott, 13-117, 1 TD, Receiving: Davin Meggett, 6-63 Middle Tennessee: Passing: Dwight Dasher, 27-44, 324 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing: D.D. Kyles, 10-34, Receiving: Chris McClover, 7-110 What It All Means: Maryland is now officially a disaster defensively. Needing overtime to beat James Madison is one thing, but to collapse and be unable to hold down Middle Tennessee in a loss showed how far the defense has to go before it’s remotely passable. There’s one more non-conference game, Rutgers, before facing Clemson to start the ACC season, and while the offense has been doing a decent job of hitting the home runs, it doesn’t matter when the defense is getting torched in every way possible. Sept. 12 at Maryland 38 ... James Madison 35 OT James Madison PK Dixon Wright missed his overtime field goal opportunity wide from 41 yards out, and Maryland took advantage as Nick Ferrara nailed his 26-yard shot to come up with the tough win. In a see-saw game, the Terps were able to force overtime with an Adrian Cannon 27-yard touchdown grab to overcome a big day from JMU QB Drew Dudzik, who threw two touchdown passes and ran for a 70-yarder. The JMU defense also got into the act with a 38-yard interception return for a score from Jon Williams, but the Terps answered with a good drive finishing with an eight-yard Torrey Smith touchdown run. JMU committed 11 penalties to Maryland's five. Player of the Game: Maryland LB Adrian Moten made 13 tackles and a tackle for loss. James Madison: Passing: Drew Dudzik, 9-15, 141 yds, 2 TD Rushing: Drew Dudzik, 14-112, 1 TD, Receiving: Mike Caussin, 3-52, 2 TD Maryland: Passing: Chris Turner, 35-38, 236 yds, 1 TD,1 INT Rushing: Da'Rel Scott, 17-68, 1 TD, Receiving: Torrey Smith, 8-80 What It All Means: To be fair, James Madison is fantastic at the FCS level, so it's not like too much should be made out of the Terps struggling so much. But going forward with Middle Tennessee up next before diving into the meat of the schedule, Maryland needed its defense to grow up in a hurry. There were too many big plays allowed for the second week in a row and too many mistakes, while the offense didn't get enough out of the running game. Maryland can't be outgained 268 to 123 on the ground and get away with it. Sept. 5 at California 52 ... Maryland 13 California's offense was in high gear ripping off 542 yards starting off with a scintillating 73-yard touchdown dash from Jahvid Best, who then added a two-yard scoring run to spark the route. Maryland managed two early field goals, but a 31-point scoring run, with three of Kevin Riley's four touchdown passes, highlighted by a 39-yarder to Nyan Boateng and a 42-yard play to Marvin Jones, put the game well out of reach. Maryland finally got in the end zone in the fourth quarter with a 39-yard DaRel Scott touchdown run. Player of the Game: California RB Jahvid Best ran ten times for 137 yards and two touchdowns. California: Passing: Kevin Riley, 17-26, 298 yds, 4 TD Rushing: Jahvid Best, 10-137, 2 TD, Receiving: Marvin Jones, 3-74, 1 TD Maryland: Passing: Chris Turner, 17-30, 167 yds Rushing: DaRel Scott, 13-90, 1 TD, Receiving: Adrian Cannon, 5-30 What It All Means: Nothing worked. The defense got hit with the knockout blow early on and never recovered. DaRel Scott wasn't bad running the ball, but Chris Turner couldn't make anything happen deep and he couldn't convert on third down chances as the team converted just 4-of-17 chances. It's back to the drawing board, but the Terps don't exactly have a layup against FCS powerhouse James Madison next week. The offense has to find something that clicks, while the defense has to quickly put this clunker in the rearview mirror. On the positive side, Cal might really be one of the elite, national title-caliber teams throughout this year. Copyright © Scout.com and CollegeFootballNews.com | |||