Maryland took their first lead of the game late in the fourth quarter, but gave up a touchdown to Johnathan Coleman with less than a minute left, losing 20-17 to Boston College.
After an opening drive three-and-out for Maryland where Caleb Rowe passed three times, Boston College went to work quickly. Spiffy Evans returned a punt 26 yards and Chase Rettig completed a pass down the sideline to Alex Amidon for a 19-yard gain, setting the Eagles up with an opportunity in the redzone. Rettig executed a nice play-action fake and found running back David Dudeck past Demetrius Hartsfield in the end zone for the score, giving BC a 7-0 lead.
Later in the quarter, Rowe started to get it together. After an incomplete pass to Stefon Diggs and a false start penalty, he completed five passes in a row - two to Diggs and one apiece to Nigel King, Devonte Campbell and Wes Brown - for a combined 30 yards. Brown followed that up with a 17-yard run, giving Maryland a first down in BC territory. Rowe was able to complete two more passes to Diggs on the drive, but freshman kicker Brad Craddock missed a 35-yard field goal from the right hash.
Two Rowe interceptions On third-and-eight from the Eagles' 45, Rowe got pressured from outside and threw the ball directly to defensive lineman Kieran Borcich. A 29-yard Rettig pass to Johnathan Coleman set up a 36-yard field goal from Nate Freese, increasing BC's lead to 10-0.
Boston College went to work immediately on the first drive of the half. Rettig found a wide-open Amidonfor 38 yards on their first play from scrimmage, bringing the Eagles into Maryland territory. After a seven-yard run from Andre Williams, Rettig connected with Coleman for a 13-yard first down. Maryland's defense was then able to get themselves together, forcing a 28-yard field goal from Nate Freese. Boston College extended their lead to 13-0.
Maryland was able to get a drive of their own together immediately after. Diggs returned the kickoff 16 yards, and a BC penalty gave the Terps possession at their own 31. Rowe then completed five passes for a combined 59 yards, including a 26-yard pass to Dorsey on fourth-and-seven. After he found Dorsey again on third-and-goal at the 11 for nine yards, the Terrapins faced fourth-and-goal at the 2. Randy Edsall elected to go for it, and Rowe found Nigel King wide open in the corner of the end zone on a fade route, making the score 13-7. The extra point was taken by Brendan Magistro, a walk-on, as Craddock was benched for the missed field goal.
On BC's next drive, the Terps' defense stepped up. Rettig was sacked on back-to-back plays, first by Joe Vellano and then by A.J. Francis. Andre Williams was able to run for ten yards on the next play, but it wasn't enough and the Eagles were forced to punt.
Rowe started out the next drive by completing a 29-yard pass to Diggs, and then gradually moved down the field on the legs of Wes Brown, who ran four times for seven yards, and Rowe, who had an eight-yard rush. Rowe missed a wide-open Brown in the end zone on third-and-goal, and Magistro kicked a 28-yard field goal to close out the quarter.
After the teams traded three-and-outs to start the fourth, Stefon Diggs struck. On third-and-three from the Terps' 34, he caught a pass over the middle heading across the field and simply outran the Eagles' entire defense. Diggs ran into the endzone with ease, scoring from 68 yards out. Magistro hit the extra point, giving the Terps their first lead of the game - 17-13.
On Boston College's next drive, Vellano, rushing the passer, was held around the neck by Ian White, yet powered forward and sacked Rettig, forcing a fumble the Maryland recovered.
The Eagles had one last chance with just under five minutes left, and managed to come through. Rettig completed five first down passes - two to Chris Pantale and three to Amidon - before finding Coleman wide open on the right side for a 14-yard score, taking a 20-17 lead with under a minute left.
Maryland got the ball back with a chance to tie or take the lead, but Rowe threw an interception to Spenser Rositano at midfield - his third of the day.
Rowe played much better than his statline shows (23/42 for 240 yards, two touchdowns and three picks), and performed well for a fourth-string true freshman thrown into his first collegiate start. Wes Brown finished with 23 rushes for 73 yards, and Diggs had a career-high 12 catches for 156 yards and a score.
The loss likely eliminates Maryland from postseason contention. The Terps will have to win two more games this season to make a bowl game, and with dates against Georgia Tech, Clemson, Florida State, and North Carolina, that does not look probable.
We'll have more on the loss tomorrow.