The Maryland Terrapins made it more interesting than anyone would have imagined, but once again, a second half comeback came up just short for the Terps on Saturday as they fell to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 21-16 on Saturday. It was a lot closer than anyone predicted, but at the end of the day, it is still a loss for the Terps.
The biggest story of the day is the benching of Danny O'Brien and the "emergence" of C.J. Brown. O'Brien started the game 1-6 with an interception and was promptly pulled in the second quarter. Brown came in and played very erratically, but he had a 77-yard touchdown run and helped get the Terps back into the game with some timely throws. I wouldn't call him impressive, but there were signs. Coach Edsall has repeatedly said that O'Brien is his guy, but he didn't give him a very long leash today. And when Brown struggled to throw the ball, he opted not to bring him back in the game. If there wasn't already a quarterback controversy in College Park, there is one now.
The big silver lining from today is that the entire defensive unit played better than they have all Season. They have looked questionable all year long but they played exceptionally well today against the toughest offense they have faced all year. In fact, if the Yellow Jackets hadn't had such good starting field position all day long because of special teams and turnovers, they might have held the Yellow Jackets to even fewer points. They held tough today and that is certainly a good sign moving forward.
The Terps not only lost the game, but they also lost their lone senior along the offensive line Andrew Gonnella to what was reportedly a gruesome leg injury. It was so tough to watch apparently that ESPNU didn't even show a replay of it. He had to be carted off the field in an ambulance and it appears his season is over.
The Terps have a lot to feel good about from this one even though they lost, but they do leave Atlanta with a pretty big question mark at quarterback. It will be interesting to see who is under center when the Terps host Clemson on Homecoming next weekend.
For more on the Terps, head on over to Testudo Times, and for a view from behind enemy lines, try SB Nation Atlanta and From the Rumble Seat.