There was a moment of excitement for Maryland and its fans.  Then, in an instant, disappointment.  The cheers quickly transitioned to a dull groan and then to a prolonged stretch of nothing in particular.

Boston College running back Montel Harris appeared to be stopped short on a third-and-1 on his 29-yard line in the fourth quarter.  The crowd rose to its feet and let out a roar, but Harris surged forward for the first down, and the mood of Byrd Stadium did a 180.  Boston College continued the drive, burning precious minutes off the clock, leaving Maryland less time to complete what would amount to a futile comeback.

Thus has been Maryland’s season: moments of excitement drowned out by considerable disappointment, and the eventual 19-17 loss played out like many of the 11 games that preceded it.  There were missed opportunities, a backbreaking play here and there and a coach who would later second guess a crucial decision. 

The season mercifully ended at 2-10--the most losses in a season in program history—before a surprisingly dense crowd of 35,042 on a Thanksgiving weekend.  Nonetheless, it was the smallest announced attendance in coach Ralph Friedgen’s nine years at Maryland. 

Despite persistent rumors, Friedgen said after the game he expects to be back at Maryland next season.  The focus in the next few days will center on athletic director Debbie Yow’s decision on whether to retain Friedgen and his staff, but there were several subplots in the on-field happenings Saturday.

Foremost among them was at quarterback.  Chris Turner, who missed the last 2 ½ games with a sprained MCL, made his 30th and final start at Maryland.  Friedgen said he and offensive coordinator James Franklin thought that Turner appeared healthier in warm ups than backup Jamarr Robinson, who has a turf toe and shoulder injury.  Neither practiced much during the week, Friedgen said, and he estimated both were about 70 percent. 

Turner played the first three series—the first ending in 32-yard field goal—but was sacked on the third and limped off the field.  Robinson replaced him at the end of the first quarter and led a 69-yard touchdown drive on his first series. 

“We started the game with Chris and we were having some protection problems,” Friedgen said.  “I think James wanted to just make a change to protect Chris.” 

Maryland trailed 16-10 at the half and it appeared Robinson would finish the game, but Turner reentered and played the first three series after halftime.  When none ended with a score, Robinson replaced Turner and finished the game.

“There was no hidden agenda on who was playing and who wasn’t,” Friedgen said.  “We said going in at the pregame meeting that we’d play both of them today.”

Robinson’s 28-yard touchdown pass to Torrey Smith with 1:34 left set up an onsides kick attempt, but Boston College recovered and ran out the clock.  Robinson finished 9 of 15 for 115 yards and a touchdown; Turner was 11 of 17 for 101 yards.

As has also been the case for much of this season, there were a handful of plays and penalties that doomed Maryland. 

--On a third-and-18 in the first quarter, Boston College quarterback Dave Shinskie connected on a 66-yard touchdown to Colin Larmond Jr., the Eagles’ longest pass play this season.  

--A late hit by Antwine Perez gave Boston College a first down on a second-and-7 incompletion, and the Eagles would end the drive by pinning Maryland at its own 5-yard line.

--A holding call on Anthony Wiseman on third-and-6 kept another Boston College drive alive, and Alex Wujciak’s personal foul in the fourth quarter offset a Boston College holding call, resulting in a net gain of 5 yards for the Eagles. 

--Boston College defensive tackle Damik Scafe came untouched up the middle on two plays, sacking Robinson on a second-and-7 and Turner on a third-and-7.  Both drives resulted in punts.

And, of course, there was a crucial call that Friedgen second-guessed after the game.  With just more than 4:20 left, Maryland faced a fourth-and-1 at its own 29-yard line.  Franklin called for a sneak, and Friedgen said he had the option to veto it.  He didn’t, and Robinson was stuffed short.

Maryland had all three timeouts left, and Friedgen said after the game he should have punted.  “If you want to blame anybody, blame me.  I should have punted the football.”

Otherwise, it was a lot of Harris, the Eagles' star sophomore.  He had a season-high 41 carries for 142 yards and helped Boston College to a more than 9-minute time of possession advantage.  Ten of the Eagles’ 12 possessions either started or ended in Maryland’s half of the field, and four resulted in field goals.  And Harris’ third-down run, in a matter of seconds, was a microcosm of a painful season. 

Photo by Christopher Blunck

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