SAN FRANCISCO- For the Terrapins, a team that relied heavily on the running game in the regular season, a measly 19 rushing yards spelled doom in their Emerald Bowl contest Friday night against Oregon State.
Oregon State, the No. 2 rushing defense in the nation coming into the game, held the Terps to 0.8 yards per carry on its way to a 21-14 win at AT&T Park.
Despite five sacks from the defense and three Oregon State turnovers that kept the Terps in contention throughout most of the game, the ineffective running attack made it difficult for coach Ralph Friedgen’s offense to sustain drives.
“They did a great job of getting off blocks,” Friedgen said. “We did a decent job on pass protection, but we couldn’t get any run game going so we became one dimensional.”
Though outsized by the Terps’ offensive line, the Beavers used their quickness to shut down the Terps running game. And after two Chris Turner touchdown passes in the first quarter, Friedgen’s team gained just 60 yards the rest of the way.
“Everything we saw we expected,” said running back Keon Lattimore, who had 16 yards in his final game as a Terp. “But they pretty much had the essence of everything we were trying to do.”
Oregon State linebacker Derrick Doggett and first team All-Pac-10 defensive end Dorian Smith had eight and five tackles, respectively, to lead the charge against the Terps’ usually solid rushing attack.
The Terps, who had just seven passing touchdowns compared to 28 rushing scores coming into tonight’s game, saw their passing offense falter as the running game failed to gain steam.
“They were loading the box and then we were in a situation where they knew the pass was coming,” Turner said. “They would man-up outside and make the play.”
Turner threw for 51 yards in the final three quarters.
“It was tough, they penetrated us and we just didn’t get the job done,” said running back Lance Ball, also playing in his last college contest. “They have a really great defensive line though, so that’s a credit to them.”
The meager running performance was surprising for the Terps, who rushed for 135 yards in a win against Boston College’s No. 1-ranked rushing defense on Nov.10.
Despite having a full compliment of offensive lineman available to play for the first time since the Oct. 6 game against Georgia Tech, the line struggled to open up holes.
“Obviously they are a good run defense but I’m disappointed in myself,” said senior guard Andrew Crummey. “I thought the offensive line came out a little flat at first and we weren’t as crisp as we needed to be.”
Lattimore said after the game that Oregon State had the best rushing defense the team faced this year, and compared them to the Miami Hurricanes team the Terrapins edged out last season.
He also explained what happens when the Terrapins can’t rely on the running game.
“When we don’t run good, what you see is what you get,” Lattimore said.
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