DURHAM, N.C.—Another week, another sloppy loss for the Terrapin football team.
The Terps (2-6, 1-3 ACC) lost at Duke, 17-13, on a wet and dreary afternoon Saturday and are now off to their worst eight-game start to a season since 1998.
The Terps squandered two opportunities late in the fourth quarter to complete a potential comeback when Chris Turner threw an interception on one drive and Tony Logan fumbled a punt return before another one could start.
It was the Terps’ first loss against Duke since 1999, and the first time Duke (4-3, 2-1) has won back-to-back ACC games since 1994.
Blue Devil quarterback Thaddeus Lewis completed 30-of-43 passes for 371 yards through intermittent periods of torrential rain.
Turner said the rain forced the Terps to stray a little from their offensive gameplan as the Terps had to run the ball more than they normally would have liked.
Turner finished 16-for-23 for 182 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
The Terps rushed 31 times for 67 yards.
The Terps’ only touchdown came on a 67-yard screen pass from Turner to running back Davin Meggett in the third quarter.
Lewis completed a 24-yard touchdown pass to Donovan Varner in the first quarter and a 1-yard touchdown pass to Danny Parker in the third quarter for the Blue Devils.
Linebackers Alex Wujciak and Ben Pooler each forced a fumble for the Terps that were recovered by Jamari McCollough and Travis Ivey, respectively, and cornerback Cameron Chism intercepted his third pass of the season.
But the Terps managed to score just three points off turnovers.
Terp safety Antwine Perez was taken off the field on a stretcher after he suffered an apparent head or neck injury late in the first quarter, but preliminary reports after the game indicate his injuries are not serious.
The Terps have a bye next week and will next play Nov. 7 at NC State.
Check back Monday for more coverage.
