CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – As the ball bounced off the fingertips of Boston College wide receiver Ifeanyi Momah and into the waiting arms of teammate Bobby Swigert, Terrapin football defensive coordinator Don Brown stood on the sideline, wondering whether his team was really meant to win Saturday’s game.
Less than eight minutes before, the Terps had carried a comfortable lead into the fourth quarter against an Eagle offense that had struggled to move the ball all afternoon. Now, after Swigert’s improbable 63-yard reception had set up a 3-yard touchdown dive from running back Montel Harris, Brown and the Terps had watched the Eagles close the gap to just three points.
But as quickly as they had let Boston College climb back into the game, their defense shut the door. The Terps stopped fourth-down plays on the Eagles’ final two drives, including snuffing Harris at the line of scrimmage on a fourth-and-inches play on Boston College’s final drive that effectively sealed the Terps’ 24-21 win, their first road victory since 2008.
“[Swigert’s catch] makes you, in the back of your mind, start wondering whether this is your day,” Brown said with a pained expression on his face. “But the reality is that our defensive guys really stepped up, didn’t lose their cool, didn’t lose their poise. We have been in those situations, so when our mettle gets tested, our guys know how to step up and finish the game off.”
It wasn’t supposed to be such a nerve-wracking finish. The Terps (5-2, 2-1 ACC) had opened up a 21-7 lead at halftime with the help of good field position.
First, receiver Tony Logan returned a punt 29 yards to start a drive that ended when quarterback Danny O’Brien hit receiver Torrey Smith on a fade route for a 2-yard touchdown.
Boston College (2-5, 0-4 ACC) answered with a touchdown of its own on the very next drive and forced the Terps to punt on their next possession. But safety Kenny Tate forced running back Harris to fumble as he burst through the line of scrimmage, and fellow safety Antwine Perez fell on the ball at the Boston College 38-yard line.
Nine plays later, on third-and-goal from the 9-yard line, O’Brien found receiver Ronnie Tyler, who had only three catches entering Saturday’s action, in the front of the end zone for his first touchdown catch of the season.
“It felt good,” Tyler said with a grin. “We knew our passing game was big because they have one of the best run defenses in not only the ACC, but the country. We knew on third down it was up to us to make plays, and I am happy we got the win.”
Eagle quarterback Chase Rettig threw an interception to Perez on the first play from scrimmage after Tyler’s score, setting up another Terp touchdown when O’Brien delivered a 6-yard strike to sophomore Kerry Boykins.
Knowing that his quarterback was playing behind a makeshift offensive line and that the Eagle defense would be stout against the run, offensive coordinator James Franklin called a number of quick passes that allowed O’Brien to utilize his accuracy and decision-making.
The redshirt freshman averaged less than seven yards per completion, and Boston College actually outgained the Terps by the difference of Swigert’s 63-yard catch (285 to 222). But O’Brien didn’t turn the ball over once, and in a game defined by field position and avoiding mistakes, that was all his coach wanted him to do.
“You can tell he is developing,” coach Ralph Friedgen said. “The thing I really like about Danny is he’s not turning the ball over. He misses a few throws, but who doesn’t? And he makes some pretty good ones, too.”
Already spread thin up front because of a season-ending injury to starting left tackle Justin Gilbert, the Terps’ depth at offensive line was tested even further Saturday. Right tackle Pete DeSouza, who replaced Gilbert in the starting lineup after the West Virginia game, fractured both of his legs Thursday night in a motor-scooter accident and didn’t travel with the team.
The reshuffled line allowed for just 43 rushing yards, but players said DeSouza’s conspicuous absence was just as vital as his presence would have been. Throughout the game, the team talked about winning the game for DeSouza, who Friedgen said was trying to find a computer to put in his hospital room so he could follow the game.
“The whole time we were just trying to remind each other what we were playing for,” lineman Paul Pinegar said.
Even in moving within one win of bowl eligibility, however, plenty of questions still remain for the Terps. Boston College is perhaps the worst team in the ACC, and it didn’t take much for the Eagles to nearly steal a win.
But Friedgen has gotten used to the close games. He isn’t interested in style points — only wins.
“It was a good win. I just wish we could make them easier,” Friedgen said. “That’s probably the next thing we need to learn. But as long as we win, I will take them any way we can get them.”
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