20th-ranked Eagles host Terrapins in crucial ACC contest
Sports Network | November 26, 2008
Chestnut Hill, MA (Sports Network) - The 20th-ranked Boston College Eagles will try to secure their spot in the ACC championship game this weekend, as they host the Maryland Terrapins at Alumni Stadium. The Eagles kept their Atlantic Division title hopes alive this past weekend, when they downed Wake Forest 24-21 on the road.
"It's just finding a way to win," stated head coach Jeff Jagodzinski. "We talked to our kids last night about that. That's why BC is the way it is, we find a way to win."
BC has certainly put itself in position to win many games this season and is currently riding a three-game win streak, which includes a 27-17 upset at Florida State on November 15th. That win over the Seminoles will serve as the tie-breaker, so if the Eagles come out on top in this game, they will earn their spot in a second straight ACC championship game despite finishing in a tie with Florida State atop the Atlantic Division standings. If BC losses, then Florida State would head to Tampa for the championship game.
As for Maryland, it actually controlled its own destiny in the Atlantic Division, but its title hopes were dashed in a 37-3 whipping at the hands of Florida State last weekend.
"We didn't play very well, obviously," said head coach Ralph Friedgen. "I'm very disappointed in the game we played, especially when we had a lot at stake. It just boggles my mind how we played so poorly in such a big game. We're pretty much out of it, the way I see it."
It was the second loss in the past three games for the Terps, who dipped to 4-3 within the conference. Florida State sits at 5-3 in the league, so even if Maryland was to win this game, it would lose out on the tie-breaker and be denied a spot in the ACC title game.
Maryland and BC have met five times previously on the gridiron, with the Eagles holding a 3-2 edge in the series. The Terps though, snapped a three- game slide in the series with a 42-35 triumph over the Eagles last season.
The Terps haven't really been all that productive on offense this season, averaging a modest 20.0 ppg behind 340.8 total ypg. The team is producing 147.3 ypg on the ground and 193.5 ypg through the air and has also committed 20 turnovers. Last weekend, Maryland turned the ball over four times and managed only 252 total yards in 37-3 loss to Florida State. Da'Rel Scott guided the squad in the loss with 82 yards on 12 carries. It was a decent effort from Scott, who needs just 60 more yards to crack the 1,000-yard plateau on the year. Quarterback Chris Turner simply couldn't get anything going last weekend, throwing for 149 yards and two picks in the loss. On the year, Turner has had his share of struggles and has thrown only nine touchdowns against eight interceptions. Darrius Heyward-Bey has been his favorite target, as he leads the team with 38 catches, 561 yards and five touchdowns.
On defense is where Maryland has tried to make up for some of its offensive woes, limiting opponents to 20.8 ppg and 358.4 total ypg. While the Terps have done a good job of keeping their foes off the scoreboard, they haven't exactly been dominant against either the run (147.1 ypg) or pass (211.3 ypg) and have forced a mere 14 turnovers. Last weekend, Maryland gave up 332 total yards, including 172 rushing, and failed to come up with any takeaways or sacks in a lopsided loss to Florida State. Dave Philistin and Alex Wujciak each finished with 11 stops to pace the Terps. Wujciak is clearly this unit's most important player having racked up 110 tackles on the year.
Much like Maryland, BC isn't an explosive team by any stretch, as it is averaging only 319.5 total ypg on the year. The Eagles have done most of their damage on the ground (149.0 ypg), but they have also set themselves back with turnovers, committing 26 thus far. Despite turning the ball over three times and gaining just 234 total yards last weekend, BC was able to defeat Wake Forest thanks to an one-yard touchdown plunge by backup quarterback Dominique Davis with just 1:12 left in the contest. Davis, who took over for injured starter Chris Crane in the second quarter, threw for 103 yards, but also had two of his fumbles returned for touchdowns. Davis is going to need to do a much better job protecting the ball, as he will be the starter after it was learned Crane will miss the remainder of the season with a broken right collarbone. That is not only a huge loss because Davis is a redshirt freshman with limited experience, but also because Crane was a big part of the offense with 10 passing and seven rushing touchdowns to his credit. With Crane lost for the year, expect BC to rely more on its backfield tandem of Montel Harris and Josh Haden, whom have combined for 1,072 yards and six touchdowns on the ground this season.
Defensively, there are few teams in the nation as good as BC, which is holding opponents to just 17.3 ppg and a mere 269.6 total ypg. The unit has been tremendous against the run (95.8 ypg) and solid versus the pass (173.8 ypg) and has also excelled in the turnover department, generating 31 miscues. Of those turnovers, 23 have come by interception. In another stout defensive performance last weekend, the Eagles held Wake Forest to a measly 191 yards, including just 65 rushing. BC posted four sacks and two turnovers and Mark Herzlich even returned one of his two interceptions 34 yards for a touchdown. It was a simply outstanding performance by Herzlich,, who leads the team with 92 tackles and is tied for first with five interceptions.
