Boston College beats Maryland, 29-26, on final play
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — After appearing to miss his first field goal of the season, a 52-yard attempt that sailed just wide left, Nate Freese was given a reprieve when Maryland called a timeout before the kick. Freese didn’t miss a second time, converting the game-winning field goal as time expired on BC’s wild 26-29 victory over the Terrapins before a stunned Byrd Stadium crowd of 32,147.
Freese, who had an earlier extra-point attempt blocked and returned 110 yards by Anthony Nixon for 2 points that tied the game at 26, delivered the Eagles an all-important seventh win of the season and second on the road. BC will take a four-game winning streak into next week’s regular-season finale at Syracuse.
Freese’s kick capped a wild back-and-forth affair in which Andre Williams, the nation’s leading rusher, ran for 263 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including a 72-yarder in the fourth quarter. Williams became the first player in BC history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season and the 16th in Bowl Subdivision history. Williams now has 2,073 yards.
BC (7-4, 4-3) improved its postseason position in a crowded field of bowl-eligible teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference and ruined Maryland’s final home game as an ACC member. The Terrapins (6-5, 2-5) are departing for the Big Ten.
Williams made his last Alumni Stadium appearance last weekend against N.C. State quite memorable by rushing for an ACC-record 339 yards on 42 carries.
On Saturday, the Doak Walker Award semifinalist picked up where he left off, gashing Maryland’s defense for gains of 31 and 30 yards on back-to-back carries on BC’s initial 70-yard march.
The drive stalled at the Maryland 4, where Williams was dropped for a 1-yard loss on third and 3. The Eagles settled for Freese’s 22-yard field goal with 11:10 left in the first quarter.
After both teams exchanged three-and-outs, the Terrapins marched from their 48 to the BC 21 in six plays, with C.J. Brown carving up the Eagles on completions of 12 and 10 yards.
BC, however, forced the Terrapins to settle for a tying 43-yard field goal by Brad Craddock with 5:54 left in the quarter after tailback Brandon Ross slipped and fell for a 4-yard loss on a third-and-1 attempt from the 21.
Disaster struck on BC’s fourth series when senior quarterback Chase Rettig, lined up in the shotgun, fielded a low-and-away snap from center Andy Gallik. The ball squirted away from Rettig as he attempted to scoop it up, resulting in a fumble recovery by Maryland’s Marcus Whitfield at the BC 1.
On the next play, Albert Reid crashed into the end zone
to give the Terrapins a 10-3 lead with 1:49 left in the first quarter.
When BC’s offense again struggled to respond, the Eagles’ special teams came up with a huge play. Maryland attempted to punt from its 20 but Manny Asprilla came loose up the middle and blocked Nathan Renfro’s kick. BC freshman Matt Milano recovered at the Maryland 6. Williams scored on a breezy run off left tackle on the next play as BC tied with 12:30 left.
Maryland then took to the air, with Brown completing passes of 9, 10, and 12 yards to bring the Terrapins to the BC 26.
But the Terps shot themselves in the foot with penalties for illegal receiver downfield, offensive pass interference, and illegal forward pass. Those infractions negated gains of 10, 31 (for an apparent TD by Nigel King), and 33 yards, prompting Maryland to punt from the BC 38.
Rettig was intercepted by Sean Davis at midfield as the Eagles attempted to convert a third-and-10 from their 29. BC’s defense, which held Maryland to 100 total yards (36 rushing) in the first half, forced the Terrapins to punt.
The Terrapins came out in the second half with an eight-play scoring drive that covered 70 yards in 2:33 and culminated with Brown’s 33-yard TD strike to Amba Etta-Tawo with 11:18 to go.
Trailing, 17-10, the Eagles mounted a 14-play, 73-yard drive. BC converted three consecutive third-down attempts: on a 2-yard run by Williams from the BC 34, a 4-yard grab by Dan Crimmins at the BC 42, and a nifty play-action toss from Rettig to tight end Mike Naples for a 21-yard gain to the Maryland 26.
Williams ripped off a 23-yard run on the next play. However, the Eagles were unable to punch it in from the 1. Williams was dropped for a 1-yard loss on second and goal and Rettig was rocked for no gain on a keeper on third and goal, forcing BC to settle for a 19-yard field goal by Freese that cut Maryland’s lead to 17-13 with 1:09 left in the third quarter.
A fumbled punt return by Bryce Jones gave the Terrapins possession at the BC 33, and it took Maryland six plays to cash in. Brown crashed in from the 3 on third and goal for a 24-13 lead with 10:52 to go.
Williams went off right tackle on BC’s next play and went 72 yards untouched for the touchdown. The Eagles appeared to convert the 2-point conversion, but Dan Crimmins was called for offensive pass interference. That forced Freese to convert a 35-yard extra point, making it 24-20.
William Likely’s 50-yard kickoff return gave the Terrapins possession at midfield, and it took four plays for Maryland to march to the BC 11. But Jacquille Veii was stripped of the ball at the BC 8 and Steven Daniels recovered for the Eagles.
Rettig connected with Alex Amidon on a go-head 74-yard touchdown pass. Freese’s PAT was blocked by Whitfield, and returned by Nixon to tie the game at 26.
BC’s defense forced Maryland to punt from its 38, and the Eagles took over at their 20 with 1:32 remaining. Williams ripped off a 36-yard run on third and 3, putting BC at the Maryland 37 and setting the stage for Freese’s heroics.
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