BC 20, Maryland 17: Rettig Leads Late Comeback Over Terps

Bob DeChiara-US PRESSWIRE

Just like last season, Boston College’s game with Maryland stopped a downward slide.

On Saturday afternoon, during a game in which the home team honored the Wounded Warriors Project, the Boston College Eagles defeated the Maryland Terrapins, 20-17. The win is BC’s first against FBS and ACC competition this season, raising their record to 2-6 (1-4) and ending a five-game losing streak.

As predicted, it was a low-scoring game, though that is not to say both teams did not have chances. Maryland had the ball first and punted, and good starting field position led to a quick Boston College touchdown. The Terps’ next drive was similar, and the starting field position was even better for the Eagles the second time. As has been their wont, however, another BC running back fumbled at the goal line in what would have been a 14-0 game. This time, it was Andre Williams, but fortunately for the Eagles, it did not haunt them.

Both teams left points on the field in a game that BC led 10-0 at the half. The Eagles were eventually able to stretch it to 13-0, but then Maryland came back and scored 17 unanswered points in the second half, capped by a 66-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Caleb Rowe to Stefon Diggs.

Despite a dismal record on third downs (3-for-13) in the game and a general lack of offensive consistency after halftime, Chase Rettig was able to lead his team down the field on an 85-yard drive. He took his licks on every other play, but hung in there long enough to find his receivers, including a wide-open Johnathan Coleman for the game-winner with 52 seconds to go. Maryland had time, but Rowe was intercepted at the start of their would-be comeback drive to seal the Eagles victory.

This game unfolded largely as expected, in that it was a low-scoring game in which the matchup between Maryland’s offense and BC’s defense was roughly even overall, but at the end, Maryland’s defense blinked. Rettig was not perfect, but he once again showed more than enough poise and confidently led his team down the field for the game-winning score. Give credit as well, of course, to players like Alex Amidon, who made some tough catches and helped key the offense to a win.

More on the Eagles defense: it did not melt down as it had in games past. Coming into the game, anyone who saw the statistics for both teams would know that both the Maryland offense and BC defense were down near the bottom of the country, but one of them ultimately had to step up, and today, it was the defense. In a season where we have not given them much credit at all, let them at least be proud of their improved effort today.

Regardless of your feelings on the coaching staff, and nothing has changed in that regard, this is a time to be happy for the players, especially the seniors. They do not have many home games left, and it has to be very difficult to get embarrassed week after week. They worked hard and made the plays to win, and Maryland did not. Even if things don’t pan out for them the rest of the way, they deserve their credit this week.

Next week, Boston College goes to Winston-Salem to face the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.