For the past five games, the Maryland football team has been facing the Grim Reaper of the Atlantic Coast Conference head-on. And in each week, the No. 21 Terps (8-2 overall, 5-1 ACC) have prevailed with single-digit victories that have kept the program alive in search of both a bowl game and, now, the ACC championship game.
“It?s great to finally have the ball bouncing in our court,” senior corner Josh Wilson said. “We could have had one more [win] against Georgia Tech.”
Had the Terps pulled out that game ? a 27-23 loss on Oct. 7 ? they would be carrying a seven-game winning streak with just one loss.
But such is the life the Terps lead. They?ll take it, as they?re coming off wins over Miami and Florida State ? becoming the first program to topple the national powers in the same season since 1985, when Florida accomplished the feat.
“I remember saying that way back when, that if this team experienced success, we could be a very good team,” Terps coach Ralph Friedgen said. “I think we could still play better than how we are playing.
“We are finding ways to win and we are having the ball bounce our way, there?s no doubt about it. I think it takes that to have a good season.”
Standing in the way of a dream season is a pair of crucial games that will determine the fate of what is now a tie atop the ACC?s Atlantic Division. The Terps are in a deadlock with Wake Forest, which they play Nov. 25. First, Maryland must take down No. 20 Boston College.
The Eagles feature a balanced offense ? much like that of the Terps ? which relies upon a possession passing game. Quarterback Matt Ryan leads the ACC in total offense and passing offense.
“He reminds me a lot of facing [Terps quarterback] Sam [Hollenbach] every day,” Wilson said. “He doesn?t make a lot of bad throws.”
Hollenbach?s play has been similar. He has grown much more efficient as the season has progressed.
With the team?s success come growing hopes.
“I think we?re a lot more confident,” junior linebacker Wesley Jefferson said. “And we?re a lot more hungry in the past couple of weeks, because we know what we want.”
It?s pretty clear what they want: A spot in the ACC championship game Dec. 7 in Jacksonville, Fla.
“We want to go to Jacksonville,” Jefferson said. “That?s all I can say. We want to go to Jacksonville.”
That?s a far cry from two straight years of 5-6 football.
“I told them yesterday, ?I could go through all of the scenarios, but I am going to keep it real simple for you: You win the next two games and you?re playing Georgia Tech on Dec. 7,” Friedgen said. “That?s all you have to worry about ? win the next two games.”
