Late in the third quarter, before a dwindling Maryland student section, a simple white sign laid on the turf. It read, simply: MUST WIN.
The Terps knew all well the importance of Saturday?s game with Clemson, but like the sign, Maryland left many opportunities ? and even more missed tackles ? on the field.
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Clemson escaped those tackles, and College Park, with a 30-17 win before 50,948 at Byrd Stadium.
“I think it would be tough with three losses, especially with Boston College undefeated, [to reach the Atlantic Coast Conference title game],” Terps coach Ralph Friedgen said. “Going to a bowl game after what this team has been through would be a good thing.”
Clemson?s offense churned-out 428 yards, while Maryland amassed 314 under the direction of sophomore quarterback Chris Turner, who made his third career start. Turner went 19-for-31 for 217 yards and one interception.
After defeating then-No. 10 Rutgers Sept. 29 and Georgia Tech Oct. 6, Maryland (4-4 overall, 1-3 ACC) has lost two straight.
“Its really frustrating,” Turner said. “It doesn?t feel good, and it sucks to lose. All things considered, we did a pretty good job. We?re really thin and we had another injury today. Things just aren?t going our way right now.”
Freshman tackle Bruce Campbell, who made his first career start at left tackle, left with an undisclosed leg injury. Senior tight end Dan Gronkowski left the game with what Friedgen speculated as a knee injury (ACL).
Along with the injuries, Clemson (6-2 overall, 3-2 ACC) capitalized on the Terps first-half mistakes to grab a 20-3 halftime lead. Most of the Tigers? offensive success came on the ground, where they gained 249 yards behind a pair of 100-yard rushers. Junior James Davis surpassed the 100-yard mark for the third time this season and the tenth time in his career, carrying 29 times for 129 yards and a touchdown. Shifty sophomore C.J. Spiller rushed for 106 yards on 17 carries. It was the fourth time the pair had shared 100-yard rushing games in their careers.
“I think we have two of the top backs in the country, and now our [offensive] line is starting to gel and come together, so I?m not really surprised [about our running game],” said Clemson junior quarterback Cullen Harper, who went 20-for-26 for 179 yards and two scores. “We did a good job offensively.”
The Terps rushed for just 97 yards.
Maryland scored on Lance Ball?s two-yard run early in the fourth quarter. Ball had 53 yards on ten carries, and finished the game seventh on the Terps? all-time rushing list.
Keon Lattimore, who rushed for 51 yards on 16 carries, scored his tenth rushing touchdown of the season on a one-yard dive with 1:23 remaining in the game.
“I think we just got down in the second half and basically had to throw the ball to get some points on the board,” Lattimore said. “That took us away from our game plan and that led to the eventual outcome of the game.”
Maryland visits North Carolina (2-6 overall, 1-3 ACC) Saturday at 3:45 p.m. with the mindset of getting their bowl hopes back on track.
“Three losses in the ACC, and four overall, is not where we want to be,” senior tight end Joey Haynos said. “But we?vegot to get ourselves up for next week and get a win down at North Carolina.”
