The question after Saturday’s 28-17 debacle against Boston College: Have the Terps hit rock-bottom in the debut season of Randy Edsall?

Maryland has sunk from, in the words of quarterback Danny O’Brien, “ACC title or bust,” to ACC bust. A year after going 9-4 under Ralph Friedgen, the Terrapins (2-6, 1-4) have lost four straight and dropped into a tie for last place in the ACC Atlantic. One more defeat will clinch a losing season and end Maryland’s hopes for a bowl game.

“Ultimately I’m the guy in charge, and I’m putting more pressure on myself than anybody,” Edsall said.

Very disheartening,” O’Brien added. “We had very high expectations for this year. Obviously you can’t get caught looking back, what could have been.”

Against Boston College (2-6, 1-4), which entered Saturday without a win over an FBS team, Maryland surrendered touchdowns on three of the Eagles’ first four possessions and never challenged. Sophomore Rolandan Finch, backup for injured ACC preseason player of the year Montel Harris (knee), had career highs in carries (39), yards (243) and touchdowns (two) as Maryland yielded 372 yards rushing to a team that had not reached the 300-yard mark since 2002.

“I don’t think we tackled well today,” Edsall said. “I will have to watch the film but that stood out to me.”

Even three lost fumbles for Boston College provided no help for the Maryland offense, which failed to convert any of the mistakes into points. The Terps missed two field goal tries from inside the 35 and turned it over on downs twice in BC territory.

Sophomore C.J. Brown (2 of 6, 14 yards) directed a field goal-producing opening drive, but threw an interception on a tipped pass and lasted only three possessions. Sophomore O’Brien (14 of 35, 165 yards) struggled as well, due in no small part to the Maryland receivers who dropped no fewer than nine passes.

“We had a plan going into the game that we were going to play them both,” Edsall said. “We were following our plan. We will evaluate the film and make a decision on who can best help us beat Virginia.”

O’Brien saved some face for the Terps in the final seven minutes, throwing a 55-yard touchdown pass to freshman Adrian Coxson and scoring on a 1-yard quarterback sneak.

Those points were just cosmetic, however, in a game was reminiscent of a dreadful 19-17 loss to BC at Byrd two years ago when Maryland fell to a program worst 2-10. In Saturday’s defeat fewer than 1,000 fans were left in the stadium to see the Terps’ final score.   

“Missed tackles and dropped balls. It’s not really the coaches,” Maryland defensive tackle Joe Vellano (10 tackles) said. “It’s got to come from the players. You gotta practice like you play.”

Maryland appeared done from the start. After Nick Ferrara knocked the opening kickoff out of bounds, Boston College sailed 60 yards on six plays, the last five runs, including Finch’s 18-yard scoring jaunt. After Brown’s interception, BC needed just two plays to travel 25 yards. Sophomore Alex Amidon’s 21-yard run on an end around put the Eagles up 14-3.

“[The interception] was a great change in momentum,” BC coach Frank Spaziani said. “Especially in these conditions, it’s nice to pull ahead and get on the board. It gives you a little playing attitude.”

Boston College’s third score came on a methodical 16-play, 80-yard march in which the Eagles got all but five of the yards on the ground. Finch carried 11 times for 66 yards in the drive before Andre Williams’ 3-yard scoring carry for a 21-3 early in the second period.  

On a day when Boston College quarterback Chase Rettig (5 of 12, 32 yards) did little more than handoff, the Eagles had no trouble moving the ball against a depleted Maryland defense that started five freshmen. It was the eighth different defensive lineup for the Terps as sophomore end Marcus Whitfield received his first career start, replacing David Mackall.

“A lot of guys are out, a lot of new guys playing,” Vellano said. “There’s no secrets. No one to blame. It’s no one person in particular.”

Maryland’s lone bright spots were the play of senior back Davin Meggett (17 carries, 99 yards) and freshman Coxson (3 receptions, 78 yards). But those are hardly building blocks as the Terps consider their final four games, starting against rival Virginia (5-3) next week at Byrd Stadium.

“All we can do is get ready for Virginia,” O’Brien said. “We realize that our backs are kind of against the wall now in terms of going to a bowl game. You can’t win four games before you win one.”

Notes: It was the smallest crowd at Byrd Stadium since 26,544 showed up for a game against Wake Forest in the final season of Ron Vanderlinden (2000) … Safety Eric Franklin and linebacker Darin Drakeford had 11 tackles each to lead Maryland. Freshman defensive end Keith Bowers contributed nine tackles, including two for losses. Freshman linebacker Lorne Goree had 10 tackles and forced a fumble.  

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