Eagles Hold Off Terps To Pick Up Eighth Win

The Eagles picked up their second road win of the year Saturday as they travelled down to College Park, Md. and defeated the Maryland Terrapins 19-17. It was an appropriate ending to the ‘09 season as the Eagles closed it out with Montel Harris trampling defenders and Luke Kuechly performing his automatic tackling machine duties well. Spaziani finished his first regular season going 8-4 (5-3).

BC greatly outplayed the untalented Terps but that disparity didn’t show up on the scoreboard. The Eagles outgained Maryland 353-277 in yardage and held the ball nine more minutes than their ACC foe, but they were an onside kick away with 1:31 to go from a potential game winning drive.

Maryland marched down the field and put up three points to start the game but the Eagles responded with ten unanswered points. Dave Shinskie had a pretty good road performance for his standards. He was 14/23 with 277 yards and a touchdown. He connected with Colin Larmond Jr. on a 66 yard TD with 6:55 to go in the first quarter. The electric sophomore ran a pretty simple crossing pattern and outran the Maryland secondary. He demonstrated impressive speed and open field elusiveness.

The Eagles’ D answered the call and the O was knocking on the Maryland doorstep but was unable to punch it in from the two yard line. Harris was stuffed on second and third down which forced Spaziani’s hand. Harris was a workhouse Saturday as he carried the rock 41 times for 142 yards. He only mustered 3.5 yards per carry but he answered the bell whenever it was rung, which was pretty often. The Eagles’ failures on third and short were more a result of weak line play than Harris’ inabilities. Harris often scratched and clawed his way for a first down whenever possible, prompting announcer Tom Luginbill to label him as the “Energizer Bunny.” The 41 carries was a career record for Harris.

Maryland responded with a 6 yard TD run with Da’Rel Scott. Aponavicius added two field goals before the half. They continued to settle for field goals as they struggled on third downs. They were only 4-15 on third downs throughout the day. On 3^rd and 4 with 11 minutes to go in the second quarter, a ball slipped through Rich Gunnell’s fingertips that would have surely been a first down and likely a touchdown. The frustration mounted for the Eagles but they went into the half leading 16-10.

Neither team scored in the third quarter so they entered the closing chapter still up six. The Eagles defense was great all day and that continued early in the forth quarter. Kuechly and McLaughlin combined for twenty six tackles on the day. Both backers and DT Damik Scafe were stone cold on fourth and one with 13:53 to go in the fourth. This was the first of several key defensive stops in the final frame.

The Eagles offense sputtered for much of the second half which allowed the pesty Terps to stick around. They seemingly would have been able to put the game away mid-fourth quarter had Larmond been able to hold onto a perfect pass that Shinskie laid in his lap. Shinskie was on the mark much of Saturday. He delivered a strike on a crisp out route to #10, but he was unable to look it in. His inconsistency is frustrating because he has the talent to be an elite wideout.

A Quigley punt ensued but the defense continued to bail out the O whenever needed. The ATM and crew delivered a memorable fourth and one stop late in the fourth quarter. Maryland picked up eight on third and nine and they tried to pull a quick one on the Eagles. QB Chris Turner used the quick snap but was quickly met by the freshman sensation flying through the air. Kuechly, aka Bobby Boucher, rocked Turner and gave the ball back to the Eagles.

Steve Aponavicius then boomed a 42 yard field goal which proved to be the game winner. The lefty’s kick was key as MD added a touchdown with 1:32 to go. Larmond used his athleticism to reel in the onside kick which led to the Victory formation and the Eagles eighth victory.

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