Maryland Terrapins fall to Boston College Eagles

Andre Williams.  The name of the Boston College Eagles running back should be one college football fans know and remember.  This, however, is not the case, but it should be.  On Saturday against the Maryland Terrapins, the Heisman trophy hopeful rushed for 263 yards and two scores to lead the Eagles come back, and drop the Terps to 6-5.  Maryland entered the contest bowl eligible for the first time in head coach Randy Edsall’s tenure, but the team appeared to have a bit of a Bowl hangover in Saturday’s game.

Nov 23, 2013; College Park, MD, USA; Maryland Terrapins quarterback C.J. Brown (16) throws the ball during pre-game warm ups prior to the start of the game against the Boston College Eagles at Byrd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Maryland jumped out to an early 10-3, when Albert Reid rushed for a one yard touchdown, his only score of the day.  The Eagles, however, came back strong in the second quarter, as Williams helped dominate possession, and eventually knotted the score at 10 a piece with a 6-yard touchdown run.

Maryland appeared poised for a big second half as they marched right down the field on the opening possession to seize a 17-10 lead.  Quarterback C.J. Brown found wide receiver Amba Etta-Tawo for a 33-yard touchdown connection and a 7-point edge.  Maryland continued their offensive efficiency into the early stages off the fourth quarter, when Brown rushed for a 3-yard touchdown and a 24-13 lead, the Terp’s largest of the night.

From here on out, however, Williams took over, as he immediately responded with 72- yard touchdown scamper cutting the Terps lead to just 4.  Then, BC quarterback Chase Rettig hit wide receiver Alex Amidon for a 74-yard touchdown catch, and suddenly the Terps were down 2 points.  A strange series of events occurred on the extra point, as Maryland blocked kicker Nate Freese’s extra point kick, and after catching the kick, Anthony Nixon returned the ball 108 yards for two points of their own.

BC was not out yet, as Williams carried for a clutch 36-yard run to put the Eagles within the range of Freese’s kicking abilities.  Freese hooked the first attempt, but not before Edsall elected to call timeout.  This gave Freese another chance, which he took full advantage off sending Boston College to their seventh win on the season.  For Andre Williams, Saturday was another monumental step in hopes of winning the elusive Heisman trophy, and after topping 2,000 yards on the season, Williams’s chances are at an all time high.