Terps lose Turner, last hopes of bowl

RALEIGH, N.C. | Maryland’s defeat-littered season suffered even more setbacks Saturday.

The Terrapins lost both their quarterback and a 38-31 decision at N.C. State, in the process squashing the team’s slim bowl hopes.

Between Chris Turner’s left MCL injury in the first half and the drilling Jamarr Robinson absorbed on the final play from defensive end Michael Lemon, Maryland took yet another beating in its autumn of discontent.

“I told them after the game I was proud of them,” coach Ralph Friedgen said. “I just said sometimes in life you go through periods like this.”

The Terps (2-7, 1-4 ACC) dropped their fourth straight - their longest skid since 1999 - and also lost reserve defensive end Isaiah Ross (right ACL) for the season on a play Friedgen believed should have resulted in the ejection of an N.C. State player.

Regardless, the sunny afternoon brought the removal of Maryland from the postseason picture for the first time since 2005 - when the Wolfpack (4-5, 1-4) eliminated the Terps from bowl contention on the final day of the regular season.

“Ever since I’ve been here, we’ve been going to bowl games,” receiver Torrey Smith said. “To know that’s not a possibility, it’s frustrating. But we have some seniors on this team we’re going to fight for. We ain’t throwing the towel in.”

The Terps might be playing without their first-string quarterback next week against Virginia Tech - and perhaps for the rest of the season. Turner, who has started 29 of Maryland’s past 30 games, was drilled after a pass to Smith. He was helped off, and when the second half began he was in street clothes on the sideline.

Whether it’s the last the Terps see of Turner on the field is uncertain.

“It’s too early,” Friedgen said. “I’ve seen third-degree MCLs come back in a week or two weeks. If it’s worse, he’s probably done.”

If so, it would probably mean Robinson receives an extended audition for 2010. On Saturday, the redshirt sophomore threw his first competitive pass since 2005 and produced a nerve-filled start and a nearly spectacular finish in his first meaningful time.

Although Maryland was forced to kick after Turner’s injury, the Terps recovered the fumbled punt, thrusting Robinson into action even quicker than anticipated.

“It jumped on me quick,” said Robinson, who was 5-for-11 for 27 yards. “I got my little nervousness once I saw him going down: ‘All right, let’s go, it’s on me.’ Next couple plays, it’s like, ‘Damn, let’s go.’ ”

Robinson and the offense received a lift from the defense (Alex Wujciak’s 70-yard interception return for a score and Maryland’s first defensive touchdown since 2006) and special teams (Smith’s 82-yard touchdown on a kickoff return). Nevertheless, the Wolfpack built a 38-28 lead early in the fourth quarter, placing Robinson in a tight spot.

He responded with a protracted drive for a field goal, then was handed a chance to engineer a tying drive. The task: traversing 69 yards in 59 seconds. At stake? Merely the future of Maryland’s season.

Story Continues →