Terps fall short at Boston College in QB Rowe’s first start

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — Maryland has gone through more quarterbacks than any team could expect this season.

It’s had its share of close losses as well.

The latest unfolded Saturday at Alumni Stadium as first-time starting quarterback Caleb Rowe was intercepted in the final minute as Boston College escaped with a comeback 20-17 victory.

“It’s fun having the ball in your hands to win the game, but unfortunately today wasn’t the day,” Rowe said.

Rowe threw for 240 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions for the Terps (4-4, 2-2 ACC) a week after nearly leading Maryland to a comeback victory against N.C. State. Rowe got the nod after season-ending injuries to Perry Hills (anterior cruciate ligament tear) and Devin Burns (Lisfranc) last week.

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Boston College quarterback Chase Rettig (11) looks to pass under pressure from ... more >

It was nearly a stirring starting debut. Instead, Maryland absorbed a crushing loss to the struggling Eagles (2-6, 1-4) and face a tough climb next month toward bowl eligibility.

“It’s kind of like acupuncture gone wrong — hitting you in the wrong spots and then the people not doing their studying and sticking the needle in the wrong hole,” tailback Wes Brown said. “Points just need to be hit. We just have to go through practice and take that and teach them how to hit the right acupuncture points.”

To be sure, the Terps have found themselves in some painful end-game situations already this season.

There was an empty drive at the end of last month’s 24-21 loss to Connecticut. Maryland also missed a 33-yard field goal against N.C. State after Rowe’s efficient work in the two-minute drill to seal a 20-18 loss.

The Terps might rue this loss even more than those.

Maryland harassed Boston College quarterback Chase Rettig for much of the day, sacking him four times and frequently forcing him to hurry a pass or merely throw it away. Yet on the Eagles’ go-ahead march in closing minutes, Rettig found time to operate.

Twice, he converted on third down. Four times, he found reliable possession receiver Alex Amidon. And six times — including a 14-yard pass to Johnathan Coleman that exploited a blown coverage — he picked up double-digit yardage against the otherwise stingy Terps.

“We got a lot of pressure on him early, but we couldn’t get the pressure on him when we needed to win the game, and that’s the reason we lost,” defensive lineman A.J. Francis said.

Of course, the defense was again the reason Maryland had a chance to win in the first place.

The Terps had special teams foibles, from Spiffy Evans 27-yard punt return to set up Boston College’s first touchdown to a missed Brad Craddock field goal that led coach Randy Edsall to switch to freshman walk-on Brendan Magistro.

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