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2007 College Football: Terps Take Down No.10 Rutgers 34-24 |
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Written by Wendall Stevens
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Sunday, 30 September 2007 |
After last week's disappointing loss to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, a big win for the Maryland Terrapins would certainly spell relief. It's evident the Terps have talent but do they have the moxie, that deep down will to make plays necessary to win games on the road? Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen had to challenge his team at halftime to dig deep to find that inner strength to take victory instead of accepting the consequences of your circumstance.
Rutgers was in this position last year, ranked #7 and loss to the Cincinnati Bearcats after beating then highly ranked Louisville. This time the Maryland would prove to be the David that took down Goliath. The Terps’ defense faced a Scarlet Knight offense averaging 46 points a game, albeit against weaker opponents.
The story of the day was backup quarterback Chris Turner coming in to replace Jordan Steffy, who went out with a concussion. Turner completed 14 of 20 passes for 149 yards to get his team in scoring position and ultimately giving them a chance to win the game. The win wasn't without drama however.
After opening up a 14-3 lead, the Scarlet Knights stormed back to take a 17-14 lead at halftime prompting a pep talk from Friedgen.
"This win showed the character of this tea.", said Friedgen. "I went right to the players and said, you think this is going to be easy? Wins don't come easy, you gotta work for them. It's a matter of will."
Turner led the Terps down the field on drives that culminated in Obi Egekeze's two field goals of 26 and 37 yards, a 2 yard run by Keon Lattimore and a 14 yard scamper by Lance Ball.
Surprising for the Terps, it was their defense that came up big, holding Heisman candidate Ray Rice to 97 yards on 21 carries and one touchdown. The defense made perhaps the play of the day, holding the Scarlet Knights on a fourth down play in the waning moments of the fourth quarter sacking quarterback Mike Teel and ending all hopes of a comeback victory.
Offensively the Terps stars performed like stars. Lattimore gained 124 yards on 34 carries with one touchdown and Ball gained 90 yards and scored two touchdowns. The last Maryland win over a top ten opponent came at the expense of Florida State in 2004.
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