Boston College-Maryland Preview

11/6/2007 3:21 PM

By NICOLINO DI BENEDETTO
STATS Writer

After suffering its first loss, Boston College has shifted its focus to winning its first ACC title.

The No. 8 Eagles can take a step toward that goal Saturday night when they visit last-place Maryland, a team hoping to avoid its first four-game losing streak in nearly eight years.

Boston College (8-1, 4-1) fell six spots in the Top 25 after a stunning 27-17 home loss to Florida State last weekend. Matt Ryan threw three interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown in the final two minutes, as BC saw its hopes for a national title likely come to an end.

Eagles coach Jeff Jagodzinski sought to quickly make the conference championship his team's new priority.

"We've never won one before," Jagodzinski said. "Our goal is to win the ACC first. If that happens, we'll see what happens after that."

The Eagles lead the Atlantic Division by one-half game over Clemson and Wake Forest, which meet Saturday before Boston College visits the Tigers next weekend. BC closes out the regular season at home against Miami on Nov. 24.

Ryan completed 25 of 53 passes for 415 yards and two scores against the Seminoles, a week after engineering a dramatic 14-10 comeback win at Virginia Tech, when he threw two late TD passes including the winning score with 11 seconds to play.

Last week, though, Geno Hayes returned Ryan's third pick for a 38-yard touchdown with 1:10 to play, sealing the upset. The senior quarterback has thrown five interceptions in the last two games after getting picked off just six times in the first seven contests.

"It's such a fickle thing," Jagodzinski said. "Before the last three minutes of the Virginia Tech game, he was out of it. And then he was in it. And now he's out of it again."

Ryan will try to be more effective against a Maryland defense that's allowing 196.2 passing yards per game, tied with North Carolina State for third-fewest in the conference.

In two starts - both wins - against the Terrapins, Ryan has a 66 percent completion rate for 479 yards, two scores and an INT. Both touchdown passes came in a 38-16 victory Nov. 18, when BC's defense provided three touchdowns, including a pair of fumble returns by linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar.

Dunbar is listed as questionable for Saturday after suffering a high right ankle sprain against the Seminoles. The Eagles also might be without sophomore linebacker Tyrone Pruitt, who also sprained his ankle and is questionable.

If the duo can't play, sophomore Mike McLaughlin and junior Jevin Atkins would likely start for the first time.

Those potential losses could represent a significant blow to the Eagles, who lead the nation in rushing defense at 58.0 yards allowed per game and are tied for third with 18 interceptions.

BC hopes to get its ground game on track after totaling 95 rushing yards and a 2.4 per-carry average in its last two games. Boston College ran for 345 total yards and averaged 4.7 yards per carry in wins over Maryland last year and in 2005.

Andre Callender, the Eagles' leader with 678 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, had 121 yards and a TD on 17 carries in a 31-16 victory at Maryland on Nov. 19, 2005. He was held to 28 yards on seven rushes in last season's matchup.

The senior hasn't been very productive of late, due in part to Boston College trailing for the majority of its last two games. Callender has been held to 51 yards on 14 carries over that span, although he had 10 catches for 112 yards in the two contests.

Boston College leads the all-time series 3-1 over the Terps (4-5, 1-4).

Maryland is in danger of losing four straight for the first time since Oct. 30-Nov. 20, 1999. Last week's 16-13 defeat at North Carolina kept the Terps alone at the bottom of the Atlantic.

"Well, I don1t know what I can say. It seems like a broken record to me," coach Ralph Friedgen said. "I've got to look at myself because when that's happening, we're not prepared like we need to be prepared."

Maryland's Chris Turner is averaging just 177.0 passing yards during the skid with no touchdowns and two interceptions. The sophomore has only one scoring pass and four picks in six games.