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Turner, Maryland hand Boston College second straight defeat

Nov 11, 2007 - 6:47 AM COLLEGE PARK, Maryland (Ticker) -- After such a great start to the season, Boston College has not enjoyed November.

Chris Turner threw for a career-high 337 yards and three touchdowns to power Maryland to a 42-35 upset victory over the eighth-ranked Eagles on Saturday in an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup.

Spurred by a 14-10 comeback win over Virginia Tech on October 25, Boston College (8-2, 4-2 ACC Atlantic) entered November with an 8-0 record, seemingly destined for a possible BCS Championship berth with a Heisman Trophy candidate in Matt Ryan.

"We still have a chance to win the ACC championship," Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski said. "Tonight's loss does not change our focus. We are going to go out and compete for a championship."

However, consecutive losses to teams just struggling for bowl eligibility in Florida State last Saturday and Maryland this week have likely ended both quests.

Turner completed 20-of-26 passes for the Terrapins (5-5, 2-4 Atlantic), who need a win in one of their last two road games against Florida State or North Carolina State to reach six wins and become bowl eligible.

"I told them that we're back in the bowl picture," Friedgen said. "I mean they're kids, so they want to go out and celebrate and have a good time.

"I didn't want to throw cold water on that, but I said, 'Enjoy this game tonight, but we have two really tough games on the road. We're 5-5 and there are a lot of teams in our boat. We have to go to two tough places and play two tough teams on the road.'"

After Ryan threw his first TD pass to Kevin Challenger to open the third period and give the Eagles their only lead of the contest, 21-20, Turner directed consecutive scoring drives to give the Terps a 34-21 advantage after three quarters.

Darrius Heyward-Bey pushed the Maryland lead to 42-21 with a 37-yard TD run on an end around on Boston College's first drive of the fourth quarter - the sixth straight scoring drive for Maryland.

Heyward-Bey's big play was just one of 15 plays that covered 10 or more yards. Entering the game, Boston College had allowed 21 such plays through its first nine games.

Ryan answered back with two TD passes to Ryan Purvis to trim the Terrapins' lead to 42-35, but they could get no closer as Boston College, who entered with the nation's top-ranked run defense, could not keep the Maryland rushing attack from running out the clock.

"It would be an understatement to say that this was a great win for our program and also for our season," Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said. "I think all the credit needs to go to our players and their perseverance and their attitude.

"I've had seasons when people with hangnails wouldn't play. These guys are playing with injuries that don't allow them to practice all week. I'm just very proud and very pleased for our kids because when you give so much for so long and you don't reap the rewards, it gets tougher and tougher. These kids never wavered."

Maryland finished with 139 rushing yards for the game, the most the Eagles have surrendered all season.

"I think Maryland played a good football game tonight," Jagodzinski said. "We were surprised with how effective they were with their running game. Our guys did not play well and I give credit to Ralph (Friedgen) and his staff."

Ryan finished 32-of-54 for 433 yards, three TDs and two interceptions for the Eagles.