Maryland defeats Miami in ACC opener with late field goal and an interception to seal the win with :39 left, 32-24

College Park, MD - Both schools opened the 2011 season under the tutelage of their first-year head coaches. Randy Edsall came to Maryland after 11 seasons at UConn and Al Golden took over at Miami (F) after four seasons turning around the struggling program at Temple.  Traveling down to College Park through a driving rainstorm for the last two hours, the trip turned out to be well worth it as both teams played a competitive, exciting game decided in the final two minutes of play.  Edsall's Terrapins captured the lead on Nick Ferrara's 24-yard FG with 1:39 in the game to take a 26-24 Maryland lead.  DB Cameron Chism sealed the victory with a 54-yard interception return of a Stephen Morris pass exactly one minute later to extend the score to 32-24 to seal Maryland's victory over its ACC foe. Morris replaced last year's starting QB Jacory Harris who was suspended along with seven other Hurricanes who allegedly received illegal benefits from jailed Ponzi schemer Nevin Shapiro.  Despite the loss of several key players, the visitors from Miami played well in their debut under Al Golden.  It was a very memorable evening taking it all in from Row A  right behind the Terp bench.  It provided a much different perspective there as opposed to sitting in seats we normally take at higher elevations.  Due to the Terp sideline creating an obstructed view, I stood throughout the game in a cold driving rain storm with most people in the first five rows, but it was definitely worth the opportunity!

     Maryland, led by soph QB Danny O'Brien ( 31 of 44, 1 TD, and 348 yards), drove 80 yards down field on their first possession ending in a 10-yard TD pass to Ronnie Tyler.  Ferrara's PAT put fired up Maryland ahead 7-0.  The defense held up their end forcing Miami to punt on a three and out.  Starting from their own 29, Maryland relentlessly moved the ball the length of the field once again until Cane CB Vaughn Telemaque made a diving interception in the end zone to prevent a bigger Terp lead. DT Joe Vellano thwarted the subsequent Miami drive recovering a fumble to start the next Terp drive leading into the second period. 

   On a 24-yard FG, Ferrara extended the lead to 10-0 for the Terrapins.  Lamar Miller returned the ball 31 yards to the 40 on the ensuing kickoff. Three straight completions by Morris (19 of 28, 2 INTs, 195 yards) got the ball the Maryland six.  Mike James took it in from the one to get Miami on the scoreboard and Jake Wieclaw converted the extra point to close it, 10-7.  Maryland drove the ball for a first down at The U's 11, but three plays including a pass through the slippery hands of Kerry Boykins in the end zone forced the Terps to settle for three on Ferrara's next FG and a 13-7 lead.  Miami's offense kept clicking on its next series. Miami scored next on the longest run of the day when Lamar Miller (18 carries, 128 yards, 1 TD) ran 41 yards over the right side to take a 14-13 Cane lead.  The score seemed to wake up Miami's D as it finally forced a Maryland punt.  From the 28, DB Cameron Chism popped the ball out of Mike James's arm and the 6'2" 285-lb Vellano picked it out of the air and rambled 30 yards down the right sideline for a 30-yard recovery return with 47 seconds left in the half.  The teams went into half time with Maryland in the lead, 20-14.

     The rain had subsided as I entered Row A in section 26 where a bunch of interested onlookers watched the Terps warm up.  I placed my ponchos on my seat and took in the sights myself.  I talked to a couple of very interested fans, QB Danny O'Brien's dad and a friend of his.  Of course they were excited about the opener.  When  asked what the team thought of new coach Randy Edsall, Mr. O'Brien commented how there was a new atmosphere surrounding the team.  They couldn't wait to get started.  To my left stood a fan with a very professional camera zooming in on the sights before us.  I asked if he was there representing a particular publication.  It turned out that Kendall Webb has a sight similar to this one with three other friends who have a website www.roadtripsports.com.  Kendall came up from Texas and had already attended a bunch of games and scrimmages this year including 11 college games at all levels  including some JUCO games.  His site is about tying together ALL football teams to report on games and developments over the course of the season.  We had a good time exchanging stories, opinions, and travel experiences.  He had worked his way up from Texas to Dayton, Ohio to the Washington area over the weekend and was going to have to catch an 11:30 pm train (because of the Labor day holiday schedule) back to his hotel to catch a flight back in the morning.  Before halftime, the rain started again and came down heavy at times.  He had to leave to another location to be ready to catch his train on time, and by the time he left, two younger guys sat nearby.  One was the brother of redshirt freshman kickoff returner Jeremiah Wilson. Miami kept the ball away from him on all five kickoffs as Justus Pickett returned them all.  Despite standing in the cold rain most of the evening, my seat with the obstructed view made for a fun experience at Byrd Stadium during this Monday night game, the third and final of my Labor Day weekend.

     The wheels were turning in the Miami locker room at halftime and it paid off with an opening second half nine-play drive with Morris taking it around the left side from five yards out to regain the lead for Miami, 21-20.  The dropped pass in the end zone resulting in Ferrara's second FG seemed to look more and more like an opportunity wasted.  It looked even more so following Maryland's next possession when the Terps came up with another three on Ferrara's 28-yard FG for a 23-21 lead.  Even Edsall confirmed my thoughts as he walked over to his offense seated on the bench directly in front of me, looked at them, clapped his hands and said, "Hey! Touchdown!"  He wanted his offense to turn those "threes" into "sixes".  Maybe next week! The U punted after its next possession, and the third quarter ended with UMD on the fifty with a third and five.

      Edsall's team came up short on his wish again driving down to the six.  Ferrara went in for the chip shot to take a five-point lead, but I saw it from Row A with my own eyes as the holder, Michael Tart, had a hard time setting up the slippery ball in the hard rain, and the ball sailed wide right.  The three-point attempt resulted in none for the Terps.  Miami took over from the 20.  Fifteen plays later, they took advantage of the Terps' inability to push across six.  On Jake Wieclaw's 30-yard FG, Miami was back in the lead, 24-23.  As I told the guys next to me as the second half started, I thought this one would go down to the wire.  Maryland started from its own 26 following the kickoff return.  On second and ten, O'Brien connected with WR Kevin Dorsey (8 receptions for 124 yards) on a pass made with a beautiful over-the-shoulder catch for a 52-yard gain. The Terps could only get to the 14 where Ferrara came in, and with the rain just a drizzle now, put up the three points with 1:39 left in the game for a 26-24 lead.  Miami would undoubtedly work down to get in position for three itself.  With the ball starting from their own 33, Morris eventually overcame a third and 15 with at 17-yard completion to Allen Hurns.  They were in a hole again with a fourth and four at the Maryland 49. This was a make or break to get into field goal range for the win.  Morris threw a short pass to his right, but speedy Cameron Chism stepped in front of the intended receiver and raced 54 yards for that touchdown Randy Edsall had asked his offense to get. The wet conditions prevented UMD on the extra point again as the snap went through the hands of the holder.  Ferrara picked it up and fired a pass incomplete, but he showed poise under pressure to his credit. Down 32-24, Miami went to the air with 39 seconds left.  On a fourth and long, LB Kenny Tate picked off Morris's final attempt, and the Terp players ran off to celebrate with the UMD student section.  It was an exciting, opening game, played mostly well for both teams.  Both have room for improvement, and that bodes well for both teams that are well-coached.  We'll watch how both teams progress during the course of the season.

     Both show no letdown regarding competition next week.  Maryland hosts No. 19 West Virginia while Miami hosts No. 15 Ohio State in the "Suspension Bowl". The Hurricanes should give the Buckeyes a tougher test than the Akron Zips whom they walloped, 42-0. CFF.com on the other hand drops down to not only see a D-3 contest this Friday night, but one seemingly non-competitive as SUNY Maritime, 10-0 until losing 60-0 in the playoffs last season, visits The Western Connecticut Colonials, 0-10 a year ago. "Why?" you ask.  My son's high school team, the Lenape Valley Patriots, starts their season at 1 pm on Saturday.  We looked for a Friday night game somewhere, and this was the closest we came up with.  We don't call this site collegefootballfan.com for nuthin'! We gotta go to a game somewhere this weekend and this is it!    We look forward to it.

Extra points: How about those Maryland uniforms depicting the look of the Maryland state flag? Different for sure.

The helmet bothered me when looking at it straight on.  It almost looked like 3-D.  Maybe fans can start wearing 3-D glasses to watch games for fuller effects.  The shoes were funky with flag designs on them as well.  I can see them being popular at Maryland bowling alleys.  The program says the Terps have 32 uniform combos to choose from provided by Under Armour whose founder and CEO is Kevin Plank, Maryland class of '97.  Look like Maryland intends to be the Oregon of the east.  I just hope most of the combos we haven't seen yet look better than what the Ducks wear!

Davin Megget, UMD RB, is the son of former NY Giant third -down specialist and punt return Dave Megget.  The senior picked up 92 yards on 21 carries against Miami. 

Stephen Miller spread his passes among nine receivers for the Canes.

Freshman LB Cole Farrand is the son of fellow former Boonton (NJ) High School teammate and classmate, George Farrand.  Couldn't spot George from where I sat, but we'll look for him there again in the future.