Terps’ rally falls short

Maryland’s bowl chances take hit; Hill, Johnson injured

BLOOMINGTON, IND. – Maryland interim coach Matt Canada and his players have kept the mantra for months that each week is a new season.

That tactic can work, except when this week’s opponent for the Terps was Indiana and the last two games are against Ohio State at home and Penn State on the road. For Maryland, Saturday's game at chilly Memorial Stadium was potentially its season.

Barring any upsets the rest of the way, a long and emotional season will likely end without a bowl bid for the Terps.

After storming back from a 16-point third-quarter deficit behind backup NO. 10 OHIO STATE @MARYLAND quarterback Tyrrell Pigrome and redshirt freshman running back Anthony McFarland Jr. to take the lead with less than five minutes left, Maryland lost, 34-32, on a 42-yard field goal by junior kicker Logan Justus with 2:32 remaining.

Given the injuries sustained — several players, including starting quarterback Kasim Hill and senior running back Ty Johnson, were forced out — and the chance of becoming bowl-eligible eluding Maryland (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten) for a second straight week, it might have been the most difficult defeat of the season.

Indiana (5-5, 2-5) broke a four-game losing streak behind sophomore quarterback Peyton Ramsey, who completed 16 of 28 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a 35-yard touchdown in the second quarter to a erase a 6-0 Terps lead.

“Every loss is extremely tough. Obviously we’re in this moment right now, so yeah it is,” graduate linebacker Tre Watson said. “Knowing how close we were, knowing the play we wish some guys can have back — I feel personably responsible for points that were the difference in the game — it’s extremely tough. See TERPS, page 7