Rolandan Finch ran for 243 yards and two touchdowns, and Boston College defeated Maryland, 28-17, yesterday for its first Atlantic Coast Conference victory of the season.
The game featured the two teams with the worst overall records in the ACC, and it showed. The Eagles (2-6, 1-4) committed four turnovers, and the Terrapins (2-6, 1-4) gave the ball away twice and missed two short field goals.
The lackluster matchup, along with freezing temperatures and a surprise snowfall, caused thousands of fans to stay at home. Attendance was announced at 29,945, but there were fewer than 10,000 people in the seats when the second half started with Maryland trailing, 21-3.
Finch, a sophomore, never before broke the 100-yard mark and had run for 266 yards in six games before yesterday. He had 152 yards rushing at halftime, finished with a career-high 39 carries and had a team-leading two catches for 7 yards.
Finch is filling in for standout senior Montel Harris, who’s out for the year with a knee injury.
Linebacker Luke Kuechly had 12 tackles and an interception to help Boston College snap a three-game skid. The Eagles’ only other win was against UMass.
Maryland coach Randy Edsall started C.J. Brown at quarterback, then switched to Danny O’Brien in the second quarter. Both threw an interception, and neither moved the offense until O’Brien threw a 55-yard touchdown pass to Adrian Coxson with 6:39 left.
That made it 21-10, and after a failed onside kick, Finch scored his second touchdown to clinch it.