After Miami lost to Maryland 32-24 in his debut on the Hurricanes’ sideline Monday night, Golden could have easily cited the absence of eight suspended players. He could have talked about the time it takes to rebuild a program, or mentioned that it isn’t easy playing an Atlantic Coast Conference opener on the road in front of a noisy sellout crowd.
Golden insisted none of that was a factor. Not after the Hurricanes gave up 499 yards, committed four turnovers, were penalized 10 times and allowed Maryland to score twice on defense.
“We had enough (players) on this trip to win this game,” Golden said. “We didn’t make the plays. Maryland did. Give them credit. They did a better job in the penalty and turnover department and won the game.”
Miami was playing without eight players suspended by the NCAA for accepting money from a booster. Those who didn’t make the trip included quarterback Jacory Harris, linebacker Sean Spence and defensive linemen Marcus Forston and Adewale Ojomo.
Stephen Morris capably filled in for Harris, going 19 for 28 for 195 yards and running for a touchdown. But on a fourth-and-4 in the final minute, the sophomore threw an interception that Cameron Chism took 54 yards to put the game out of reach with 39 seconds remaining.
The Hurricanes struggled defensively, too, allowing 311 yards and 19 first downs in the first half alone.
“I know they got a lot of yards, but if we could have held them to 20 on the defensive side with the changes we had there and the inexperience that we played with, I would have been really pleased,” Golden said.
Miami defensive back Mike Williams said, “They did some things we weren’t ready for.”
The seesaw contest came down to the closing minutes. Soon after Danny O’Brien completed a 52-yard pass to Kevin Dorsey down the right sideline, Nick Ferrara entered only one series after missing from 23 yards out. This one, however, was right down the middle for a 26-24 lead with 1:39 left.
Chism then provided the clincher.
A year ago, O’Brien went 9 for 28 for 134 yards in a 26-20 loss to the Hurricanes. In this one, he was 31 for 44 for 348 yards.
But Maryland couldn’t put the finish on several impressive drives. The Terrapins got to the Miami 11 or closer on six occasions, yet they scored only one touchdown and twice came away with nothing.
The Hurricanes took a 21-20 lead early in the third quarter on a 5-yard run by Morris. Maryland regained the lead when Ferrara kicked his third field goal to end a 14-play drive.
The pattern ended when Miami received three penalties, including two straight for delay of game, and had to punt.
O’Brien began moving the Terps in a march that bridged the third and fourth quarters. In the middle of the drive, a rain that began at halftime picked up in intensity.
Maryland managed to get a first-and-goal at the Miami 5, but could get no closer before Ferrara’s field goal try sailed off to the right.
Morris then directed a 67-yard march that ended with a 30-yard field goal by Jake Wieclaw for a 24-23 lead with 4:01 remaining. Miami converted a fourth-and-1 on the drive and benefited from a questionable defensive holding call on Chism.
That, however, would be the Hurricanes’ final surge.
The Terrapins led 20-14 at halftime. After blowing a 10-0 advantage, Maryland moved back in front when Chism caused Mike James to fumble and defensive lineman Joe Vellano lumbered 30 yards for a score.
“We just made too many mistakes. You make that many mistakes, you can’t win,” Golden said. “There are no moral victories. The things that we can control today, the penalties and the turnovers, we did not and it cost us the game.”
