Tigers suffer stunning loss to Terrapins

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- The Tigers were one play away from victory, again.

Again, again and again, Clemson was one play away in a 24-21 loss to Maryland.

But unlike the close calls against ranked teams Texas Christian and Georgia Tech, Saturday's failure occurred against Maryland, a double-digit underdog that had not defeated a Division I-A opponent during the season's first month.

The stunning loss came at Byrd Stadium, where from its upper reaches the Washington Monument is visible. Where Dabo Swinney pledged to continue his course toward building a more perfect Clemson football union.

But Clemson appeared far from perfect Saturday. Clemson was limited to 274 yards against the conference's worst defense and failed to convert any of three possessions inside the Maryland 30 during the game's final minutes.

"It's my fault," Swinney said. "We're in a position to win games and we are not winning.

"Not a player or coach thought we would be 2-3 after five ballgames."

The Tigers (2-3, 1-2 ACC) were in position to at least tie the game three times in the fourth quarter, as Maryland (2-3, 1-0) held a 24-21 lead.

Clemson's first opportunity came after Maryland failed to convert a fourth-and-1 at its own 29. After three plays yielded a negative yard, Richard Jackson missed a 47-yard field goal wide right.

On the very next play, Clemson's Da'Quan Bowers recovered a Davin Meggett fumble.

The Tigers responded by again failing to move the ball, setting up a 48-yard field goal attempt, which Jackson again pushed right.

"I hope they don't lose too much faith in me," Jackson said.

After forcing a punt, Clemson had one final opportunity.

From the Clemson 30, Kyle Parker took the ball with 1:30 to play and moved the Tigers to the Terps' 28.

Less than 30 seconds remained.

The comeback hopes ended on a third-and-6 play. Parker was sacked by weakside linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield. The blindside collision forced a fumble that Maryland recovered, sealing Clemson's defeat.

Maryland blitzed frequently from odd-man fronts.

"I was going against the tackle one-on-one," Hartsfield said. "I made a move inside, then came back outside and I was free."

And the tackle was Cory Lambert, not starter Chris Hairston, who remained out with a spained knee.

Clemson has struggled to protect Parker on the road. Derrick Morgan sacked Parker three times in Atlanta, and Parker was sacked four times Saturday.

Parker completed 20 of 37 passes for 180 yards and an interception.

"Odd front and bringing pressure from various sides," Parker said of the struggles. "I think we really hurt ourselves on some drives."

Clemson registered a season-high seven penalties, mainly errors occurring along the offensive front in the form of holds and false starts.

Clemson tight end Michael Palmer said Maryland did a good job taking the deep pass away with its coverage schemes.

Palmer said the Tigers' energy level might have also been affected by the noon kickoff and sparsely populated stadium, but noted they were "excuses."

Palmer said it was key for the seniors to have strong voices this week to prevent a carry-over effect.

"I don't think the loss is going to cost us an ACC championship," Palmer said, "We just have got to keep fighting."

The defense was hardly perfect either.

Swinney noted missed tackles, missed assignments and blown coverage.

In the first half, Swinney felt the unit lacked the same intensity it demonstrated throughout the first four games.

Chris Chancellor was beaten for a 29-yard touchdown pass, cutting the Clemson lead to 13-10 in the second quarter.

A sense of urgency emerged when Maryland went on a nine-play, 81-yard scoring drive to take a 17-13 lead late in the second. The touchdown thrust, capped by a 4-yard Chris Turner to Ronnie Turner touchdown toss, featured two Turner runs for first downs.

Last week, TCU had hurt Clemson by spreading the Tigers out with multiple- receiver formations, and calling designed quarterback runs. Maryland waited until the second-quarter drive to show a similar wrinkle -- and Clemson again struggled to defend the play.

The situation went from uncomfortable to dire when Tony Logan returned a low Dawson Zimmerman punt 36 yards to the Clemson 1, setting up a 1-yard Meggett touchdown three plays later.

Maryland -- the team that had been taken to overtime by James Madison, an FCS school that had been routed by Rutgers and California, and lost to Middle Tennessee at home -- led Clemson 24-13 with 4:27 to play in the third quarter.

It was a hole too deep for the Tigers, though Spiller did his best, returning the following kick 92 yards for a touchdown, Clemson's final score.

"I'm stunned, Clemson fans are stunned," Spiller said. "Everyone is stunned."