Neither one materially impacted the game, but they were interesting points I debated with my friends. Curious for The Fort's take...
1) After Shea's TD pass to Bell with 0:16 left in the half, the targeting call on Shea tacked on 15 yards, resulting in a kickoff from the 50. It was my opinion -- and I know this belief is always shared by Jay Feely from the 50 -- that we attempt an onside kick. Both teams had one timeout remaining, meaning if we recovered, we'd have had one or two plays to get Nordin in range to attempt a ~50-yard FG. One of my friends thought it wasn't worth tempting fate like that, and that it's more likely Maryland recovers and scores. I conceded that it was more likely Maryland recovers, but with one timeout themselves, they'd also have needed about 25 yards to attempt a ~50-yard FG, and I believe they had 32 yards of offense in the entire half to that point.
2) After the Wangler TD with 6:37 left, we led 33-14. I know the chart says "Lead by 19 = Go for 2," and that Mason converted easily. I felt that failure to convert would have meant Maryland could tie with a TD(+2pc), TD(+2pc), and a FG, whereas a PAT would yield a 20-point lead and force them to score 3 TD's. I know either scenario was wholly unrealistic, and basically moot, but curious if anyone else thought that a PAT was the right strategy, irrespective of the chart.
1) After Shea's TD pass to Bell with 0:16 left in the half, the targeting call on Shea tacked on 15 yards, resulting in a kickoff from the 50. It was my opinion -- and I know this belief is always shared by Jay Feely from the 50 -- that we attempt an onside kick. Both teams had one timeout remaining, meaning if we recovered, we'd have had one or two plays to get Nordin in range to attempt a ~50-yard FG. One of my friends thought it wasn't worth tempting fate like that, and that it's more likely Maryland recovers and scores. I conceded that it was more likely Maryland recovers, but with one timeout themselves, they'd also have needed about 25 yards to attempt a ~50-yard FG, and I believe they had 32 yards of offense in the entire half to that point.
2) After the Wangler TD with 6:37 left, we led 33-14. I know the chart says "Lead by 19 = Go for 2," and that Mason converted easily. I felt that failure to convert would have meant Maryland could tie with a TD(+2pc), TD(+2pc), and a FG, whereas a PAT would yield a 20-point lead and force them to score 3 TD's. I know either scenario was wholly unrealistic, and basically moot, but curious if anyone else thought that a PAT was the right strategy, irrespective of the chart.
