Tag: Maryland

Oct 5, 2024; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Jack Lausch (12) passes the ball against the Indiana Hoosiers during the first half at Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

Northwestern, Maryland aim to rebound after games slipped away

Posted on | by Field Level Media

With both teams licking their wounds from lookalike losses to Indiana, Northwestern and Maryland are seeking the finishing touch when they meet Friday night in College Park, Md.

Last week, the Wildcats (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten) were poised to upset the then-No. 23 Hoosiers as they trailed by three points before giving up two touchdowns in the final seven minutes of a 41-24 loss.

Meanwhile, the Terrapins (3-2, 0-2) have had a week to stew on their 42-28 loss at the Hoosiers. The game was tied 21-all in the third quarter before Indiana (now No. 18 in the country) reeled off three straight touchdowns.

The bye week came at a good time for Maryland, which lost three of its top players.

On Tuesday, coach Mike Locksley was evasive about the status of safety Dante Trader Jr. and wideouts Tai Felton and Kaden Prather, saying two were healthy, but not identifying which ones.

“I’m thinking all three will be good to go,” Lockley said. “We did a procedure on one of the three, where it just (depends on) how it takes.”

While Felton leads the Big Ten in receptions (46) and receiving yards (642), Prather provides a secondary threat with 26 catches for 269 yards.

Coming off consecutive 8-5 seasons and three straight bowl appearances — all wins — the program has come under fire as the Terrapins appear to have regressed.

“We’ve got the transfer portal coming open here soon,” Locksley said. “The church gates are opening up here soon and we need to have positivity about the program, about the kids, about the direction.”

Northwestern also had hoped for a better start after going 8-5 last year under David Braun, who was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year.

“I think this football team is very confident that we have more within us,” Braun said.

In his third career start, quarterback Jack Lausch completed 23 of 38 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns without an interception against Indiana.

“I’m so stinking excited about the progression we’re seeing out of Jack,” Braun said.

Northwestern hopes for more from its rushing attack, which has produced 152 yards on 48 carries in its two Big Ten losses. The improved health of Cam Porter should help, Braun said.

Porter was sidelined for the Wildcats’ 24-5 loss at Washington and carried just six times for 15 yards in the Indiana defeat.

Porter scored two touchdowns last year in Northwestern’s 33-27 win over Maryland, which brought the Wildcats’ record to 3-1 in the series.

–Field Level Media

Indiana's Kurtis Rourke (9) passes during the Indiana versus Maryland football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.

Indiana tops Maryland for best start (5-0) since 1967

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Kurtis Rourke threw three touchdowns to help Indiana secure its best start in almost six decades with a 42-28 win over Big Ten-rival Maryland on a rainy Saturday in Bloomington, Ind.

Six different players scored touchdowns for the Hoosiers, who are 5-0 for the first time since 1967. Indiana is 2-0 in conference play.

Elijah Sarratt, Omar Cooper Jr. and Donaven McCulley each caught a score from Rourke, who finished 22 of 33 for 359 yards and two interceptions. Justice Ellison, Myles Price and Ty Son Lawton each added a rushing touchdown.

The Hoosiers outgained the Terrapins 510-401 and overcame four turnovers.

Billy Edwards Jr. completed 26 of 41 passes for 289 yards and three touchdowns for Maryland (3-2, 0-2), which had won three straight against Indiana.

Terrapins receiver Kaden Prather caught five passes for 66 yards and a touchdown. Roman Hemby scored on a 75-yard run and had a game-high 117 rushing yards on 10 carries. Hemby also caught a 12-yard touchdown to close the scoring.

Tai Felton managed five catches for 38 yards in limited action for Maryland as he sat most of the second half with an unspecified injury. Felton entered Saturday third in Division I with 604 receiving yards.

Prather had a 30-yard touchdown catch overturned with the Terrapins trailing 35-21 in the fourth quarter. Maryland failed on fourth down three plays later with 8:07 left.

Lawton iced the win on a 14-yard run at the 4:09 mark.

Indiana went up two scores with 12:24 left on McCulley’s 12-yard score, his only catch of the game.

The Hoosiers entered the fourth quarter ahead 28-21 after both teams scored two touchdowns in the third.

The Terrapins pulled even at 14 when Dylan Wade tipped a pass to himself for an acrobatic 6-yard touchdown catch. Ellison responded with a 19-yard run on Indiana’s ensuing drive before Hemby raced 75 yards on Maryland’s next play.

Rourke hit Sarratt for a 13-yard score with 40 seconds left in the quarter.

The Hoosiers outgained Maryland 237-110 in the first half but led just 14-7 after committing three turnovers.

After Rourke was intercepted on Indiana’s first two drives, Price delivered the game’s first score on a 1-yard run to open the second quarter.

Maryland responded when Edwards connected with Prather for a 33-yard score. Cooper caught a 27-yard touchdown with 38 seconds left in the half.

–Field Level Media

Sep 14, 2024; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Maryland Terrapins quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. (9) talks with Terrapins head coach Michael Locksley (R) during a timeout against the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Maryland readies for undefeated FCS foe Villanova

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Coming off its best half of the season, inconsistent Maryland hopes to build on the positive when it hosts Villanova on Saturday in College Park, Md.

The Terrapins (2-1) are flying high after rallying in the second half to hand old Atlantic Coast Conference rival Virginia its first loss, 27-13 on Saturday.

Maryland is prepared to meet a feisty Villanova (3-0), which is coming off an appearance in last year’s FCS quarterfinals.

“I don’t expect Villanova to come in here as an FCS team and be big eyed,” Maryland coach Mike Locksley said.

In Week 2, Maryland came under fire after it surrendered 10 points in the final five minutes of a 27-24 loss at home to underdog Michigan State.

The negative swirl followed the Terrapins to Charlottesville as they trailed 13-7 after an uninspired first half. But Maryland outscored Virginia 20-0 over the remainder of the game.

Billy Edwards Jr. threw for 263 yards and two touchdowns, including one to Kai Felton, who finished with nine receptions for 117 yards.

Maryland’s defense rose to the occasion behind Big Ten defensive player of the week Dante Trader Jr., who had 11 tackles and an interception. After halftime, the Cavaliers didn’t cross midfield until their final desperation drive died at the Terrapins’ 28.

“That was a tough, gritty win for us,” Locksley said. “We found out a lot about ourselves. We found out the importance of staying in the moment, not playing to a scoreboard.”

Villanova, which is coming off a 14-13 win over Towson, is energized by the chance to play at Maryland.

“It’s a bigger stage,” Villanova coach Matt Ferrante said. “A lot of our guys within our program, and all the teams in the (Coastal Athletic Association), think they can play on that bigger stage.”

Villanova has lost nine straight times to Maryland, with the most recent meeting coming in 2007.

The Wildcats have a ground-heavy attack with rushes (100) outnumbering passing attempts (70).

Three-year starting quarterback Connor Watkins “is the guy that makes their offense go,” Locksley said, mentioning Watkins’ ability to execute zone read plays and run-pass options. On the season, Watkins has thrown for 453 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions.

Isaiah Ragland, who rushed for 141 yards and a touchdown against Towson, averages 7.3 yards per carry, while backup David Avit averages 6.0 yards per attempt for Villanova.

Avit’s brother, Ezekiel Avit, plays wideout for Maryland.

Maryland has won 14 straight non-conference games, which is the second-longest streak in the FBS, behind Georgia’s run of 24 in a row.

– Field Level Media

Sep 14, 2024; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Maryland Terrapins quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. (9) passes the ball to Terrapins running back Roman Hemby (24) as Virginia Cavaliers linebacker Trey McDonald (16) during the first half at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Billy Edwards Jr. accounts for 3 TDs as Maryland tops Virginia

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Billy Edwards Jr. accounted for three touchdowns and Tai Felton continued his hot start to the season in Maryland’s 27-13 victory against mistake-prone Virginia on Saturday night in Charlottesville, Va.

It was the 14th consecutive non-conference win for the Terrapins (2-1), the second-longest streak in the country behind Georgia’s 24-game run.

Edwards completed 28 of 43 passes for 263 yards and two scores and also rushed for a TD as Maryland dominated the second half, outscoring the Cavaliers (2-1) 20-0 after intermission.

Felton had nine catches for 117 yards and a touchdown. It was the third straight 100-yard game to start the season for Felton, who had 178 in the opener against UConn and 152 in the loss to Michigan State.

Anthony Colandrea was 21-of-37 passing for 247 yards and ran for a TD for the Cavaliers. He was responsible for three of their four turnovers with two interceptions and a fumble.

Virginia scored the only points of the first quarter on Will Bettridge’s 19-yard field goal. His 29-yarder doubled the Cavaliers’ lead to 6-0 midway through the second quarter.

After five punts and a missed field goal, the Terrapins took a brief 7-6 lead on Edwards’ 19-yard touchdown strike to Felton with 54 seconds remaining in the half.

That was plenty of time for Virginia. After a 39-yard completion to Tyler Neville, Colandrea scrambled 10 yards for a score and a 13-7 lead with one second left before halftime.

The momentum swung back to Maryland with 10 unanswered points in the third quarter. Edwards’ 26-yard TD pass to Kaden Prather and Jack Howes’ 37-yard field goal put the Terps on top 17-13.

Howes’ 33-yard field goal made it 20-13 for Maryland with 12:31 to play. Edwards’ 1-yard run extended the lead to 27-13 with 7:10 left.

Dante Trader Jr. and Jalen Huskey tallied interceptions and Donnell Brown and Quashon Fuller recovered fumbles for the Terrapins.

–Field Level Media

Sep 7, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Aidan Chiles (2) rolls pit top pass during the first half against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Michigan State nips Maryland on last-second FG

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Jonathan Kim’s 37-yard field goal with 1 second remaining gave Michigan State a 27-24 victory over Maryland in both teams’ Big Ten opener on Saturday at College Park, Md.

Maryland (1-1, 0-1 Big Ten) was forced to punt following a three-and-out and Michigan State (2-0, 1-0) took possession at its own 16 with 2:12 left.

Aiden Chiles completed four of five passes for 37 yards on the drive to set up the winning field goal by Kim, who earlier made a 50-yarder.

Michigan State was aided by a pass interference call on a third-and-10 play at its 16.

Chiles passed for 363 yards while completing 24 of 39 attempts with three touchdowns and three interceptions.

He transferred to Michigan State, leaving Oregon State with new Spartans coach Jonathan Smith, who earned his first Big Ten victory.

With Maryland leading 24-17, Terrapins placekicker Jack Howes missed a 41-yard field goal.

On Michigan State’s first play in its ensuing possession, Chiles connected on a 77-yard touchdown pass with Nick Marsh to tie the game with 4:11 left.

Marsh finished with 194 yards on eight receptions.

Maryland’s Billy Edwards Jr. completed 26 of 34 pass attempts for 253 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

Tai Felton led the Terrapins with 11 catches for 152 yards and a touchdown.

The teams traded scores with neither team taking more than a touchdown lead.

Chiles’ 34-yard scoring strike to Jaron Glover with 10:07 left in the first half tied the game at 14.

Maryland drove 75 yards on 11 plays in that scoring possession.

Kim’s 50-yard field goal as time expired gave Michigan State a 17-14 lead going into halftime.

Chiles’ second interception in the game occurred in the end zone with 11:02 left in the third quarter.

He has five interceptions in the first two games of the season.

Maryland then drove to Michigan State’s 27, where Howes converted a 45-yard field goal to tie the game with 8:18 remaining in the third quarter.

Edwards put Maryland ahead 24-17 with 14:54 left in the game on a 28-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Wade.

–Field Level Media

Michigan State's Aidan Chiles communicates with teammates against Florida Atlantic during the first quarter on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.

Michigan State adjusting to new leadership ahead of clash vs. Maryland

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Michigan State and Maryland took different routes last week to reach the same destination: a season-opening win.

Up next is a chance to make an early statement in Big Ten play when the Spartans (1-0) visit the Terrapins (1-0) on Saturday in the conference opener for both teams in College Park, Md.

Michigan State managed a sloppy 16-10 home win over Florida Atlantic last Friday in Jonathan Smith’s first game as the Spartans’ head coach. Smith’s squad committed three turnovers and was flagged 12 times for 140 yards.

Michigan State did not score over the game’s final 2 1/2 quarters amid a shaky showing from quarterback Aidan Chiles, who also made his Spartans debut after spending last season with Smith at Oregon State. Chiles completed 10 of 24 passes for 114 yards without a touchdown and was intercepted twice.

Smith said the sophomore signal-caller was more upbeat at Monday’s practice.

“He’s a competitive kid, and (Friday) was frustrating for him,” Smith said. ” … (He) understands that we’ve got to grow, we’ve got to learn, and he’s all about doing that. He’s aware, too. It’s not just all on him, but he’s got some plays that he could make.”

Chiles will direct Michigan State’s offense against a Maryland defense that forced a trio of turnovers last Saturday in the Terrapins’ 50-7 rout of visiting UConn.

Saturday’s game also revealed that Billy Edwards Jr. will be Maryland’s starting quarterback for the time being. Coach Michael Locksley had been mum about the Terrapins’ primary signal-caller amid a three-player quarterback battle throughout preseason camp.

Edwards, who entered Saturday with three career starts over his first two seasons, went 20-of-27 passing for 311 yards and tossed a pair of touchdowns without turning the ball over.

Locksley said that Edwards, a redshirt junior, exudes a veteran presence that elevates the play of his teammates.

“Billy has some natural leadership abilities,” Locksley said. “He kind of stays even-keeled, which you like to see out of a quarterback.”

Maryland has defeated the Spartans in each of the last two seasons, including a 31-9 win at Michigan State last year. Michigan State leads the series 10-4 going back to 1944.

–Field Level Media

Sep 24, 2022; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Maryland Terrapins quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa (3) celebrates in the first half against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Maryland QB Taulia Tagovailoa declares for draft

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Record-setting Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa is entering the 2024 NFL Draft, multiple outlets reported Tuesday.

The younger brother of Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa entered the NCAA transfer portal as a graduate transfer earlier this month. However, the NCAA denied his waiver request for a sixth year of eligibility, per the reports.

Taulia Tagovailoa, 23, began his career at Alabama in 2019 before following his offensive coordinator, Mike Locksley, to Maryland when the latter became head coach there.

He started the past three seasons for the Terrapins, throwing for a Big Ten-record 11,256 yards. He also set school records for career completions (955), single-season completions (328 in 2021), career completion percentage (67.1 percent), single-season completion percentage (69.2 percent in 2021), career passing touchdowns (76) and single-season passing yards (3,860 in 2021).

Tagovailoa opted out of Maryland’s 31-13 victory against Auburn in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30.

Tagovailoa was seeking a waiver because he played in five games as a freshman with the Crimson Tide, one more than the limit allowed for a redshirt season.

–Field Level Media

Nov 25, 2023; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Maryland Terrapins quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa (3) scores a rushing touchdown during the first half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Taulia Tagovailoa enters transfer portal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Taulia Tagovailoa, formerly the quarterback at Alabama and Maryland, has entered the NCAA transfer portal as a graduate transfer, multiple outlets reported Friday.

Tagovailoa started his career with the Crimson Tide in 2019, then followed his offensive coordinator, Mike Locksley, to Maryland when the latter became head coach there.

He started the past three seasons for Maryland, throwing for a Big Ten-record 11,356 yards. He also is first in Terrapins program history in career completions (955), single-season completions (328 in 2021), career completion percentage (67.1 percent), single-season completion percentage (69.2 percent in 2021), career passing touchdowns (76) and single-season passing passing yards (3,860 in 2021).

Tagovailoa opted out of the Music City Bowl vs. Auburn, presumably to ready for the upcoming NFL draft.

Should he transfer, he will need to petition the NCAA for an extra year of eligibility. His five games played in his freshman season at Alabama exceed the four allowed for a redshirt season.

He is the younger brother of Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

–Field Level Media

Dec 30, 2023; Nashville, TN, USA; Maryland Terrapins tight end Preston Howard (85) catches a touchdown pass against Auburn Tigers linebacker Eugene Asante (9) during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Maryland turns quick start into 31-13 win over Auburn

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Billy Edwards Jr. passed for one touchdown and ran for another in place of record-setting quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa to lead Maryland to a 31-13 victory over Auburn in the Music City Bowl on Saturday in Nashville, Tenn.

Edwards, a redshirt sophomore who attempted 10 passes during the regular season, helped the Terps (8-5) to a 21-0 lead after one quarter. Edwards completed 6 of 20 passes for 126 yards and also ran for a team-high 50 yards on 13 carries.

Tagovailoa opted out of the bowl game after setting almost every Maryland passing record and becoming the Big Ten’s all-time passing yardage leader.

The Terps also used freshman Cameron Edge, who completed 4 of 5 passes for 82 yards.

Auburn starter Payton Thorne completed 13 of 27 passes for 84 yards. Freshman Hank Brown completed 7 of 9 passes for 132 yards in reserve.

It was the fourth consecutive bowl loss for Auburn (6-7), whose last bowl victory was a 63-14 rout of Purdue in the 2018 Music City Bowl.

On Maryland’s first series, Roman Hemby turned a screen pass from Edwards into a 61-yard gain. Edwards scored on a 2-yard keeper on the next play.

Maryland made it 14-0 on its second possession when Edwards hit Preston Howard with a 5-yard scoring pass to cap an 11-play, 75-yard drive.

On the Terps’ next possession, Edge hit Kaden Prather in stride deep for a 57-yard gain to the Auburn 3-yard line. Edge found tight end Dylan Wade in the left end zone on the ensuing play to make it 21-0 with 3:24 left in the first quarter.

Auburn got on the board with a 14-play, 80-yard drive, capped by Thorne’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Frazier with 2:34 left in the half.

Jack Howe’s 49-yard field goal put the Terps up 24-7 at the break.

Glendon Miller’s 44-yard interception return extended Maryland’s lead to 31-7 with just over 11 minutes left in the third quarter.

Brown’s 57-yard completion set up Jeremiah Cobb’s 1-yard touchdown run that pulled Auburn within 31-13 with 6:53 left.

–Field Level Media

Auburn Tigers quarterback Payton Thorne (1) stretches the ball out as he crosses the goalline for a touchdown against Samford Bulldogs defensive back Kourtlan Marsh (1) during second half action in the AU vs. Samford game at Jordan-Hare Stadium in the AU campus in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday September 16, 2023.

Minus star QB, Maryland meets Auburn in Music City Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Instead of having the Big Ten’s all-time passing leader under center, Maryland will turn to a pair of untested quarterbacks when it faces Auburn in the Music City Bowl on Saturday in Nashville.

Maryland (7-5) will be without quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, who opted out of the bowl game. Auburn (6-6), under first-year coach Hugh Freeze, will be looking for its first bowl victory since 2018, when the Tigers routed Purdue 63-14 in the Music City Bowl.

Tagovailoa, brother of Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, set almost every Maryland passing record, as well as the Big Ten record for all-time passing yards.

In his absence, the Terrapins will turn to redshirt sophomore Billy Edwards Jr. and redshirt freshman Cameron Edge, who combined for 13 pass attempts in the regular season. Edwards did have six rushing touchdowns, five of them coming on just nine carries the past two games.

“You almost look at this game kind of like a preseason game going into next year,” Maryland coach Mike Locksley said. “We’ve got a lot of faith in Billy. We’ve got a lot of faith in Cam. Both those guys have the ability, the skill set, to operate our system.”

With Tagovailoa at the helm, the Terrapins passed for 284.8 yards per game while rushing for 108.9. Roman Hemby is the leading ground gainer with 663 yards and four rushing touchdowns.

Jeshaun Jones is the leading receiver with 53 catches for 747 yards and four touchdowns. Tai Felton has 48 receptions for 723 yards and six scores. Tight end Corey Dyches had 49 catches for 491 yards, but he entered the transfer portal and will not play.

Maryland won its first five games, but three of its losses were in the rugged Big Ten East to then-No. 4 Ohio State, then-No. 11 Penn State and then-No. 3 Michigan. The Terrapins average 29.6 points per game while allowing 23.3.

Auburn opened with three victories, dropped four straight, then reeled off another three-game winning streak before a disheartening 31-10 home loss to New Mexico State. The Tigers closed the regular season with a 27-24 loss to rival Alabama, allowing the Crimson Tide to score the winning touchdown on a fourth-and-goal pass from the 31-yard line with 32 seconds left.

Thanks to the stunning conclusion, the Crimson Tide earned the final College Football Playoff berth.

Freeze is now looking ahead to the Music City Bowl.

“That’s always a good thing that we have put ourselves in position to get extra practices in,” he said. “We’re playing a very good opponent. It’s going to be a great challenge for us.”

Auburn averages 27.3 points per game while giving up 21.9. The Tigers average 355.5 yards per game, 198.4 on the ground and 157.1 through the air. They allow 361.1 yards per game, including 201.7 passing.

Junior quarterback Payton Thorne has completed 62.6 percent of his passes for 139.3 yards per game with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also is the second-leading rusher with 520 yards and three touchdowns.

Jarquez Hunter is the top rusher with 865 yards at 5.9 per carry with seven touchdowns.

Tight end Rivaldo Fairweather, who spent the previous three seasons at Florida International, is the top target with 33 catches for 349 yards and six touchdowns. Wideout Jay Fair has 30 receptions for 300 yards and two scores. Four wide receivers, including Ja’Varrius Johnson, who had 19 catches for 347 yards and three scores, entered the transfer portal.

On defense, Auburn lineman Marcus Harris and cornerbacks Nehemiah Pritchett and D.J. James opted out of the bowl game.

–Field Level Media