It was all Maryland on Wednesday as the Terps topped the Virginia Tech Hokies 54-10, giving the Terps their first seven-win season since 2014 and first bowl win since 2010.
Maryland’s 54 points also set a new single-game Pinstripe Bowl scoring record, breaking Duke’s mark of 44 points back in 2015.
Maryland’s defense forced Virginia Tech into a three-and-out to start the game and the Terps would accentuate their start after cornerback Tarheeb Still got the Terps on the board first, taking the punt 92 yards for a touchdown. Still’s return marked the longest punt return touchdown in Maryland football history while also becoming the first punt return touchdown in Pinstripe Bowl history.
It’d be the only scoring play of the first quarter as the teams combined for five first-quarter punts, but the Hokies would turn a ten-play, 65-yard drive into three points to cut into the Terps’ lead. After forcing a near three-and-out deep in Hokie territory, Virginia Tech pulled off the fake punt to extend their drive and came just two plays before quarterback Connor Blumrick hit Jaden Payoute for a 42-yard reception. With the Terps’ defense on the field for 23 of the first 30 minutes, Maryland’s offense answered the Hokies’ score to give a bit more breathing room.
After Roman Hemby returned the ensuing kickoff 28 yards, Tagovailoa connected with Darryl Jones on the first play of the drive for a 70-yard touchdown and pushed Maryland’s lead to 14-3 minutes into the second quarter. Maryland pushed that lead even further midway through the second quarter thanks to a one-handed snag by Brian Cobbs, setting running back Antwain Littleton up for his first career touchdown and pushing the lead to 21-3. The Hokies responded with a 13-play, five-minute drive that ended in a touchdown to cut the lead to 21-10 with just one minute left in the first half, but Maryland would go 60 yards in the final minute to set up a 44-yard field goal for Petrino to give the Terps a 24-10 lead heading into halftime. The score would be the first of 26 consecutive points to put the game out of reach.
Despite the Hokies leaning on the ground game to limit Maryland’s explosiveness and control the game, it was Maryland who took advantage of the Hokies’ absent talent as the Terps’ defense forced three three-and-outs in the first half.
Maryland took the opening possession of the second half into the redzone but settled for a 30-yard field goal from Joseph Petrino to push the lead to 27-10. But with the single-season record for completions and passing yards already held by Tagovailoa, the second-year quarterback joined elite company in another category after connecting with Darryl Jones for a 32-yard touchdown on 4th and four, pushing the lead to 34-10. Tagovailoa’s second passing touchdown of the game and 26th of the season tied him with Scott Milanovich for the most passing touchdowns in a single season.
After Maryland’s defense forced an errant Virginia Tech throw on fourth-and-two, the Terps rode freshman running back Roman Hemby and the rushing attack into the end of the third quarter where Hemby punched in his first career touchdown to push the lead to 41-10. It didn’t stop there after safety Nick Cross forced a fumble on Blumrick, leading Greg Rose to a scoop-and-score to push the lead to 47-10 just ten seconds into the final quarter.
It was the type of outcome that was expected by the Maryland fanbase heading into the game, but the execution and pure domination against an opponent that Locksley and the staff will go head-to-head with on the recruiting trail puts the cherry on top of a season centered around improvement. Despite the Hokies’ attempt to control the time of possession, Maryland’s defense answered the call and limited the Hokies to just 110 rushing yards. On the flip side, Maryland rushed for over 200 yards as Fleet-Davis, Littleton, Tagovailoa, McDonald, and Hemby split the carries.
In a game where Hemby, Littleton, and Darryl Jones recorded their first career touchdowns, Maryland has officially won their first bowl game since 2010 to secure their first seven-win season since 2014.
For the Maryland football program, the 2021 season becomes the season when Locksley’s vision for the program shifted from projection to concrete results. The next step is becoming more competitive against the Big Ten elite, but Maryland took a step forward as a program.
Comments