It was all Maryland from beginning to end as Maryland picks up their sixth win and secure their first bowl appearance since 2016.
Maryland finished with over 500 yards of total offense for the third time this season, but Saturday’s win was also about execution as Maryland finished 9-of-14 on third down.
Maryland took their opening possession in for a touchdown after quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa threw his first score of the game, finding tight end Corey Dyches downfield for a 25-yard touchdown. After holding Rutgers to 11 yards of offense on the ensuing possession, the Terps’ second possession ended in six after Tagovailoa found wide receiver Brian Cobbs for a 38-yard touchdown. Rutgers would block the extra point and return it for a two-point conversion, cutting the lead to 13-2, but the Terps were able to control the game from the outset.
Rutgers had an opportunity to respond and found themselves inside the Maryland 10 yard line on first down. After Aaron Young ran for one yard, Vedral found Young then Bo Melton to put the Scarlet Knights at the Maryland 3 yard line before the Terps’ defense forced their first fourth-down stop. On the ensuing Rutgers possession, Maryland’s defense forced a takeaway for the second time in three games after cornerback Jakorian Bennett jumped Shameen Jones and set the Terps up at the Maryland 37.
The Terps’ defense answered the call on Saturday and turned a second fourth-down stop midway through the second quarter into a third Maryland touchdown after Taulia Tagovailoa capped off an eight play, 64-yard drive into a 10-yard rushing touchdown. The touchdown extended the lead to 20-2 as Maryland entered halftime with a healthy cushion, indicative of Maryland’s control in Saturday afternoon’s contest.
It was clear that Maryland’s offense found its groove as Tagovailoa entered halftime 16-of-22 for 245 yards and three total touchdowns as the offense amassed over 300 yards of total offense through the first thirty minutes. It helped that Maryland limited Rutgers to just 140 yards of offense, including 87 through the air, but the defensive performance didn’t hold for 60 minutes as the Scarlet Knights dug into the Terps’ lead.
Rutgers answered with a touchdown on its opening possession of the second half, cutting the lead to 20-9 after Johnny Langan punched in a one-yard run, but the Terps responded right back after Dyches hauled his second touchdown of the day and pushing the lead to 26-9. But an explosive kick return from Bo Melton set Rutgers up in Maryland territory as the Scarlet Knights turned in their second touchdown after just five plays.
A key moment came in the final minutes of the third quarter when Rutgers was faced with a fourth-and-three from Maryland’s 44, Rutgers’ third fourth-down attempt on the day. After Evan Simon replaced Vedral, Simon’s pass sailed over the head of Rutgers receiver Joshua Youngblood, giving the Terps the ball once more. Maryland capitalized on Rutgers’ miscue and pushed the ensuing possession into the fourth quarter, capping off an eight play, 56-yard drive with another score.
Maryland essentially sealed the win in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter when on a fourth-and-one at the Maryland one yard line, Jordan Mosley came off the edge to stop Simon prior to reaching the endzone and giving Maryland the ball back. Though the game was already seemingly decided, Tayon Fleet-Davis put the game out of reach with his first touchdown on the game, pushing Maryland’s lead to 40-16 with just over six minutes left.
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