Maryland football's homecoming ends in familiar feeling vs. Rutgers

24 hours ago

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A matter of inches may have decided whether Maryland football wins another game this season.

After an anemic second half — and 24 unanswered points allowed — the Terps stormed back in the game’s waning minutes. Maryland put together a 95-yard touchdown drive and forced a punt to get the ball back down seven, 1:52 to go.

Malik Washington lofted a pass to the back of the end zone, fitting the ball into a tight window for tight end Dorian Fleming to reel it in. But Fleming planted his foot just slightly on the white sideline paint, ending the Terps’ hopes of a comeback — and potentially any chance to win a conference game this season.

Maryland dropped a 37-30 matchup to the Scarlet Knights that came down to the final seconds and, in usual Terps fashion, saw the team collapse in the second half.

“[In the second half,] we didn’t execute drives, we didn’t get the turnovers, we didn’t get the stops, we lost the field position battle with the special teams,” coach Michael Locksley said. “That’s the tale of two halves.”

The first half briefly inspired hope.

Maryland’s defense injected life into an overmatched Terps team against Ohio State on Oct. 10 — and Zion Elee led the charge. Elee strip-sacked Julian Sayin for one of Maryland’s most impressive plays versus the Buckeyes. The five-star freshman repeated that effort on Saturday.

On the Scarlet Knights’ first drive, Elee bull-rushed left tackle Chris Vigna and completely overpowered him. That made way for Elee to blast Rutgers quarterback Dylan Lonergan from behind, jarring the ball loose for his third forced fumble this season. Rutgers recovered the ball, but the sack forced a three-and-out.

Maryland’s pass rush went silent for the remainder of the game. Instead, the team’s other two units flashed.

The Terps’ tight ends particularly excelled for the remainder of the first half, starting with Preston Howard.

Washington lobbed a pass to the sideline, which looked to be sailing just a bit too far for Howard. The redshirt senior made the catch anyway, sticking his hand out and hauling in a 25-yard catch.

Howard’s highlight reception set Maryland up at Rutgers’ five-yard line, and another tight end punched in a score. The Terps dialed up a jet sweep for freshman Damon Hall Jr., who muscled into the end zone to give Maryland a 7-0 lead.

Maryland turned to its top tight end for its second score of the game.

Rutgers quarterback Dylan Lonergan threw an errant pass behind the Scarlet Knights’ leading receiver KJ Duff. The ball deflected off Duff’s hands, into cornerback Jamare Glasker’s lap, marking Lonergan’s sixth interception this season.

Maryland drove to Rutgers’ doorstep and turned to redshirt junior Fleming for a three-yard touchdown.

“For us to be the offense we need to be, our tight ends have to become more involved. Our tight ends have to make plays, and we saw that today,” Locksley said. “They’re usually the equalizer with the matchups that they face.”

The Terps also blocked an extra point attempt and returned it for two points, then strung together a productive touchdown drive to take a 23-13 lead.

Then came the defining half of every Maryland game: the second half. The Terps delivered a dud, which has become a painful norm for the program.

Maryland’s defense showed cracks early, even in a solid first half. Duff, who ranks fourth nationally with 628 receiving yards, was routinely open, especially in the red zone. The 6-foot-6 junior made a ridiculous one-handed catch, and simply overpowered Glasker for his second score of the first half.

The Terps’ defense contained the rest of the Scarlet Knights’ weapons relatively well. Rutgers totaled 183 yards in the first half. Twelve of Lonergan’s 23 first-half attempts were intended for Duff, and Maryland held the receiver to 35 yards through two quarters.

All of that changed in the second half.

Duff ended with nine catches on 17 targets for 113 yards and two touchdowns, and Rutgers running back Clay Thevenin emerged. The senior entered Saturday with 197 scrimmage yards through five games. That number was up to 330 by the end of his matchup with the Terps.

“We just need to minimize the mistakes, minimize the technique errors and missed assignments,” linebacker Sidney Stewart said. “I know I had a few myself this game. That’s probably something that every player can say.”

As the Terps’ defense floundered, their offense may have been even worse — when it possessed the ball, at least.

Maryland only controlled the ball for 9:05 in the second half. The Terps’ two third-quarter drives ended in a missed 34-yard field goal attempt that clanked off the upright and a three-and-out that netted -8 yards.

“Coming out of the first half, we have energy, we’re rolling,” Washington said. “That halftime break kind of builds down the energy a little bit, so we need to do something as a unit to, as a team, to get that halftime energy back right.”

The Terps started the fourth quarter on a similar note, with a three-play, one-yard drive. Maryland showed rare signs of life on its next possession. Chris Durr Jr., the team’s most elusive weapon, took a screen pass for 48 yards on 4th-and-4, weaving through defenders.

Washington followed with a 31-yard completion to a wide-open Jayden Kitchens — back-to-back explosive plays that were hard to come by for Maryland all game.

That set up a touchdown, but Maryland’s final drive didn’t have the same ending.

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