Maryland approached Saturday’s game against Rutgers like a playoff game as both teams entered with a 5-6 mark, one final chance to extend the season, but a convincing performance by the Terps for a full 60 minutes gave Maryland their first bowl season since 2016. The Terps will now look to win their first bowl game since 2010, but for head coach Mike Locksley, Saturday’s win marked the first step in building the program the way that he envisioned.
“As we embark on year three or year four, this was a necessary step, you know that step from non-bowl eligibility to becoming a bowl-eligible team,” Locksley said following the win. “We want this to become the standard and teams that go to bowls have more opportunities to develop their team and that's what these next practices and these next few weeks will be all about—developing some really talented young players that I think you had a chance to see out there today that made plays from our quarterback who's a redshirt sophomore to Colby McDonald to Darrell Jackson and some of these young players that really have contributed. These would be really important for our program and we needed these practices.”
One week after setting the single-season program record for completions, quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa set the single-season passing yards record as he continues to ascend in the Terps’ record book. In his 16th career start, the redshirt sophomore accounted for four total touchdowns, including three passing, and posted his seventh 300-yard passing game of the season. In Taulia’s mind, the accolades and achievement come second to the opportunity that the Terps’ senior class now has to play one more game.
“It's just a good feeling knowing that we can get the seniors out, you know, with one more game wearing the Maryland jersey on their chest,” Taulia added. “It's just an overall great win, we have another chance to finish off with a winning season. It’s just a good feeling winning overall.”
Locksley has been complimentary of veteran Brian Cobbs’ leadership through conference play as Cobbs’ unit has battled repeated waves of adversity given the injuries. Saturday was a chance for Cobbs to flash on the field and he took full advantage as he finished with four catches and a season-high 86 receiving yards, including a 38-yard touchdown to put Maryland up 13-0. What stuck out about the Terps’ offensive performance against Rutgers was their ability to match the Scarlet Knight’s scoring drives, allowing Maryland to maintain a lead throughout the game, a sign of just how explosive the offense can be when they’re efficient.
“I feel like we've been in some games where we've gotten up and kind of got comfortable stuff like that and then we let it get close,” Cobbs added. “We got to finish out with the wind, but we let it get to a point where shouldn't have ever been. So one thing that we did a good job today as players and coaches helped as well, was just getting back to neutral. We’d have a big drive have a score or whatever, it's like 0-0, just like resets.”
Cobbs has one additional year of eligibility that he could use, but the win gave the senior a chance to extend his 2021 season by one more game and that was not something forgotten heading into the win. “I think the class of 2018 that kind of came in, we went through a lot of ups and downs and being able to get this ball game and really, we feel like it’s the flip to the next season because coach Locks said it’s the end of 2021 season and start of the next season,” Cobbs added. “It's just kind of fine-tuning some things and then just really get the things moving for Terp nation back home so being able to get this win for them is huge.”
One senior who now officially has one game left in his college career is defensive end Sam Okuayinonu, who finishes the regular season with a team-high six sacks and sits tied for third with Tarheeb Still with 52 tackles. Okuayinonu knows he has a chance to impress NFL scouts in the upcoming bowl game and is looking ahead to doing so. “It’s a big win for us man, give us the chance to go bowling, give me another chance to prove myself again to the NFL scouts and stuff, give me another look, another opportunity so I’m very grateful for this win,” he added.
Running back Tayon Fleet-Davis admitted heading into Saturday, the senior “wanted to make sure that no matter what I did, that we didn’t lose this game because of me.” He did anything but that in the regular-season finale as he exploded for a season-high 152 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns on just 18 carries, ending the game with over eight yards per carry.
“I've been here since 2017, I’m a fifth-year senior so this is my first time going bowling and I'm still you know, in shock. Not in shock, but just I can't believe you know, so you know, I'm ready for it and I can't wait to experience and I'm also excited that my team gets to experience this especially for the young guys, freshmen and sophomores and just that they have something to look forward to next season when they come in.”
Head coach Mike Locksley spoke about the potential moment to rejoice in victory after the game, and once the final whistle concluded a 40-16 Maryland win to secure eligibility, the team did exactly that as they embraced one another.
“Definitely feel great, man. I feel you know, I feel blessed with my brothers man. We've had a long journey to get here, up and down season and like, you know, thanks for my senior brothers who are leaving to all be there in a moment taking a picture you know, to enjoy the win.”
Bowl bids are expected to be announced on December 5.
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