Maryland led for just 53 seconds on Saturday. It was just enough, though.
Maryland trailed by as many as 14 points before outscoring USC, 22-7, in the second half. The win marked Maryland’s biggest fourth-quarter comeback since defeating Minnesota in the 2020 season.
QB Billy Edwards Jr. set a new career-high with 373 passing yards, while Kaden Prather and Octavian Smith both set new career highs as Prather finished with 111 yards on nine catches to Smith's 84 yards on eight catches.
The defenses led the way to open the game, though, as the two teams combined for four punts on the first four drives of the game, but USC wound up capitalizing on the Terps’ first miscue of the game.
Maryland appeared to register its third consecutive stop of the game after CB Kevis Thomas came up big for the second pass breakup downfield, but a costly penalty gave the Trojans more life after DL Jordan Phillips was called for an illegal substitution. USC would complete its first fourth-down attempt with ease, and on the very next play, Moss connected with WR Kyron Hudson for a 22-yard touchdown to close the first quarter and open the game's scoring.
With Terez Davis replacing Andre Roye at left tackle, Maryland would answer right back on the next drive with the passing attack finding its groove. Edwards turned to WR Kaden Prather for a pair of third-down catches, with the first being a 33-yard gain to set the offense up in Trojan territory for the first time before his 13-yard reception set the offense up in the redzone. On the next play from scrimmage, Edwards would find WR Octavian Smith Jr. in back corner of the endzone to tie the game back up.
The Trojans would carve the Terps up on the next drive with four of the seven plays on the drive at least ten yards before QB Miller Moss found WR Ja'Kobi Lane for a one-handed, 15-yard touchdown to retake a 14-7 lead.
Jack Howes had a chance to bring the Terps closer in the closing minutes of the first half before his 52-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right. Maryland would have another chance to tack on points in the final two minutes of the half, but after driving just outside the USC redzone, QB Billy Edwards Jr. mishandled the snap as the Trojans pounced on the loose ball with seconds left.
Sandwiched in between two potential scoring drives that were squandered by Maryland’s offer, USC turned in a four play drive, highlighted by a 24-yard catch by WR Makai Lemon, into points as RB Woody Marks punched in his first rushing touchdown of the day.
It was a deflating ending to the first half, but Maryland would find life in the opening minutes of the second half.
After the opening drive ended after RB Roman Hemby was stopped on fourth down, SAF Lavain Scruggs came down with his first interception of the season and second in his career before returning it inside the Trojans’ redzone. One play later, it would be WR Tai Felton who recorded his first touchdown of the day and first since the Villanova game.
Maryland would then hold USC to a three-and-out before the offense inched closer, all thanks in part to a 33-yard rush by RB Nolan Ray to push the offense into the redzone. But in a day filled with bold fourth-down calls, none were bigger than Locksley’s call to go for it one 4th-and-goal from the USC 4 before QB Billy Edwards Jr.’s pass was intercepted in the endzone, halting all momentum built during the late third quarter drive.
USC would give itself a bit more breathing room on the ensuing possession after turning in a ten-play drive that ended in a third passing touchdown for QB Miller Moss, pushing the score to 28-14.
Maryland would respond right back, putting together a ten-play, 75-yard drive capped off by RB Roman Hemby for the final 24 yards. And on a night filled with bold calls, Locksley remained aggressive and turned to a two-point conversion as Edwards found Prather to trim the deficit to six.
The bold calls continued into the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. With the offense getting one more chance to claw ahead, Maryland’s offense stayed on the field on 4th-and-8 before the Trojans’ pressure brought QB Billy Edwards Jr. down at the MD 32, effectively ending the game – until special teams came up with its biggest play of the season.
After DL Donnell Brown blocked USC’s field goal attempt, DL Quashon Fuller recovered the block before pitching it to SAF Glen Miller, who returned it near midfield. Maryland would capitalize on the field position, going 47 yards in five plays as Edwards capitalized on the QB keeper to punch in the game-winning three-yard touchdown run.
The Trojans would drive down the field, but it would be LB Caleb Wheatland who came up big on fourth down stop after breaking up the pass intended for RB Woody Marks.
Maryland will head to Minnesota next Saturday, Oct. 26 for a 3:30 PM kickoff.
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