Maryland football falls flat on the road, loses 48-23 vs. Minnesota

Maryland football left the momentum it was building in College Park after being dominated from start to finish in Minneapolis, falling 48-23 vs. Minnesota.

The 48 points allowed mark a season-high for Maryland’s defense, while also tying a season-high for Minnesota this season after scoring on six of their first seven drives.

The first play on offense went right for Maryland though, though, after QB Billy Edwards connected with WR Tai Felton for a 26-yard gain, setting the offense up in Minnesota territory. But three plays later, facing a 4th-and-one and moments after even the broadcast crew noted head coach Mike Locksley’s aggressive approach, RB Roman Hemby was stuffed for a two-yard loss that would end an early drive of promise.

The Gophers wasted no time responding, driving 58 yards in five plays before QB Max Brosmer punched in his first passing touchdown of the day. The Gophers again leaned on the passing attack on their second drive, driving 65 yards on nine plays before extending the score, 14-0. It was clear the Gophers would do so all day, and with little resistance from the Terps’ defense, there was no need to – Brosmer completed 75% of his passes in the opening half and finished the day with a near-season high 79% completion rate. It didn't help that Minnesota converted nine of its 13 third-down attempts.

Then the wheels came off after a miscommunication between QB Billy Edwards and WR Shaleak Knotts led CB Justin Walley to come down with an easy interception returned for a 32-yard pick six, extending the deficit to 21-0 just ten minutes into the game.

“To spot a good team at home 21 points like that, we're not built to just give the other team points like that," head coach Mike Locksley said postgame.

Maryland appeared to find momentum on its final drive of the first quarter until Edwards threw his second interception, setting the Gophers up right outside the redzone in a drive that ended with a field goal, making it 24-0.

The Terps would cut into the deficit after Jack Howes drilled a 33-yard field goal to remain perfect inside 40 yards this season, but Minnesota answered write back with an eight-play, 75-yard drive that ended in Brosmer's third passing touchdown. Maryland would cut into the deficit again after turning in their most productive drive of the game capped off by an eight-yard rushing touchdown by Edwards, trimming the deficit to 31-10, but the defense would give yet another scoring drive inside the last two minutes of the half after the Gophers went 49 yards in six plays and 26 seconds to knock through a 34-yard field goal.

The 34 first-half points marked the third-most points allowed in the first half under Mike Locksley, while the Gophers have been held to 31 or fewer points in all but one game this season.

The second half was more of the same after the Gophers punched in a touchdown just two minutes in, handing Maryland their largest deficit of the season, while a 51-yard rushing touchdown to open the fourth quarter extended the deficit to 48-10.

That would mark the end of the day for Edwards, who finished 19-of-35 for 201 yards and a pair of interceptions.

QB MJ Morris stepped in as the starting quarterback to begin the fourth quarter as he led the offense on two scoring drives, finishing 7-of-8 for 122 yards and a pair of passing touchdowns. His first was on a two-yard pass to LB DJ Samuels facing a fourth-and-goal, while his second was on a 21-yard pass to WR Shaleak Knotts in the back right corner of the endzone. Morris also connected with Knotts on a 49-yard throw to set the offense up with the game’s final score.

Meanwhile, Maryland was without both LB Kellan Wyatt and SAF Glen Miller while Dante Trader Jr. appeared in the second half of the loss. LT Andre Roye also went down in the second half of the loss.

WR Tai Felton recorded 104 receiving yards on nine receptions and 13 targets in the loss, his first 100-yard receiving game since the Villanova game and fifth of the season.

Maryland will now enter their second and final bye week of the season before traveling to Oregon on Nov. 9.