If it wasn’t already, Maryland football’s season is officially spiraling after suffering their third consecutive loss, falling 31-17 to Rutgers.
Maryland QB Billy Edwards Jr. failed to complete at least 60% of his passes for the third consecutive game and fourth time in his last five games, finishing 32-of-55 for 335 yards and one touchdown to one interception. Despite having RB Kyle Monangai available, Rutgers made it clear they would attack Maryland through the air as QB Athan Kaliakmanis completed 67% of his passes and threw for 238 yards, leading the offense to 370 total yards of offense.
Maryland appeared to take early momentum, but that stalled after Jack Howes’ 41-yard field goal attempt sailed wide to squander the opening drive.
A defensive pass interference against WR Tai Felton on third down extended Maryland’s second drive, while RB Roman Hemby kept it going after picking up four yards on a 4th-and-1 then spinning off a tackle for a 15-yard gain plays later. It was enough to set Howes up for redemption as his 48-yard field goal opened the game’s scoring, but Rutgers would answer back on a 17-play drive spanning nearly nine minutes for the game’s first touchdown and 7-3 lead.
Maryland would answer back on a nine-play drive as Hemby accounted for 27 all-purpose yards on the drive to set the offense up inside the redzone before QB Billy Edwards Jr. connected with WR Tai Felton for the touchdown.
But Rutgers would take momentum back – slowly, as they did all night. A horse collar tackle on Jalen Huskey would set Rutgers up in Maryland territory as the Scarlet Knights converted on both third and fourth down to set Kyle Monangai up with his first touchdown of the day. It would set the stage for the rest of the night as Rutgers finished 9-for-17 on third and fourth downs, including 7-for-11 in the first half.
Maryland had a chance in the final two minutes to get in scoring position, but instead saw both Billy Edwards Jr. and MJ Morris have to leave the game after big hits before the offense turned it over on downs, cementing Maryland’s 14-10 halftime deficit.
After deferring the kick to the second half, Maryland would capitalize on the opening possession of the second half as Roman Hemby got loose. With Tamarus Walker replacing Bunyun at LG, Maryland lined up in their ‘tush push’ formation facing a 3rd-and-2 before Edwards rolled out to find Hemby wide open for a 32-yard catch-and-run, pushing the offense to the two yard line. Two plays later, Hemby punched in his first touchdown of the game to push the Terps’ back ahead. His 87 rushing yards marked the most since posting 117 in the week five loss vs. Indiana, averaging 5.7 yards per carry in the loss.
Yet Maryland had no answer for Rutgers’ passing attack, and when the defense needed a stop in the second half, Rutgers found a way to move the chains.
On the ensuing drive, a third-down penalty on Kevis Thomas extended the drive before Kaliakmanis picked apart the Terps’ secondary again, ending the drive a 5-of-6 for 51 yards before Monangai ran for his second touchdown of the game.
Edwards would misfire on a pair of throws to Tai Felton as the offense suffered their first three-and-out of the game, but it’d be the empty possession Rutgers needed to get more breathing room. That nearly happened on the first play after Monangai ran 70 yards before a holding call brought the Scarlet Knights back to their half of the field. That only meant Rutgers would take more time off the clock until finding the endzone, ultimately kicking off the fourth quarter with a 32-yard touchdown to open the fourth quarter and push the game to 28-17.
If there was still hope left, that faded quickly in the minutes after as Billy Edwards Jr.’s pass to WR Octavian Smith was bobbled, then hauled in by Rutgers for the game’s first turnover. After Rutgers tacked on a field goal to extend their lead by two touchdowns, Maryland’s next drive ended after Billy Edwards pass on 4th down was broken up with just over eight minutes remaining. Maryland’s final hope came with just over four minutes left when Edwards fourth-down pass was broken up at the line of scrimmage.
Maryland will host Iowa next week, Nov. 23 for Senior Day before traveling to fourth-ranked Penn State. Kickoff is set for 12 PM next Saturday.
Notes
WR Tai Felton set the single-season program record on the opening drive, hauling in a 17-yard reception to break DJ Moore’s record of 81 catches. In the second quarter, Felton then became the fourth WR in program history to record 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. His second quarter receiving touchdown also marked the 15th of his career, moving him to 15th all-time in program history.
With Andre Roye ultimately sidelined and in street clothes, freshman Terez Davis drew the start at LT. It marked the second consecutive start for Davis after making his first career start last week vs. Oregon and seeing ample playing time in the week four win vs. Villanova.
RB Roman Hemby’s third-quarter touchdown marked his 22nd career rushing touchdown and 27th career total touchdown. His 22 rushing TDs moves him into sole possession of eighth-most in program history, while his 27 total touchdowns moves him into fourth place all-time.