The Terps’ chances of salvaging bowl eligibility are increasingly fleeting.
If Maryland football was going to mount a comeback down two touchdowns against Rutgers, it needed to convert on a fourth-and-3 in enemy territory.
With just under nine minutes left, quarterback Billy Edwards dropped back to pass and looked for running back Roman Hemby in the flat. But the pass was deflected at the line of scrimmage, and as it fell incomplete, so did the Terps’ hopes of victory.
Saturday night was a disappointing performance by Maryland, as it dropped its third-straight game, 31-17.
“We were able to move the ball, but then could not finish drives, and we’re not scoring enough points and we’re leaving some plays on the field,” head coach Michael Locksley said.
The Terps were the superior team in the first quarter. They controlled the pace of play and time of possession, and assumed a balanced attack. Hemby had his best start to a game this season, rushing eight times for 48 yards and converting on a fourth-and-2 in the opening 15 minutes. He finished with 87 rushing yards and another 59 through the air.
Maryland’s early defense was as stifling as its offense was commanding. Rutgers’ first drive was a three-and-out, and its second drive didn’t last much longer. Star running back Kyle Monangai produced just four rushes for 12 yards on those drives.
But despite the all-around dominance, Maryland held just a 3-0 lead after 15 minutes. Missed opportunities were once again to blame — a recurring theme throughout its 2024 campaign.
On the Terps’ first drive, a fourth-down toss to Tai Felton kept the drive alive. It was Felton’s 81st reception of the year — a new Maryland single-season receptions record.
But the ensuing plays — a play-action overthrow to Felton that would’ve likely resulted in a score, a bobbled incomplete pass by Kaden Prather in the end zone and a missed 47-yard field goal — were microcosms of the Terps’ early struggles.
After Jack Howes nailed a 48-yard field goal late in the first quarter, the Scarlet Knights took a page out of Maryland’s book. It embarked on a methodical 17-play, 75-yard drive that lasted 8:45 and resulted in a touchdown.
“On defense, when we had some opportunity to get off the field, we couldn’t get off the field,” Locksley said. “It’s been the issue here the last few weeks.”
The two teams traded quick touchdowns following Rutgers’ first score, leaving Maryland with a two-minute drive to close out the half. But it ended poorly for the Terps.
Edwards decisively dished the ball in short spurts up the field until Maryland reached the edge of field goal range. Then, with 10 seconds remaining and one timeout in their arsenal, the Terps had a decision to make on fourth down. They were roughly five to 10 yards outside of field goal territory, but a Hail Mary pass also didn’t make much sense.
The final outcome was Edwards throwing the ball short of the sticks to Felton, and Maryland coming away with zero points. It trailed Rutgers at the half, 14-10.
“During that time out, we talked about everybody getting enough to get the first down,” Locksley said. “I guess we didn’t get it verbalized for us to make sure we get enough distance to get the sticks.”
But the Terps put some of their first-half woes quickly behind them. To begin the third quarter, an eight play, 75-yard drive that ended with a Hemby touchdown rush catapulted them ahead.
As quickly as Maryland scored to start the half, Rutgers was equally as patient to hit pay dirt. This time, its touchdown drive lasted more than six minutes.
Then, Maryland began to crumble for good.
After a three-and-out, which was exacerbated by two errant throws by Edwards, the Scarlet Knights promptly sped down the field for another score. It was capped off by a 32-yard Dymere Miller touchdown grab that gave Rutgers an 11-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter.
“There was always at least one [player] that didn’t hone in on the details, and that’s what we got to get cleaned up defensively,” linebacker Kellan Wyatt said.
It didn’t get any better for the Terps, either. Edwards threw an interception on the very next drive, while Rutgers added three more points to its total on the ensuing possession.
“Some of the accuracy passes … we had a chance to complete them. We got to make those plays,” Locksley said.
With the loss, Maryland is now 4-6. It would take wins in both remaining regular-season games and a bowl game victory to salvage a winning season.
Three things to know
1. Felton achieves more than one milestone. In addition to breaking the program’s single-season reception record, Felton also became the just the fourth Maryland player to surpass 1,000 receiving yards in a season on Saturday. He finished the night with six catches for 61 yards and a touchdown.
2. Billy Edwards Jr. played poorly. After a strong start to 2024, Edwards has looked progressively worse with each passing week. He missed some key throws Saturday, and finished the night with a pedestrian stat line, going 32-of-55 for 335 yards, one touchdown and an interception.
3. Maryland’s bowl game hopes are on life support. With the loss to Rutgers, Maryland now needs to defeat both Iowa and No. 4 Penn State for a bowl-game bid. With the way the Terps have played this season, that outcome appears extremely unlikely.