COLLEGE PARK, MD — Maryland needed four yards on third down as quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. dropped back to pass. The Terps trailed by four following a Rutgers touchdown and were desperate to mount a response as the clock fell under five minutes in the third quarter.
Senior receiver Tai Felton broke his slant route to the inside creating enough separation for Edwards Jr. to fire in his direction. Maryland’s quarterback was just a second too late. The redshirt junior threw a hair behind his favorite target as the ball fell off of Felton’s outstretched fingertips — a microcosm of the Terps’ night.
Maryland (4-6, 1-6 Big Ten) failed to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter losing to Rutgers (6-4, 3-4 Big Ten), 31-17, Saturday night.
“At the end of the day it comes down to, we gotta make the plays that have to be made and today Rutgers made enough of them and we did not,” head coach Michael Locksley said.
The Terps were forced to punt following the failed third-down play giving the Scarlet Knights the ball at their own 29-yard line.
Rutgers drove down to Maryland’s 32-yard line before the end of the third quarter.
On the opening play of the fourth, Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis launched a 32-yard pass to senior wide receiver Dymere Miller who caught the ball right in front of the pylon. Miller picked up the extra yard in stride, crossing the goal line to put the Scarlet Knights ahead by two scores.
Maryland’s offense advanced to Rutgers’ side of the field on its next drive trying to fight its way back into the game.
Edwards Jr. collected a first down shotgun snap just outside of the red zone, before firing to receiver Octavian Smith Jr. The junior got both hands on the pass, but he wasn’t the one who caught it.
Rutgers’ senior defensive back Shaquon Loyal tackled Smith Jr. as he tried to secure the catch, sending the ball flying in the air. Jordan Thompson located the flying pigskin and laid out for his first interception of the season, ending any hope Maryland had at retaliation.
The Terps couldn’t muster any more scoring opportunities in the fourth quarter squandering a pair of strong performances from Felton and running back Roman Hemby.
Maryland fed its offense through Felton and running back Roman Hemby for much of the first half.
The pair accounted for 17 touches in the first half. Hemby carried the ball 11 times earning 76 yards on the ground to go with his three catches for 14 yards. Felton caught three of his six targets for 32 receiving yards. He also scored Maryland’s only touchdown of the half.
Rutgers doubled Felton’s touchdown tally in the second quarter alone. The Scarlet Knights, fueled by their pair of scores, led 14-10 at halftime.
The Scarlet Knights’ first touchdown was the product of a 17-play drive that spanned eight minutes and 45 seconds, between the first and second quarters.
Rutgers ran the ball seven times and threw ten passes on the drive, all of it culminating in a touchdown throw by Kaliakmanis to sophomore receiver Ian Strong.
“Third downs were huge today,” said junior linebacker Kellan Wyatt. “We just got to take advantage of third downs and get off the field because when those long drives are extended, it not only takes clock away, but it kind of wears you down a little bit.”
Rutgers’ running back Kyle Monangai scored the second on a two-yard run. The senior’s 11th touchdown of the season came with just over a minute to go in the first half, giving Maryland a slim opportunity to score before halftime. It didn’t do so.
The Terps drove the ball into Scarlet Knights territory, but came up short on fourth down, ending the half without an answer.
“That’s one of those game situations where you want to get enough to be in field goal range, we [were] in the fringe area,” said Locksley. “During that timeout we talked about everybody getting enough to get the first down … and I guess we didn’t get it verbalized for us to make sure we get enough distance to get the sticks to where we call it church or declare down.”
Maryland finished the game converting on eight of its 17 third down attempts and three of its fourth down attempts. The Terps managed 457 yards of offense, 207 of which came from the production of Felton and Hemby.
Felton finished the game with six catches and 61 receiving yards setting a new Maryland record with 86 catches in a single season.
Hemby ended with 87 rushing yards on 16 carries to go along with five catches and 59 receiving yards. Hemby’s lone rushing touchdown in the third quarter was the 22nd of his career, putting him at fourth all-time in program history.
“Today was just the day where, you know, things were clicking on all cylinders in the run game,” said Hemby. “I approach every game with the thought process and the mind frame that I’m gonna have a big game, help my team win, you know, that’s what I do everyday. You know, I just strive to be great.”
The Terps need to win out to become bowl-eligible for the fourth season in a row. Their next two opponents are Iowa — whom they play at home next Saturday — and No. 4 Penn State.
