By Thomas Pullano
In their first ever game as a member of the Big Ten Conference, the Maryland Terrapins wasted no time in getting off to a hot start on Saturday afternoon before an announced crowd of 45,080 at Byrd Stadium in College Park, Md.
Choosing to defer after winning the coin toss, the Terps’ defense came out and immediately forced a James Madison three and out on its first series of the day. Then the Terps’ offense took just five plays and 1:47 to go 58 yards for the score. After the quick start, the Terps would never look back as they blew out the Dukes with a final score of 52-7.
Starting quarterback C.J. Brown kept the ball on the read-option and ran eleven yards for the touchdown on that opening drive, but his day was just getting started as well. He would rush for two more touchdowns in the first half with his second score coming on a designed quarterback draw from eight yards out on the Terps’ second drive.
His third score, however, may have been the most entertaining. On fourth down at the Dukes’ two-yard line, Brown, who initially appeared to be stopped in the backfield, was able to get away and run over one of his own linemen as he fell forward into the end zone.
Brown, who exited the game midway through the third quarter, finished the day with seven rushes for 61 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. While he didn’t fare as well through the air, completing only 11 of 24 passes for 111 yards, he still managed to connect with wide receiver Deon Long for a 41-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
After the game, Brown, while pleased with the win, was still upset with his own performance.
“It was just a bad game on my part,” Brown said. “Obviously coming out and going 11 for 24 on opening day is not acceptable and I think I hold myself to a higher standard.”
While Brown finished the day with an 8.7 yards per carry average, he was not the only Terp that ran wild against the JMU defense. Starting running back Brandon Ross finished with a team high 86 yards while also adding a touchdown. Sophomore Wes Brown, who sat out all of last season while serving a suspension, entered the game late and ended up rushing for 84 yards himself. A great effort from the Maryland offensive line allowed the offense to run for an incredible 285 yards total.
Head Coach Randy Edsall was very happy with his team’s performance, and he talked about how critical establishing a good running game is to the offense’s overall success.
“We gotta be able to run the football. We gotta be able to run the football effectively, “ Edsall said. “And when you do that, it opens so much more for you offensively.”
Although the offense stood out for its 52 point outburst, the Maryland defensive effort was just as impressive. The defense forced several three and outs including two straight to start the game. Maryland also held JMU to just four of 19 on third down, and that was due largely in part because of the constant pressure Maryland defenders put on Dukes’ quarterback Vad Lee.
The Dukes’ offense didn’t even cross the 50-yard line until late in the second quarter, and that drive would end with a Jeremiah Johnson interception in the end zone. Maryland senior linebacker L.A. Goree led the way with 14 tackles, and junior defensive back Sean Davis notched ten tackles himself, with eight of them coming unassisted.
Asked about Davis’s performance, Edsall said, “He’s worked extremely hard. You talk about a young man who’s really put a lot of time and a lot of effort into his game this summer, not only from a physical standpoint but the work that he’s done in the film room. It pays dividends.”
The Terps (1-0) look to carry the momentum from their season opener when they play at South Florida next Saturday, September 6 at 3:30 p.m.
