If you would have told me the season started that Maryland would go 7-5 overall including 4-4 in the Big Ten 10, I would have been ecstatic.
At 7-4, a loss to a good offensive team like Rutgers would not have crushed me.
But at 7-4 and up 35-10 when the Terps ran into the kicker, I had a sick feeling in my stomach.
8-4 would have been incredible but it was not to be. The Terps turned QB Gary Nova into Peyton Manning. As Nova went 28-42 for 347 yards and 4 Touchdown passes. Let me repeat 4 touchdown passes. As easily as Maryland scored in the 1st half, that is how easy it was for Rutgers.
I felt especially bad for the seniors to have their career at Maryland end on such a sour note.
Brad Craddock missed a 54 yard FG, his first miss of the year.
So now it’s most likely off to a secondary bowl like the San Francisco, San Diego, Detroit or Dallas Bowl for Maryland. It’s 2:24 AM and I am sure I will feel better as the days pass but as for now I have nothing to say.
So here’s some facts about the game and quotes from Coach Edsall and others.
Notes from Maryland
Postgame notes following Maryland’s 41-38 loss to Rutgers at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium.
Kicking It Off: Maryland fell to Rutgers 41-38 Saturday afternoon at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium in the regular-season finale. The Terps fall to 7-5, 4-4 in the Big Ten, while Rutgers improved to 7-5, 3-5 in the Big Ten. With the win, Rutgers evens the all-time series at 5-5.
35-Point First: Maryland scored touchdowns on five of its six first-half possessions and its final four of the half. The 35 points scored by the Terps in the first half are the most by a Maryland team since scoring 40 against FIU in the 2013 season opener (8/31/13). The Terps 333 yards of total offense in the first half is a season high.
#AutoCraddock: Lou Groza finalist Brad Craddock hit his 18th field goal of the season and 24th straight with a 50 yarder late in the third quarter. Craddock’s kick tied the Big Ten record for consecutive field goals made set by Ohio State’s Mike Nugent (2001-02). It was the second-longest field goal of the season for Craddock.
Ross on the Run: Running back Brandon Ross rushed for a season-high two touchdowns tying a career high set against Virginia on Oct. 12, 2013. His touchdown run of 40 yards marked a season long for Ross and is Maryland’s second-longest scoring run of the season.
Ross recorded his fifth career 100-yard rushing game, the second-highest total on the team, finishing with a season-high 108 yards.
Add to the Total: Quarterback C.J. Brown threw for two touchdowns and ran for another to increase his career total of touchdowns responsible for to 57, a Maryland record. Brown’s two touchdown passes increased his career total to 33, one shy of third all-time at Maryland.
With 195 yards passing, Brown passed Neil O’Donnell (1987-89) and Sam Hollenbach (2003-06) to move into fifth on Maryland’s all-time passing list. Brown has passed for 5,167 career yards.
Slant ‘n Go: Wide receiver Amba Etta-Tawo’s 71-yard touchdown reception to begin the second quarter was a career-long for Etta-Tawo and Maryland’s fifth-longest scoring play of the season. It also is Maryland’s ninth touchdown pass of 30 yards or more. It is Etta-Tawo’s first touchdown reception of the season and third of his career.
Offensive Notes: Maryland rushed for three touchdowns for the second time this season (vs. Iowa, 10/18). Maryland’s season high is five against James Madison (8/30) … Maryland totaled 476 yards of offense, the third-highest total of the season … quarterback C.J. Brown recorded his ninth career 100-yard rushing game with 107 yards against the Scarlet Knights … wide receiver Deon Long had seven catches for 65 yards and one touchdown. His receiving totals were the second highest of the season for Long and his touchdown was the second of the season.
Defensive Notes: Defensive back Sean Davis tallied his first sack of the season and forced his first career fumble … linebacker Cole Farrand recovered the fumble, his second of the season and third of his career … defensive back William Likely finished with a career-high 12 tackles … Farrand notched his sixth double-digit tackle performance of the season with 10 stops … Farrand’s forced fumble was the first of the season and fifth of his career … defensive lineman Keith Bowers recorded his second career fumble recovery.
Coach Edsall Post Game
Opening Statement:
“It’s disappointing to say the least here this evening. We had opportunities to win the game, didn’t, and when we needed to make some plays, we didn’t. We had trouble stopping them on defense, and when we did have them stopped we made some errors that gave them extra possessions, which is not good in the game of football. We didn’t play well in special teams. We gave up some plays there and had some penalties that hurt us. We were pretty efficient offensively, but we didn’t make a third-and-one and a fourth-and-one there at the end. All in all, I thought the kids played hard but we came up short.”
No comments have been posted yet, be the first!
Post a comment by filling out the form below.
