Hemby shines as Maryland beats Buffalo 31-10

On an in any other case uneven day for the Maryland offense, Hemby breezed via a gaping gap and raced untouched to the tip zone for the group’s longest run since 2019. That gave the Terrapins a 24-7 benefit after 39 seconds within the third quarter.

“Lots of people can get to the second stage, lots of people could make huge runs, explosive performs,” Hemby mentioned. “However who can ring the bell, who can take it house? … At any time when the performs are there for me to make, I attempt to do my finest to make them.”

Antwaine Littleton additionally ran for 2 touchdowns for Maryland (1-0), and Taulia Tagovailoa threw for 290 yards. It was additionally a stable defensive exhibiting for the Terrapins, who return a proficient quarterback and a formidable group of receivers however nonetheless want to indicate they will cease high groups.

Buffalo (0-1) did not give them a lot of a take a look at. The Bulls have been outgained 446-268. Cole Snyder threw for 160 yards however was sacked 4 instances.

“I feel the largest factor is how we transfer ahead from this level,” Buffalo coach Maurice Linguist mentioned. “Each alternative you step on the soccer area, you may have a chance to actually study your self out of a number of lenses, see what errors are on the market, whether or not from a schematic standpoint and take a look at your self from a personnel standpoint after which make that bounce.”

Hemby, a redshirt freshman who had 17 speeding makes an attempt final season, made essentially the most of his seven carries on this 12 months’s opener. He scored on a 33-yard run within the first quarter, after which Littleton added a 2-yard landing within the second.

It was 17-0 when Buffalo scored its lone TD on a 19-yard run by Al-Jay Henderson. Then the Bulls stopped Maryland on fourth down within the remaining minute of the half to remain inside 10 factors.

That was one in every of a handful of moments when the Terrapins weren’t fairly clicking. Tagovailoa had an overthrown move intercepted in Buffalo territory within the third, and later Rakim Jarrett dropped one of many Maryland’s quarterback’s nicest tosses of the day.

“Our purpose is to attempt to get 80 performs,” mentioned Terrapins coach Michael Locksley, whose group had solely 61 on Saturday. “The one strategy to get to that 80 is to be good on third down, and I feel we have been 4 of 13 immediately.”

Nonetheless, the Terps by no means appeared like they have been in a lot hazard on this opener. Littleton’s 1-yard landing early within the fourth made it 31-7.

Buffalo: The Bulls performed a turnover-free recreation and stored Maryland’s receivers from making too many huge performs, however Buffalo merely did not transfer the ball effectively sufficient to threaten an upset.

Maryland: The passing recreation was a bit inconsistent, however the offensive line, which returns each starter, did a pleasant job. The Terrapins finally received this recreation about as comfortably as anticipated.

Buffalo: The Bulls host Holy Cross subsequent Saturday evening.

Maryland: The Terps play at Charlotte on Saturday. Maryland hasn’t performed a nonconference street recreation since a loss to Temple in 2019.

Observe Noah Trister at https://twitter.com/noahtrister