Maryland’s soccer program hasn’t had many causes to have fun these days, however towards the top of its residence finale Saturday towards a hapless Rutgers squad, pleasure already had begun radiating from the sideline.
Maryland
Maryland finishes strong by shutting out Rutgers
“He tried to behave like he didn’t hear it,” Jones stated.
Tagovailoa, who usually shies away from acknowledging his information at Maryland, rose, then lifted the hand of the vast receiver who reeled in that breakthrough landing go. Tagovailoa stated he “needed to make him really feel particular” as a result of Jones shined in a standout outing, too. In order that they stood collectively, the wideout who has torn his ACL twice and the quarterback who has elevated this system, to understand their remaining spotlight in Faculty Park this season.
The Terps dominated all through the day, largely due to Tagovailoa, regardless of the quarterback hobbling by way of the matchup at occasions due to a knee harm that has given him persistent hassle this season. Nonetheless, Tagovailoa recorded his twelfth profession sport with at the very least 300 passing yards.
“When he’s on, we’re normally on,” Coach Michael Locksley stated. “That’s sort of the way it goes with that place.”
Maryland (7-5, 4-5 Huge Ten) had misplaced three straight, together with a pair of lopsided blowouts that tarnished the ultimate month of an everyday season that started with loads of promise. However because the seniors performed their remaining sport in Faculty Park, the Terps rediscovered their groove. Maryland’s protection stifled the Scarlet Knights (4-8, 1-8) and delivered this system’s first shutout in convention play since 2008.
Jones, a fifth-year participant, notched a career-high 152 receiving yards on senior day. He scored with a 27-yard seize through the fourth quarter, the ultimate catch in his glorious outing that handed Tagovailoa his fiftieth profession passing landing, greater than every other Terp.
Jones began his profession by scoring receiving, dashing and passing touchdowns in his debut, however “that looks as if it was ages in the past,” he stated. Since then, he has gone by way of a training change and two main knee accidents. Locksley stated he’s working to recruit Jones to return for an additional season as a result of he has an extra yr of eligibility remaining.
“The best way he got here and [began his career] with the massive sport towards Texas, it was nice to see him play the best way he performed at present,” Locksley stated. “Hopefully, it’s a precursor for what issues appear like subsequent yr for him if he decides to return again.”
Tagovailoa limped off the sphere simply earlier than halftime, lacking a number of snaps on a drive that resulted in a discipline aim, however he returned after the break, persevering with to steer the offense and break a file whereas jogging gingerly between performs. Tagovailoa completed with 342 yards on 25-for-37 passing earlier than Eric Najarian relieved him late within the sport. Billy Edwards Jr., the Terps’ backup quarterback, was not obtainable due to an ankle harm. The Terps additionally had been with out main receiver Rakim Jarrett, who’s coping with a knee harm.
Although Maryland leaned closely on Tagovailoa’s arm, redshirt freshman operating again Roman Hemby discovered the top zone 3 times. He completed with 70 dashing yards and propelled Maryland to its comfy lead early with two first-half scores from the 1-yard line and one other within the third quarter from the 8.
Maryland’s seventh common season win — its most since 2014 — triggered a one-year contract extension for Locksley, along with his deal now operating by way of 2027. If the Terps win their bowl sport, they are going to end with eight victories for the primary time since 2010.
“I’m right here for the lengthy haul,” Locksley stated. “That is the place I’ve at all times needed to be. … I feel anyone that’s watched the trajectory of our program sees the advance. We’re not there but. We’re a couple of gamers away, a pair performs away, and it’s my job to go get these gamers and to create these performs in order that we are able to take one other step as we construct a championship program.”
After Maryland honored its seniors throughout a pregame ceremony, Dontay Demus Jr., in his fifth season with the Terps, grew to become the seventh participant in program historical past to amass at the very least 2,000 profession receiving yards. He had a quiet outing with simply 13 yards however managed to succeed in that key milestone. Kicker Chad Ryland, one other fifth-year participant who transferred from Japanese Michigan, had a marquee senior day, making all three of his discipline aim makes an attempt.
The Rutgers offense had a dreadful displaying with simply 135 yards and gave Maryland’s protection the chance to shine. The Scarlet Knights completed the primary half with 59 yards, two first downs and an 0-for-7 clip on third down. Six of their drives earlier than the break ended with punts, together with 5 that failed to choose up a primary down. Rutgers’s most profitable sequence went 22 yards earlier than it ended with a failed try and convert a fourth down.
The Terps wanted time earlier than they capitalized, regardless of having a much more environment friendly offense from the beginning. Maryland had two first-quarter drives into Rutgers territory that had been derailed by what Locksley described as “very pricey” fumbles. The Terps turned their subsequent methodical sequence into Hemby’s first landing and cruised from there with Tagovailoa in management.
After the sport, Tagovailoa’s household joined him on the sphere. His sisters, who had but to attend a sport this season, stunned him earlier than kickoff, and different prolonged members of the family from Hawaii made the journey. They posed for photographs and hung leis round his neck — “sort of our love language of supporting me” — and he left with dozens. It signified a “commencement” of types, he stated. Tagovailoa had completed one other common season at Maryland, breaking one other file and serving to this system take one other step ahead alongside the best way.