Maryland holds off No. 25 NC State in Duke’s Mayo Bowl

BALTIMORE  (AP) — Taulia Tagovailoa threw a 19-yard landing cross to Octavian Smith, Chad Ryland kicked three discipline objectives and Maryland outlasted No. 25 North Carolina State 16-12 to win the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Friday.

 
Tagovailoa completed 19 of 37 for 221 yards with two interceptions. Roman Hemby ran for 65 yards speeding on 24 carries for Maryland (8-5), which gained its second straight bowl recreation.

 
Jakorian Bennett, who helped seal the win with a late interception, was named the sport’s Most Precious Participant. The Terrapins’ protection held N.C. State to 27 yards speeding on 18 carries and saved the Wolfpack out of the tip zone.

Ben Finley, certainly one of 4 totally different beginning quarterbacks for North Carolina State this season, accomplished 22 of 48 passes for 269 yards with two interceptions and could not discover the tip zone. All of N.C. State’s factors got here off the leg of All-American kicker Christopher Dunn, who transformed discipline objectives of 38, 19, 38 and 26 yards.’

Redshirt freshman Billy Edwards Jr., who had solely thrown 45 passes all season for Maryland, bought the beginning at quarterback for Maryland over Tagovailoa. However he solely lasted one sequence earlier than giving strategy to the Terrapins’ regular-season starter.

 
Maryland took a 10-9 lead within the second quarter when Tagovailoa discovered Smith within the again left nook of the tip zone for the sport’s solely landing.

 
North Carolina State (8-5) actually had its probabilities, penetrating the Maryland 25-yard line 4 occasions, however was compelled to accept discipline objectives every time.

 
The largest alternative to grab momentum got here within the fourth quarter when Rakeim Ashford intercepted Tagovailoa on the N.C. State 35. However the Terrapins protection answered with a third-down cease and compelled a discipline purpose.

 
N.C. State had one final probability to win it after they bought the ball again with 2:34 left within the recreation at their very own 25, however Bennett’s leaping interception clinched the victory.

 
GETTING HIS KICKS

 
Dunn gained the Lou Groza Award, which is given yearly to the nation’s greatest kicker, and completed the season changing 28 of 29 discipline purpose tries and all 30 extra-point makes an attempt for the Wolfpack.

THE TAKEAWAY

Maryland: The Terrapins have numerous gamers who opted out of the bowl recreation, together with three extensive receivers who declared for the NFL draft. They will have to replenish that place, though Smith seems to be like a keeper.

NC State: Quarterback goes to be a problem the Wolfpack might want to handle this offseason. With Devin Leary transferring to Kentucky, there isn’t any stable reply. Finley struggled together with his accuracy and main the offense. It did not assist that North Carolina State’s working recreation was nonexistent.

UP NEXT

 
Maryland: Host Towson on Sept. 2, 2023.
NC State: At Connecticut on Sept. 2, 2023.