The Maryland protection had already supplied its contribution. All through the second half, the unit delivered heroics by forcing turnovers because the Terrapins tried to knock off Purdue. A win would have handed Maryland its greatest begin in almost a decade and sign {that a} particular season is likely to be brewing in Faculty Park.
Maryland
Maryland’s comeback attempt comes up short in loss to Purdue
However within the remaining minutes of the sport, Maryland wanted its offense to shine. And that group couldn’t supply the identical poise when the end result trusted them. A penalty erased a profitable two-point conversion that will have tied the sport, and the Terps suffered a 31-29 defeat.
With 35 seconds remaining, the Terps scored a landing however then confronted a essential two-point conversion. Quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa scrambled and related with Rakim Jarrett, however the play was referred to as again for an ineligible-receiver-downfield name on offensive lineman DJ Glaze. On the second strive, Tagovailoa’s cross flew excessive over his receiver and out the again of the top zone, sealing a win for Purdue.
A blocked extra-point try on Maryland’s scoring drive with 7:47 left loomed massive, each on the time and as soon as the end result had been settled, notably in gentle of complaints for an offsides name on Purdue on that play. On the time, Maryland had a 23-17 lead, however a six-point edge is a precarious predicament.
The Boilermakers took a 24-23 lead with 3:19 to go when quarterback Aidan O’Connell threw his second landing cross of the afternoon. The Terps’ offense stalled at instances via this recreation, they usually sputtered once more on this vital second, going three and out, and giving Purdue an opportunity to increase its lead.
O’Connell’s 56-yard cross to Payne Durham received the Boilermakers to the 2-yard line with greater than two minutes remaining. Purdue seemingly tried to not rating on its first two speeding makes an attempt, draining the clock and slowly squashing Maryland’s hope. On third down, Devin Mockobee barreled into the top zone, and Purdue seized an eight-point benefit.
The Terps had no timeouts and 1:12 on the clock, however they nonetheless had an opportunity. Tagovailoa related with Corey Dyches for an 18-yard landing after which couldn’t end the sport with a profitable two-point conversion.
O’Connell, a sixth-year participant at Purdue, threw for 360 yards on 30-of-41 passing, however Maryland’s protection had loads of spotlight moments that might have been sufficient for the victory had the offense performed at its greatest. The Boilermakers solely rushed for 13 yards on 34 makes an attempt, and Maryland pressured turnovers on Purdue’s first three drives of the second half. Nonetheless, the Terps failed to attain in any case of them — a sequence of defensive excellence paired with poor offense that couldn’t tilt the tied recreation in Maryland’s favor.
Durell Nchami triggered a fumble on a sack and Austin Fontaine recovered. However the Maryland offense couldn’t convert on fourth down. Jakorian Bennett, who almost had an interception earlier within the recreation, held onto the ball this time for the choose. Then the Terps needed to punt. And after standout freshman Jaishawn Barham pressured and recovered a fumble, Maryland settled for a 52-yard discipline objective and Chad Ryland missed. Over these three possessions, Maryland’s offense picked up simply 35 yards on 16 performs.
The protection refused to relent, and lastly, the Terps offense matched that effort with an efficient drive early within the fourth quarter. Tagovailoa related with Jacob Copeland on third down, after which operating again Roman Hemby grabbed a 24-yard reception to maneuver the chains on one other third-down play. Hemby scored moments afterward a display screen cross, however Purdue blocked the extra-point try.
Tagovailoa threw for 315 yards on 26-of-38 passing, with three touchdowns and an interception when he threw into double protection. He performed nicely when Maryland desperately wanted him to on that remaining drive, however he had an up-and-down general efficiency.
Maryland’s offense sputtered after its opening collection that appeared easy and ended with Tagovailoa’s nine-yard landing run. The unit managed to move into halftime on a excessive notice, due to a powerful effort from Dyches. After Tagovailoa stepped up within the pocket and launched the ball down discipline to the redshirt sophomore tight finish, Dyches carried a defender with him 15 yards into the top zone. Dyches’s 68-yard rating marked the primary landing for the Terps because the opening collection and tied the sport simply earlier than halftime.
The Terps protection has proven progress in latest weeks, notably in its skill to make changes after halftime. However earlier within the recreation, the protection had its personal lapses. With Purdue nearing the top zone within the second quarter, Bennett let a near-interception bounce off his palms into the grasp of a receiver. Just a few performs later, the protection mustered a cease on a third-and-goal play from the 2-yard line, however the Terps picked up a flag for an unlawful substitution. When the Boilermakers replayed the down, Dylan Downing efficiently rushed up the center at hand Purdue a 10-7 lead.
On the Boilermakers’ subsequent drive, Barham recorded a sack — just for the blip of positivity to be erased on the next play. Redshirt senior Ahmad McCullough hit a sliding O’Connell and was flagged for pointless roughness, pushing Purdue’s offense to the 14-yard line. That arrange one other landing for the guests, with Mershawn Rice within the again nook the top zone on a four-yard reception.
However as the sport progressed, the protection added loads of highlights that helped masks a few of Maryland’s offensive struggles. The Terps pressured a punt on Purdue’s drive late within the second quarter, when the Boilermakers might have grabbed a 14-point lead with a landing. The Maryland offense couldn’t capitalize, rapidly handing the ball again to Purdue. Coach Michael Locksley determined to make use of his timeouts to protect time whereas his protection delivered one other defensive cease to let the Terps take the sector with underneath a minute to go. That opened the door for Dyches’s landing catch with the spectacular run.
After which after the break, the protection did all it might, coming away with one takeaway after one other. The unit offered Maryland with an opportunity. Despite the fact that that blocked further level pressured Maryland to strive the two-point conversion, the Terps almost delivered. After which a penalty wiped all of it away.