Takeaways from Maryland football’s victory over NC State in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Maryland soccer completed its 2022 season on a excessive be aware Friday, defeating NC State, 16-12, to win the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. The Terps shut head coach Mike Locksley’s fourth season at 8-5, a one-game enchancment from 2022 and this system’s first eight-win season since becoming a member of the Huge Ten.

“I’m immensely pleased with this crew, man,” Locksley stated. “They’ve been by way of a lot and also you speak about these seniors which have left us, and even among the guys which have entered the switch portal — that’s the panorama of faculty soccer — however I’m actually grateful for these guys.”

Although the sport was performed at a considerably uneven tempo, it by no means felt out of Maryland’s grasp within the last minutes. The Terps’ protection was as soon as once more the distinction, and so they managed the time of possession battle by greater than 11 minutes.

Let’s make amends for some takeaways from the all-important Maryland win.

4 of Maryland’s prime cross catchers have been absent, however the remainder of its core stepped up.

Par for the course in school soccer right now, Maryland’s extremely praised extensive receiver room was gutted within the weeks main as much as the bowl sport.

Fifth-year Dontay Demus Jr. opted out of the sport to keep up his well being for the 2023 NFL Draft on Dec. 1. Florida switch wideout Jacob Copeland did so a day earlier, and star junior Rakim Jarrett forwent his remaining eligibility by declaring on Dec. 13. Dependable tight finish CJ Dippre additionally transferred to Alabama.

So, the Terps have been left in a state of affairs much like the one their working backs confronted in final 12 months’s Pinstripe Bowl. Veteran Jeshaun Jones would lead the core, sophomore Tai Felton would see extra snaps and the remainder of the group would characteristic freshmen out to show themselves.

That’s precisely what occurred.

Jones led all receivers with 79 yards Friday, driving the momentum from his profession efficiency towards Rutgers in Maryland’s final regular-season sport a couple of month in the past. A relentless safety blanket for redshirt junior quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa all season, Jones would proceed that theme Friday.

Sophomore Tai Felton, who has proven flashes of being Maryland’s future No. 1 receiver this season, stepped up in elevated taking part in time as nicely, ending with 4 receptions for 69 yards.

Maybe probably the most thrilling revelation, although, was the play of true freshman Octavian Smith Jr. Smith performed in all 12 video games in the course of the common season, recording 9 receptions for 123 yards and a landing whereas additionally returning 14 kicks. Smith completed Friday’s sport with three receptions, 34 receiving yards, an affect within the kick return sport and this impressive touchdown.

“I believed they have been simply OK,” Locksley stated of the younger receivers. “We didn’t block the perimeter value a you already know what. We had house performs, and we had guys lacking blocks out on the perimeter. However these are the rising pains that once they’re, they’re classes. You lose otherwise you don’t execute the best way you must, these are the dear classes that in the course of the offseason, we’ll return, watch the tape, we’ll get them coached up.”

The receivers might not have been the distinction in Friday’s win, however their efficiency actually proved the room, even earlier than Maryland’s switch imports arrive, is in good fingers.

“They’re going to be higher subsequent 12 months due to the quantity of snaps they have been in a position to take this 12 months and being thrust into significant roles right now, and that’s what it’s all about as you develop a crew,” Locksley added.

Maryland’s second-half protection was as soon as once more a theme in a victory.

All 12 months lengthy, Maryland’s second half protection had come out robust. In 75% of their common season video games, the Terps allowed 10 factors or fewer. Oftentimes, it appeared like a change flipped within the halftime locker room. Whereas there wasn’t too staunch of a distinction between Maryland’s protection within the first and second half, it got here up clutch as soon as once more.

The Terps compelled punts on every of NC State’s first 4 drives to start the second half, together with two three-and-outs.

NC State seemingly generated some juice with an interception of Tagovailoa with 11:13 to play, beginning its fifth drive of the half on the Maryland 35-yard line. Nonetheless, the Terps bent however didn’t break, conceding a primary down however nonetheless holding NC State to a few factors.

And when it mattered most, senior cornerback Jakorian Bennett sealed the deal. On the primary play of what-would-be NC State’s last drive, Bennett made an acrobatic interception, taking the ball away from former Terp Darryl Jones.

Bennett talked often about turning his cross breakups — a stat the place he was among the many nation’s leaders final season— into interceptions, so it was solely becoming for his Maryland profession to finish that manner. With the second-half protection as soon as once more developing clutch, it was becoming to finish the season that manner too.

Maryland soccer has not fairly reached the “subsequent step,” however Friday’s win serves as one other signal of progress.

Not solely did Friday’s win full Maryland’s first eight-win season since becoming a member of the Huge Ten, it was its first since 2010.

Although Locksley had repeatedly talked about that the bowl sport would function the beginning of the 2023 season because of the lack of continuity with rosters, the victory shouldn’t be downplayed.

“Simply the assumption. I really feel like we’ve at all times had the expertise since I’ve been right here,” Jones stated of this system’s development. “It’s simply believing that we are able to do what we’ve completed these final two years.”

Locksley took over a program in disarray and — sans the COVID-19-truncated 2020 season — has improved his crew’s win complete every year. Given this system’s lack of success since becoming a member of the Huge Ten, what he has been in a position to accomplish isn’t any small feat.

“The brotherhood, that’s form of straightforward,” stated Bennett, reflecting on the largest distinction between when he arrived and now. “The bond that you’ve got with the man to your left, the man to your proper, it’s unbreakable. It’s simply realizing that he’s going to present it his all and he’s going to present it his all and also you’re going to present your all … Nothing can actually cease this group.”

The very fact, whether or not or not it’s downplayed internally or not, is that Maryland has now gained bowl video games in back-to-back seasons since 2002-03. This system is on an upward trajectory, which undoubtedly helps its notion amongst recruits and the general public.

A lot is made concerning the “subsequent step” that Locksley constantly refers to, and now the reply is beginning to take form. The expectation round Maryland is that it ought to be bowl-eligible yearly. Now, this system should compete with the convention’s finest.

The Terps achieved small ethical victories by bringing each Michigan and Ohio State to the wire, however blowout losses to Wisconsin and Penn State and a house loss to Purdue ought to be deemed unacceptable.

In his early nationwide signing day media availability, Locksley talked about for the primary time that the quick future is “the time” to compete for championships. Whether or not that’s potential or not could also be uncertain and stays to be seen, however this a lot is obvious: the expectations for Maryland have been raised, and the definition of the “subsequent step” appears concrete.

“The final 4 years we’ve talked about taking the subsequent step, taking the subsequent step,” Locksley stated. “Effectively, the subsequent step for us is to begin competing for Huge Ten championships. And there’s some individuals on the market that’ll snigger at us and so they assume it’s humorous. However you’re taking a Terp as a right, I promise you we’ll make you pay.”