Taulia Tagovailoa propels Maryland football to blowout victory over Charlotte – WMUC Sports

By Brennan Stewart

Tagovailoa’s imaginative and prescient on Saturday was unmatched. Broad receiver Jacob Copeland took off downfield, turning to catch a 39-yarder within the endzone. Charlotte’s pupil part fell silent, as Maryland ignited the early fireplace.

Maryland’s offense was electrical all day, and behind a masterful efficiency from QB Taulia Tagovailoa, the Terps trounced Charlotte, 56-21. 

For Head Coach Mike Locksley, the advance he needed to see from his workforce this week was effectivity on offense. 

“We are able to’t be what I name a big-little offense. I like us to be environment friendly. In case you have a look at that opening drive; we had the place we went down and scored, that’s the effectivity I really feel we have to play with,” Locksley mentioned in Tuesday’s press convention.

Certain sufficient, Maryland placed on a dominant offensive efficiency. Tagovailoa drastically improved on final week’s stats with 391 passing yards and 5 whole touchdowns. 

Charlotte’s DB Davondre Robinson left the sport with a leg damage 29 seconds into the primary quarter. Going into the matchup, Robinson had the second-most tackles on the workforce (13).

Copeland capped off the Terps’ first drive with a 39-yard reception within the endzone. 

Penalties from Maryland’s protection stored Charlotte alive in its first drive. QB Xavier Williams directed the offense on a number of fourth-down conversions and threw a landing go to WR Grant Dubose, tying the sport.

Charlotte displayed its aggressiveness in an onside kick try following the landing. It was unsuccessful, placing Maryland on Charlotte’s 31-yard line. In two performs, Tagovailoa related with WR Jeshaun Jones for one more landing. 

RB Antwaine Littleton II gave Maryland its third landing with a 59-yard run on the following drive. The Terps scored on each possession within the first quarter, demonstrating the effectivity that Coach Locksley hoped to attain.

Charlotte stayed relentless, opening the second quarter with a landing. Xavier Williams related with WR Victor Tucker for 19 yards, bringing the 49ers inside a landing to tie.

Maryland wouldn’t let the 49ers draw nearer. 

Jacob Copeland darted into open house, catching his second landing within the endzone for 45 yards. Maryland now doubled Charlotte’s rating, 28-14.

Maryland’s offense was gleaming with confidence. Tagovailoa threw for 219 yards in his first 4 drives. Towards Buffalo, he had 290 in all the sport.

Tagovailoa earned his fourth landing go within the second quarter, throwing a 16-yard dart to Jeshaun Jones. In contrast to the week prior, touchdowns have been taking place within the air. Jones had two on the half, in addition to Copeland.

“I didn’t know if we have been going to throw the ball so much at present as a result of they mentioned it will be in-between,” Copeland mentioned in his post-game presser. “All of a  sudden they known as my quantity and the performs have been there.”

With only a minute left within the half, DB Comanche Francisco picked off a go supposed for WR Dontay Demus Jr. within the endzone. Charlotte tried to get its head above the water in a single final two-minute drill, however to no avail.

The Terps led on the half, 35-14.

On Maryland’s first drive of the second half, Tagovailoa rushed for 4 yards to earn his fifth landing of the sport. Following the play, he went down with an obvious leg damage, however he walked off of his personal energy. Backup QB Billy Edwards Jr. stuffed in till Tagovailoa returned later.

RB Colby McDonald put himself on the high of the dashing chart with a 49-yard run to the endzone. 

“I do consider that all of us can go,” McDonald mentioned following the sport. “Our working again corps could be very deep. We obtained loads of choices, everybody has their very own half on this win, and I really feel like we put in good work.”

With two touchdowns of their first two drives of the second half, the Terps weren’t holding again on Charlotte.

Xavier Williams confirmed he had coronary heart towards an amazing Maryland protection, however the protection made it too tough to throw correct passes. Williams completed with 19 completions on 35 makes an attempt, totaling 191 yards and two touchdowns. 

QB Trexler Ivey subbed in to complete out the fourth quarter.

Billy Edwards Jr. discovered WR Octavian Smith Jr. for a 17-yard catch within the endzone, bringing the Terps’ result in 56-14.

With just below eight minutes left within the sport, Trexler Ivey threw a 5-yard go to Victor Tucker within the endzone.

A powerful defensive efficiency shut down any hopes for Charlotte to succeed. 

DB Beau Brade led the workforce with six mixed tackles, whereas DB Deonte Banks raked in 4 alone. 

“For the variety of performs our protection performed, I assumed they did a very good job of limiting the massive performs,” Coach Locksley mentioned. “Simply have to get extra strain on the quarterback, little doubt about it.”

Underneath Brian Williams, the protection should proceed to indicate out as soon as the Large Ten comes knocking. 

Maryland’s protection will get examined within the subsequent two out-of-conference matchups towards SMU and Michigan.

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