For the second consecutive game, Maryland football trailed at halftime, this time to former ACC rival Virginia.
Under the threat of dropping its second game of the season, the Terps rallied out of the break, outscoring Virginia 20-0 in the second half en route to a 27-13 victory on the road.
Here’s how each position group performed in the win.
Quarterback
In his first season as the full-time starter, Billy Edwards Jr. has thoroughly impressed through three games. While he could not get much going in the first half — misfiring on multiple deep shots — he was sharp in the second half, completing 14-of-19 pass attempts for 168 yards and a touchdown.
On the day, Edwards recorded 263 yards and two touchdowns through the air and 12 yards and a score on the ground. A noticeable difference from the first two games, Edwards was utilized far more in the rushing game Saturday, attempting multiple designed runs and quarterback sneaks.
Although against an inferior opponent, Edwards avoided costly mistakes and did what the Terps needed to win.
Grade: A-
Running back
Although they were relatively efficient, the Terps only mustered up 46 yards on the ground in the first half.
The second half provided more opportunity for the running backs, as Maryland played with a lead, but they were still relatively unimpressive. Starter Roman Hemby finished the game with 33 rushing yards on 10 carries, while Nolan Ray and Colby McDonald combined for 86 rushing yards on 16 carries. None of them scored a touchdown, though.
Hemby also hauled in four passes for 12 yards.
Grade: B-
Wide receiver
As was the case for most of the team, the first half left much to be desired for Maryland’s wide receivers — who had multiple balls batted out of their hands by Virginia’s secondary — until Tai Felton caught a 19-yard strike in the end zone with under a minute remaining in the half.
Felton carried the room again, finishing the game with nine receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown. He is the first Maryland receiver to record more than 100 receiving yards in the first three games of a season.
Kaden Prather also had a productive day, totaling 48 yards and a touchdown on four receptions, while Octavian Smith Jr. caught four passes for 23 yards.
While not the unit’s best game, with Felton playing this well, it’s hard not to give them a good grade.
Grade: A-
Tight end
Starting tight end Preston Howard returned to the field after missing last week’s game against Michigan State. But he did not do much against the Hoos, hauling in three passes for 9 yards.
Dylan Wade tallied the most receiving yards among tight ends for the third time this season, finishing with two receptions for 44 yards, including a 36-yard catch. Wade was also used as a run blocker on 12 snaps, to which he received a 39.4 run blocking rating by PFF (Pro Football Focus), the lowest on the team.
Grade: B-
Offensive line
The offensive line looked relatively productive Saturday. It opened holes for the running backs and kept Edwards upright, allowing just one sack and four quarterback hits.
However, the unit continuously made correctable mistakes and sloppy penalties. It was flagged five times Saturday, four of which were pre-snap penalties. Josh Kaltenberger was called for a false start on a third-and-6, while Andre Roye Jr. was called for a false start on a third-and-4 and encroachment on a fourth-and-1 that the Terps were lined up to go for but had to punt instead.
Roye was also Maryland’s lowest-rated player by far at 31.9, according to PFF.
Grade: C
Defensive line
Maryland’s defensive line helped hold Virginia to 123 rushing yards, although the Hoos’ primary two running backs — Kobe Pace and Xavier Brown — averaged 4.9 yards per carry.
In the passing game, Quashon Fuller recorded the team’s only sack, along with five total tackles, while Jordan Phillip and Tommy Akingbestoe each tallied a quarterback hit.
While not an inspiring performance, the defensive line was solid.
Grade: B-
Linebacker
While not great in coverage, Maryland’s linebackers provided the quarterback pressure the team has been desperately looking. Caleb Wheatland, Kellan Wyatt and Ruben Hyppolite II all recorded a quarterback hit, while Donnell Brown totaled two quarterback hits and a fumble recovery.
Blitzes were how Maryland forced Virginia quarterback Anthony Colandrea into errant throws and mistakes, and the linebacking core was a major part of that.
Additionally, Wheatland totaled five tackles, 0.5 for loss, and Michael Harris added four tackles.
Grade: B+
Secondary
After a disastrous first half in which Colandrea completed 13-of-19 passes for 189 yards, the secondary locked up Virginia’s receivers in the second half and was a major reason why the Hoos were held scoreless.
Jalen Huskey was Maryland’s highest-rated player at 86.3, finishing the game with two tackles and an interception, while only allowing one reception for four yards, according to PFF.
Dante Trader Jr., who led the team with 11 tackles, also posted an interception and a pass breakup.
While Maryland’s secondary is still mistake-prone, Saturday marked significant improvement compared to last week’s game against Michigan State.
Grade: B
Special teams
Maryland saw some changes in its special teams unit, using Smith as its primary kick returner instead of Braeden Wisloski, who returned punts. Smith returned one kick for 19 yards, while Wisloski returned two punts for 15 yards.
Punter Bryce McFerson continues to be Maryland’s best special teams player and one of the best punters in the country, booting the ball six times for 284 for yards, an average of 47.3 yards per punt.
Jack Howes made all three extra points, but missed one of his three field goal attempts, although it was from 52 yards out, which would have been a career high.
Grade: B
Coaching
While not a flawlessly coached game, head coach Michael Locksley and the rest of the coaching staff deserve some praise for the Terps’ halftime adjustments and second-half domination.
The first half saw little creativity on offense, but things opened up in the second half, hence the improvement in the passing and running game.
Locksley also reevaluated his approach to short-yardage situations, electing to utilize Edwards’ legs more, which he steered clear of in the first two games.
Grade: B+
