Maryland football entered Saturday evening’s road game against Virginia in desperate need of a win to rebound from last week’s 27-24 home loss to Michigan State.
Despite a tough first half, the Terps regrouped and secured a decisive victory over the Cavaliers, 27-13.
Maryland football’s first half against Virginia was a cause for concern for Terps fans after seven penalties and a stagnant offense. But 117 yards from Tai Felton and a defensive second-half shutout pushed Maryland to the 27-13 win.@R_Pods was at Scott Stadium. pic.twitter.com/gWkowvoeia
— Testudo Times (@testudotimes) September 15, 2024
Here are three key takeaways from the game.
Billy Edwards Jr. finally connected on the long ball
Billy Edwards Jr. has been largely impressive in his first season as the Terps’ starting quarterback. Over the past three games, he’s consistently thrown for at least 200 yards and two touchdowns per game. However, there’s been one persistent flaw: his accuracy on deep throws.
This issue surfaced again early in Saturday’s contest. With the running game struggling to gain traction—starter Roman Hemby finished with just 33 yards on 10 carries—the Terps were forced to lean heavily on the passing game.
Edwards attempted several long passes in the first half, but three of his throws, all intended for Kaden Prather, fell incomplete. Two of these missed attempts were on the sideline, echoing Edwards’ struggles from last week in finding his receivers near the boundaries. The third miss to Prather was a seam route that sailed just out of reach.
“I missed some throws in the first half, they were kind of getting after us, getting us in the long third downs,” Edwards said.
But the second half told a different story. Edwards found his rhythm, and on Maryland’s opening drive of the third quarter, he finally connected with Prather down the sideline for a 26-yard touchdown. Later, he hit Tai Felton for a 37-yard catch-and-run, his longest pass of the night. Early in the fourth quarter, Edwards threaded a beautiful 36-yard strike to Wade down the left sideline.
Edwards’ improved accuracy not only bolstered his confidence, but it also opened up the Terps’ offense. With the passing game now a threat, the running game saw a significant boost as well. Nolan Ray and Colby McDonald both averaged more than 5 yards per carry, with most of their production coming in the second half.
“They were playing deep covers, and they wanted us to run the ball, and we had to figure out how to run the ball,” head coach Mike Locksley said.
Maryland dominated the turnover battle
The Terps capitalized on their opportunities, winning the turnover battle 4-0. While some turnovers were fortunate, they still played a crucial role in securing the victory.
The first turnover — a fumble by Virginia quarterback Anthony Colandrea — was the result of an odd play where his teammate inadvertently kicked the ball from his hands in the red zone.
The second fumble, however, was all skill. Defensive back Lavain Scruggs made an expert play, punching the ball free.
Maryland’s two interceptions were largely the result of defensive pressure. The Terps’ front seven relentlessly pressured Colandrea, who was hit seven times and sacked once. This constant harassment led to errant throws, which safety Dante Trader Jr. and cornerback Jalen Huskey capitalized on.
Though Maryland managed just seven points off the turnovers, it’s hard to imagine the Terps winning without those key takeaways.
“Our defense had two big stops in the first half, which gave us a chance to stay in the game and stay in the fight,” Locksley said. “And I knew at some point the offense would get going, and we did in the second half.”
The Terps showed their resilience
For the second straight year, Maryland showed it could battle back against Virginia. Down 13-7 at halftime, the Terps’ offense struggled and their defense was bending but holding. Penalties were a major problem, as Maryland was flagged seven times for 51 yards in the first half alone.
But in the second half, the team flipped the script.
The offense came alive, racking up 250 total yards after being limited to just 141 yards in the first two quarters. Edwards completed 10 passes for 103 yards in the third quarter alone, and the Terps dramatically improved their efficiency on third downs, finishing 7-of-14 after starting 1-of-5.
Penalties also ceased to be a major issue in the second half, as Maryland was flagged just once for 15 yards in the fourth quarter.
Locksley emphasized after the game that Edwards was key to short-yardage situations. The Terps frequently used quarterback sneaks and keepers to extend drives, particularly in the red zone, where Edwards’ command of the offense shone brightest.
“It’s about physicality, man. At some point, you have to line up and not get cute and just say, ‘Hey, we’re bigger,’” Locksley said. “And today, we did that and pushed them through. And Billy did make a couple of big runs.”
