Terps turn tables in Big Ten opener
Maryland recovers from loss to Temple by gouging Gophers
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — After a sluggish start led to a deflating loss last week, Maryland reversed course Saturday against Minnesota, jumping out to a two-score lead early and never letting the Gophers come any closer.
Instead of looking rattled and missing receivers, quarterback Kasim Hill quickly found his rhythm. The Terrapins' offense picked up chunks of yardage — some in the air and others on the ground — until they made it to the end zone on the first drive of the game to set the tone for Saturday's burst of offensive production.
In its first conference game of the season, Maryland (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten) cruised past Minnesota for a 42-13 victory that made the letdown game against Temple look more like a blip than a performance indicative of the Terrapins' ability.
Redshirt freshman Anthony McFarland, one of the Terps' only bright spots in the 35-14 loss to previously winless Temple, accumulated more than 100 rushing yards for the second straight game, needing only six carries to finish with 112. McFarland also scored twice against the Gophers, one of which came on a 64-yard run.
After missing his senior year of high school and first year at Maryland because of injury, the young running back has emerged as a reliable ball-carrier, though interim coach and offensive coordinator Matt Canada employs a share-the-carries model.
Ty Johnson, a senior who's now in the top 10 on Maryland's all-time list for rushing yards, combined with McFarland to lead the rushing attack. Johnson carried 11 times for 123 yards, including an 81-yard score.
The Terps recorded 432 total yards against a Minnesota defense that had allowed an average of nine points per game but had yet to play a Power Five conference program in its first three games, all victories.
While most of Maryland's rebound came thanks to its running backs, Hill also had a much improved day. The redshirt freshman quarterback finished with his best completion percentage of the year (.714), completing 10 of 14 passes with a 54-yard touchdown throw to DJ Turner and no interceptions. In the first half alone, Hill had more completions (nine) than he had in the entire game against Temple (seven).
Meanwhile, Minnesota's freshman walk-on quarterback, Zack Annexstad, struggled as Maryland's defensive front pressured him throughout the game. Maryland notched four sacks, including one when Minnesota attempted to convert a fourth down inside the 10-yard line.
Annexstad finished 14-of-32 passing for 169 yards, a touchdown and the two interceptions. The Gophers were limited to 263 total yards.
Terps linebacker Tre Watson returned an interceptions for a touchdown on the second play of second half, deflating any hopes Minnesota could have had when it received the ball out of the locker room. In the fourth quarter, RaVon Davis recorded his first career interception after he nearly picked off a pass earlier in the day.
The atmosphere, however, was less effusive. Maryland Stadium, which had borne witness to three straight years of losing teams, had plenty of empty seats and many more as Saturday's game progressed.
The game kicked off about 18 hours after the University System of Maryland Board of Regents released a report on the circumstances surrounding the death of offensive lineman Jordan McNair from heatstroke suffered at a team workout. The report detailed the errors made by school employees and the timeline of the workout, including how more than an hour passed between the time McNair began experiencing symptoms of heatstroke and when school officials called 911.
The board of regents does not plan to make any personnel decisions until after a second investigation, which will evaluate the program's culture, is complete. Coach DJ Durkin, who was not mentioned in the 74-page report released Friday, remains on administrative leave. Trainers Wes Robinson and Steve Nordwall, who were both mentioned in the report, are also on leave.
The team continues to honor McNair on the field at games. Before kickoff, the players knelt around the 79 painted behind the west end zone, and offensive lineman Derwin Gray carried the No. 79 flag onto the field.
Gray returned to play after missing the Temple game with an injury, while Damian Prince is still out. Terrance Davis, who also missed the last game, started for the first time this season. The position group, one that was likely most intimately affected by McNair's death, paved the way for the Terps' 315 rushing yards and only allowed one sack.
Ty Johnson, a senior now in the top 10 on Maryland’s all-time list for rushing yards, combined with McFarland to lead the rushing attack.