TERPS TOP MICHIGAN STATE:
UM moves within one victory of becoming bowl-eligible
Maryland ends its two-game slide with a 28-17 win over the reeling Spartans.
COLLEGE PARK — Maryland football coach DJ Durkin had flipped the script on the Terps’ two-game losing streak heading into their first home night game this season against Michigan State on Saturday. Durkin called it a “great opportunity” for his team to turn around its season.
Its early-season confidence shaken by blowout defeats to Penn State and Minnesota and its foundation crumbling with a season-ending injury to its star senior, Will Likely, Maryland found its resolve.
Led by fifth-year senior quarterback Perry Hills, who returned after being hurt in the first half at Penn State, Maryland (5-2, 2-2) moved to within one victory of becoming bowl-eligible with a 28-17 win over reeling Michigan State (2-5, 0-4).
Hills’ 9-yard touchdown pass to fellow
senior Levern Jacobs with 3:23 left helped secure the victory. Hills, who also had a 36-yard touchdown pass to sophomore D.J. Moore in the second quarter, finished 21 of 27 for 200 yards.
But it was Maryland’s dynamic running back duo of sophomore Ty Johnson and freshman Lorenzo Harrison that did significant damage.
Johnson finished with 115 yards on nine carries — including 62 on two carries to set up the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter by senior Kenneth Goins Jr. (Gilman). Harrison had 105 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown.
The victory takes some pressure off the Terps as they enter their most difficult stretch of the season. After playing at Indiana next week, Maryland will face Michigan on the road, Ohio State at home and Nebraska on the road.
The loss was the fifth straight for the Spartans.
With the score tied at 14 at the half, it appeared as though Michigan State had started to impose its will early in the second half. The Spartans forced a three-and-out, with star defensive tackle Malik McDowell sacking Hills on third down. Then the offense, behind a powerful running game, drove deep into Maryland territory.
On third-and-6 from the 16, redshirt freshman quarterback Brian Lewerke hit wide receiver Monty Madaris for what appeared to be a first down around the 5. But cornerback JC Jackson forced a fumble, and defensive end Chandler Burkett recovered at the 6.
The Terps put together a pretty good drive, but after moving into Michigan State territory on a 37-yard run by Harrison, a holding call on wide receiver Teldrick Morgan (Meade) set up a series of second-, third- and fourth-and-longs.
On a fourth-and-11 from the Michigan State 35, Hills’ pass down the sideline to Morgan was batted away just as it seemed as though he was going to catch it.
The Spartans took their first lead of the game on their next drive. Helped by Lewerke’s 18-yard run on a third-and-5, Michigan State drove from its 35 to the Maryland 17 before the Terps stiffened. Michigan State settled for a 34-yard field goal with 1:35 left in the third quarter.
Maryland started from its 25 and went to its running game after a first-down pass to Morgan fell incomplete. Behind Harrison and Johnson, the Terps went on an eight-play, 75-yard drive that was capped off by a 2-yard touchdown by Goins to give Maryland a 21-17 lead with 13:49 left.
The Spartans seemed to be moving again, but after getting into Maryland territory, a pass interference call on an illegal pick put Michigan State back in its territory and facing a second-and-25. The Spartans were eventually forced to punt with less than nine minutes left in the game.