Run game proves key in victory over 49ers

Ground attack settled down, was productive in second half

COLLEGE PARK — Maryland football’s first touchdown in Saturday night’s 38-20 victory over Charlotte at SECU Stadium was not produced by redshirt senior quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, graduate student wide receiver Jeshaun Jones, redshirt junior tight end Corey Dyches or redshirt sophomore running back Roman Hemby.

That score came from redshirt sophomore quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., who punched in a 1-yard plunge into the end zone that helped give the Terps their first lead at 17-14 with 9:18 left in the third quarter.

The touchdown was a timely redemption for the Wake Forest transfer. Earlier in that possession, Edwards attempted a rush on third-and-1 at the 49ers’ 26-yard line and fumbled. But Hemby picked up the loose ball and gained 2 yards for the first down.

The Tagovailoa-Edwards rotation is reminiscent of what the New Orleans Saints did with Drew Brees and Taysom Hill from 2018 to 2020. Maryland coach Mike Locksley said utilizing the 6-foot-4, 219-pound Edwards is designed to protect the 5-11, 208-pound Tagovailoa.

“With Lia, we’re trying to minimize the extra hits that he takes,” Locksley said. “Billy’s a bigger body. Obviously, it’s something that we’ve practiced and put in where we get a bigger body and try to create an apex.”

Here are three other observations from the Terps’ win.

The run game should be the offense’s foundation

The game notes produced by Charlotte’s athletic department contain a passage describing coach Biff Poggi’s commitment to the rushing attack. Maryland would be wise to borrow a page from that playbook.

Tagovailoa’s ill-advised pass to Hemby on a wheel route along the left sideline was intercepted by redshirt junior middle linebacker Demetrius Knight II, who returned the ball 16 yards to give the 49ers a 14-0 advantage with 11:50 remaining in the first quarter. Tagovailoa finished the quarter completing 3 of 6