Terps comeback late to top Gophers 45-44 in overtime thriller

The Maryland Terrapins came into Friday night’s game vs Minnesota as 20-point underdogs, OddsShark, predicted that Minnesota would shut out the Terps 40-0, but games are not played on betting sites.  The Terps came back from 17 points in the fourth quarter, behind star transfer quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa’s 5 touchdown performance.

In a game that featured scoring runs by both teams, the Terps were able to get the early edge. On Maryland’s first drive of the game Taulia Tagovailoa connected with Jake Funk with 10:07 remaining in the first quarter to cap off an 11-play, 82-yard drive to put the hosts up 7-0.

Less than 4 minutes later after forcing a Minnesota punt, Tagovailoa scurried 39 yards on a roll out to put the Terps up 14-0. At this point it looked like Maryland was going to run away with this game. Minnesota would score on 1-yard run to cut the Terps lead to 14-7.

It looked like Minnesota had seized momentum at this point, but on the first play of Maryland’s next drive Tagovailoa connected with Jeshaun Jones for a 76-yard touchdown to put the Terps up 21-7.

After this, Minnesota started to chew clock and go on methodical drives. The next Minnesota drive was a 5:18 drive where it looked like the Gophers were starting to flex their muscles. With 12:06 left in the second quarter Minnesota scored to make it 21-14.

Less than 5 minutes after that, after a Maryland interception, the Gophers tied the game at 21-21. Minnesota scored to take a 28-21, and the half would end after a 51-yard field goal from Joseph Patrino.

The third quarter was all Gophers as their lead would balloon up to 17 points, and they would ender the fourth quarter up 38-21. The fourth quarter would prove to be a different story as Maryland scored 17 unanswered points to tie the game at 38-38 to force overtime.

The scoring would start with Tagovailoa throwing his third touchdown pass of the night to Dontay Demus Jr. With 7:06 left in the game Patrino would redeem himself and connect on a 51-yard field goal to cut the lead to seven. With 3:38 to go, local boy Jake Funk to a handoff 19 yards to the house to tie the game at 38-38.

Maryland would get the ball first in overtime and after a defensive pass interference call on 3rd&10, Tagovailoa would make the Gophers pay as he dove over the pylon to complete a 2-yard touchdown run for his 5th touchdown of the game.

Minnesota would answer with a touchdown of their own, but after a relatively drama free regulation period, the Gophers kicking woes finally caught up to them as their kicker miss the extra point, and the Terps won 45-44.

Maryland improves to 1-1 on the year and heads to #18 Penn State next weekend.

Key performers:

Taulia Tagovailoa- 26/35 458 total yards 5 total touchdowns

Jake Funk– 21 rushes 3 catches for 228 total yards 2 total touchdowns

Jeshaun Jones- 3 catches for 103 yards and 1 touchdown

Dontay Demus Jr- 7 catches for 101 yards and 1 touchdown

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