Terps left it ALL out on the field on Senior Day in defeat to Ohio State in OT 52-51. Game Recap
In their first ABC game and nationally televised game the Terps gave it their all and then some for their Seniors but in the end a hometown kid returning home was too much to overcome.
Final score 52-51 OSU in OT. OSU improves to 10-1 while the Terps drop to 5-6 for the first time this season with a losing record.
HOW THINGS GAME WAS WON
Coming in I said on the preview that if Maryland was going to win this game, they’re going to need a lot of things to go their way and to a majority instance they did yet in the end Dwayne Haskins and the Buckeyes talent was too much to overcome.
The Terps played arguably their most spirited game since they moved to the Big ten yet in the end OSU made just one more play than the Terps and that play was even for them to leave College Park with a shot at the conference title still intact.
A defeat today in the hands of Maryland would’ve all but clinched the East division for the Michigan Wolverines however now both those teams will have to battled it out next week with the winner getting to play for the Big ten conference title against the Northwestern Wildcats which clinched the West division just last week with Iowa losing to Purdue.
HOMETOWN KID HURT THE TERPS
For some of us who actually follow the local high school recruiting scene closely knows just how much potential every thought Haskins had coming out of high school as an amateur.
All Haskins has done all season is thrown for an OSU record for yards and passing touchdowns.
Today, Haskins may have had his Heisman moment against his hometown team and the team he once was committed to.
Maryland knew Haskins arm talent was unmatched in the conference maybe even in the entire nation and today he had his way with a Maryland secondary that has been fairly good all season.
The buckeyes go to play all season has been the deep pass and today they absolutely killed the Terps with deep bomb after deep bomb in what seems to be at the most crucial moments of the game.
Terps defensive backs were over matched by Haskins arm talent.
No shame in that as Dwayne has hurt every OSU opponent this season with his pure arm talent.
Haskins is usually known for hurting teams with his arm but today he also managed to hurt the Terps with his feet with 3 rushing touchdowns.
He only came in with just 1 rushing touchdown but took advantage of an over aggressive Terps linebackers and defensive line.
Haskins found open guys all game and when they weren’t open, he simply just threw it up where the Buckeyes were able to get a number of key passing interference calls against the Terps defensive backs.
It was the kind of performance why many Maryland fans hated the kid when he decided to flip to OSU 3 years ago.
The kid is a next level stud that’ll most likely be going pro sooner rather than later.
Haskins showed the Terps faithful what could’ve been had he came to College Park instead of flipping.
I know for the Terps upperclassmen this was especially more painful as they truly wanted to be able to say we shut down Haskins coming in but too many blown coverage and penalties on defense.
Good for Haskins as he had a lot of his close family and friends at the game and the kid put on a show for everyone.
Sucks for my Terps but Maryland will also grow from such a hard-fought game even in defeat. Haskins had 6 touchdowns today 3 passing 3 running.
PIGGY LED AN OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION
Tyrell Pigrome has long been a Terps fan favorite ever since he came in on overtime to win the game for the Terps as a true freshman against UCF.
Piggy has had his fair of ups and downs but today he once again reminds many just how capable he is.
Piggy wasn’t asked to do much today as has been the case all season but when the Terps needed a huge play it was usually Piggy’s arm doing the trick.
Pigrome had some throws today especially in that first half and late in the game that are just about as perfect passers as I’ve seen any Terrapin quarterbacks thrown.
He hit a few deep bombs just when it looks like the Buckeyes are starting to gain momentum.
In the end though, it was a short easy miss throw that cost the team a chance at gaining their 6th win and being a top 10 team.
It’s the type of play or lack thereof that can make a player lose sleep many nights.
It was the perfect play call and the receiver true freshmen Jeshaun Jones was wide open on the play.
Piggy just didn’t set his feet and he kind of short armed it, those things happen in football.
After losing last weekend in heart breaking fashion at Indiana today’s defeat has got to be much harder pill to swallow for this team.
Maryland had the Buckeyes well on the ropes but just couldn’t quite put them away and in the end, OSU made just one more play to close out the W for them.
This is the kind of game even in defeat that should builds a team and quarterback confidence greatly.
Piggy looks comfortable in the pocket and if it wasn’t for an unfortunate missed throw Maryland will be celebrating a key program changing win at home on Senior Day.
The Terps would’ve no doubt even been in position for a win if it wasn’t for Pigrome heroics so blaming him for this loss wouldn’t only be foolish but dumb as hell.
Great game by Tyrell but just a total miscommunication on that last throw to Jeshaun Jones.
It happens now let’s hope this team doesn’t get gun shy next weekend at Penn State and actually come out swinging as they did today.
ANTHONY McFARLAND PUT ALL OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL ON FULL NOTICED
McFarland who the Terps had to fought really hard for to keep a home at the very last minute over Miami Hurricanes.
Last season he had to redshirted due to still recovering from a very significant injury his senior year in high school.
All McFarland has done this season so far is rushed for 1,000 yards including back to back 200+ yardage games against Indiana (214) and Ohio State today (298).
McFarland has not only made a name for himself but has also put his name on many big ten coaches’ minds going forward as he’s still only a freshman.
McFarland gave a very talented Ohio State defense fits all game and truly looked like the best athlete on the field every time he was on the field. OSU had no answers for his speed or his burst or his shiftiness.
McFarland had 8 runs of 20 or more yards today including 81 and 75 yarders. It is the kind of breakout game that can make a player a household name to the entire Country and I have a feeling Anthony is just only getting started.
Terps backfield is full of star power and if these guys can all remain in College Park, Maryland football could very well be a sleeping giant in the very near future. McFarland ended his day with 2 touchdowns on 21 rushes for almost 300 yards (298) which are the 3 highest OSU has ever given up to any runner and the most they’ve given up in victory ever.
McFarland has already set the Maryland freshmen record for rushing yards in a season but as he proved today, he’s the closest thing to a Sequon Barkley as there is in the college game at the very moment kid is electric personified.
SUMMARY
This was game for the taking for the Terps and it would’ve absolutely been a HUGE program builder after all the mess this team has been through this season for them to even still bring the fight to every game is truly remarkable.
Matt Canada and that entire coaching staff deserves many praises for their preparations for this game as the kids were absolutely ready to play today.
OSU was just too talented in the end and made just that one more play however even in defeat this was a major win for the Maryland program as many around the Country and World got to witnessed firsthand this team resilience and fight.
If the Terps play with such focus and a little better execution next week on the road at a Penn State team that isn’t nearly as talented as OSU, I expect Maryland to pull out a victory next week. #GoTerps
