NCAAF: Indiana at Maryland Recap
Yesterday afternoon the Maryland Terrapins hosted the Indiana Hoosiers in a Big Ten matchup in which the two teams combined to score a whopping eighty-one points. The two offenses continually drove up and down the field, in the high scoring shootout. The teams combined for eight-hundred and twenty-eight total yards of, fifty-three first downs, seventy-eight pass attempts, and a ridiculous one-hundred and fifty-three plays called. The game lasted nearly four hours with Maryland pulling out the victory on Homecoming weekend.
The Terps found themselves in an early hole, being down 14-0 six minutes into the game, thanks to two touchdown passes by the Hoosiers. Maryland put themselves on the board with a Lorenzo Harrison fourteen yard touchdown run with four minutes remaining in the first quarter, set up by a Darnell Savage Jr. interception. In the final seconds of the first Indiana forced a Maryland safety by stuffing Terps running back Ty Johnson in his own end zone, extending their lead to 16-7.
Midway through the second quarter Darnell Savage Jr. again found himself making a huge play, blocking and returning an Indiana punt attempt sixteen yards into the end zone for a Terps touchdown, cutting the Hoosiers’ lead to 16-14. On their following drive, Indiana answered with a touchdown of their own on a twenty-three yard pass from quarterback Peyton Ramsey to wide receiver Luke Timian, increasing their lead to 23-14. Maryland would then drive right down field and put up a touchdown of their own on a Max Bortenschlager fourteen yard pass to Senior wide receiver Taivon Jacobs. The Terrapins now trailed by only two with the score sitting at 23-21 with a little less than three minutes remaining in the first half. The Maryland defense would than force a quick 1:09 second three and out to give the ball back to Bortenschalger and the offense with a 1:32 left on the clock. Starting at midfield, Bortenschlager would not waste the opportunity as he would sling back to back completions combining for 45 yards. The Terps found themselves on the Hoosiers five yard line and thanks to a defensive pass interference, Bortenschlager would connect with Junior wide receiver DJ Moore for a two yard touchdown pass, Bortenschlager’s second of the game, giving Maryland their first lead, 28-23 at the half.
The Terps received the second half kickoff and drove downfield into field goal position, only to have the attempt blocked by Indiana defenseman Jacob Robinson. The Hoosiers than drove eighty yards and punched the ball into the end zone on an eleven yard touchdown pass by back up quarterback Richard Lagow to receiver Whop Philyor as Indiana regained the lead 30-28 midway through the third quarter. Lagow entered the game after starter Peyton Ramsey was sidelined after a roughing the passer call on defensive back Qwuantrezz Knight. There would be no more scoring until Indiana kicked a late forty-one yard field goal with two minutes remaining in the third quarter, extending their to 33-28. On the ensuing kickoff, Maryland running back Javon Leake returned the kick eighty-two yards to set up the Terps with great field position. Maryland would then move the ball down to Indiana’s one yard line before the end of the third quarter.
On the first play of the fourth quarter running back Jake Funk found pay dirt on a one yard touchdown run, which gave Maryland a two point lead, 35-33. On Indiana’s following possession, Maryland’s defense once again forced a three and out giving the rock right back to the scorching hot Maryland offense. The Terps did not squander the opportunity to extend the lead as for the second time in five minutes Jake Funk would punch it into the end zone from one yard out, extending Maryland’s lead to 42-33. Indiana would immediately respond on their following drive, thanks to a five yard touchdown pass from Lagow, also his second of the game, to receiver Simmie Cobbs, cutting Maryland’s lead to 42-39. In the final eight minutes of the game both teams’ defenses finally decided to show up, after the offenses took turns trading punches. Neither offense would move the ball passed the fifty for the remainder of the game and the Terrapins would come out on top holding on for the three point victory, 42-39.
The Terrapins would finish the game with more rushing yards, 174, than passing yards, 171, and by gaining only eighteen first downs compared to Indiana’s thirty-five. Maryland would also lose the time of possession battle by more than twelve minutes. The star running back duo of Ty Johnson and Lorenzo Harrison would show up once again. Sharing the carries 13-12 in favor of Johnson, Ty would finish with ninety-eight yards and Harrison with sixty-seven yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Max Bortenschalger would attempt only sixteen passes, completing ten for one-hundred and seventy-one yards and two touchdowns. DJ Moore led all Maryland receivers with seventy-seven yards and a touchdown reception.
Yesterday’s game also celebrated the Maryland Football program’s 125th birthday, which was the cause for the yellow throwback jerseys and helmets, along with the black pants.
Maryland (4-4, 2-3) will continue Big Ten play as they travel to Rutgers to battle with the Scarlett Knights (3-5, 2-3) next Saturday, 11/4. The game can be seen on the Big Ten Network and the Big Ten Network Two.
