With the game tied at 10 late in regulation, Nebraska third-string quarterback Chubba Purdy — the younger brother of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy — drove his team all the way into the red zone against Maryland. Except even Purdy was not immune to the Cornhuskers’ turnover woes.
On third-and-goal, Purdy threw a pass toward the end zone into tight coverage that defensive back Tarheeb Still picked off for his second interception of the day.
Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa then orchestrated a 12-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 24-yard field goal by kicker Jack Howes as time expired, lifting the Terps to a 13-10 win against Nebraska. The Terps’ first-ever win against the Huskers clinched a third straight season of bowl eligibility.
“Nothing seemed to go our way today,” head coach Michael Locksley said. “… Nothing has been easy for us. Everything we do, we have to fight through everything. That’s why I’m proud of this team.”
Maryland (6-4) overcame numerous penalties and turnovers to snap its four-game losing streak with an ugly win that featured a little bit of everything. Here are four takeaways:
Penalties plagued Maryland, particularly in the first half.
Maryland continued to make silly mistakes by committing unnecessary penalties, this week mainly pre-snap flags. The Terps racked up seven penalties for 62 yards in the first half and finished with 10 penalties for 92 yards. Those 10 penalties included two delays of game, three false starts, two personal foul penalties (one on either side of the ball) and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
This game featured sloppy play from both teams.
This low-scoring affair was not pretty, with the teams trading turnovers. The second half alone featured six total turnovers. Maryland wound up winning the takeaway battle, 5-3. It was the first time Maryland has won the takeaway battle since Sept. 30 against Indiana. Safety Dante Trader Jr. and Still each secured two interceptions in the win. All three Huskers quarterbacks to play threw an interception.
“We were all in the right spot at the right time,” Trader said.
The Terps overcame two fumbles and Tagovailoa’s interception, which was tipped. The biggest turnover came in the fourth quarter when Maryland finally established a running game. Driving for a chance at a go-ahead touchdown, running back Roman Hemby fumbled inside Nebraska’s 5-yard line to give the Huskers the ball back.
The Terps got the running game going in the second half.
Maryland could never establish a rushing attack against Penn State, and it looked like more of the same in Lincoln against Nebraska in the first half. The Terps held a 7-0 lead at halftime courtesy of wide receiver Tai Felton’s touchdown catch but had zero rushing yards.
However, Maryland found a groove on the ground in the second half, compiling 101 rushing yards. Hemby led the way with 74 yards on 16 carries (13 in the second half).
“We knew that it would be tough to run the ball,” Locksley said. “… If we got the game to the fourth quarter, hopefully the tempo will wear them down.”
The Terps ran the ball six times on their 12-play drive to end the game. The running game allowed Maryland to run the game clock all the way down, ensuring that Howes’ field goal attempt was the final play of regulation.
“The O-line was blocking their butts off and we kept punching and working and I was able to get the job done,” Tagovailoa said.
Specialists played a key role in the game.
While Howes officially sent Maryland to a bowl game with his game-winning kick, he drilled another field goal earlier in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 10. Terps starting punter Colton Spangler was unable to punt but backup Brenden Segovia filled in adamantly. Segovia punted three times, with all three punts pinning Nebraska inside the 20-yard line.
But the game ended with Howes’ right leg sending the Terps to a bowl game for a third straight year.
“We’re very much in high spirits right now,” Howes said. “We’re going bowling, you can’t be mad about that. The past is in the past, and we’ve got to come and be our best in the next two games.”
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox