Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa entered the Terps’ regular-season finale against Rutgers needing 269 yards to become the Big Ten’s all-time leading passer — and he eclipsed that mark in the first half.
Tagovailoa’s throw to take the top spot from former Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter was not that pretty — just a 6-yard screen pass to wide receiver Jeshaun Jones that brought up fourth down late in the first half — but nearly everything else from Tagovailoa was flawless.
Maryland came out on offense explosive and efficient, as the Terps scored touchdowns on each of their first four offensive possessions. That hot start was enough to propel Maryland (7-5) to a 42-24 win against Rutgers (6-6).
“What we did was just execute our stuff,” Terps head coach Michael Locksley said. “On offense we haven’t had that clean [type] of execution.”
Tagovailoa started the scoring by airing out a nice deep ball to wide receiver Tai Felton, who raced into the end zone to give Maryland a 7-0 lead. On that 34-yard throw, Tagovailoa moved from fourth to second on the all-time Big Ten passing list.
Tagovailoa then found Jones open on a slant route, and the receiver’s 49-yard catch-and-run set up first-and-goal. On the very next play, Tagovailoa kept the ball and took off to the end zone untouched as Maryland doubled its lead in just two offensive plays.
Rutgers bounced back with a 12-play, 44-yard drive, but Terps linebacker Ruben Hyppolite broke through the Scarlet Knights’ offensive line to stuff running back Aaron Young for a 3-yard loss and force a field goal.
Maryland held a 21-3 lead at the end of the first quarter. Tagovailoa picked up 152 passing yards on eight completions during the frame.
“Our emphasis every week is to start fast, whether we have the ball or the defense has the ball,” Felton said. “In practice we have a tempo to start fast.”
Maryland earned a short field after a short punt by Rutgers in the second quarter. It only took one play for Tagovailoa and the Terps’ offense to find the end zone a fourth time. Tight end Corey Dyches was left wide open on a busted coverage. Dyches’ 44-yard touchdown moved Tagovailoa 73 yards away from the record.
“It’s great to see his growth in leadership roles this year,” Felton said. “… But just having that guy as a leader is honestly a blessing.”
Rutgers found some offensive momentum midway through the second quarter. Facing a fourth-and-5 in the red zone, Young gained a step against his defender and found the end zone to shrink Maryland’s lead to 28-10.
Maryland appeared to be in great position to score its fifth touchdown after Felton broke some tackles during a 57-yard completion to move his team into the red zone. Running back Colby McDonald fumbled on the very next play, giving Rutgers a chance to climb back into the game.
Maryland forced Rutgers to punt, but Scarlet Knights defensive back Max Melton picked off Tagovailoa when the quarterback was trying to find Felton. Rutgers executed a two-play touchdown drive, highlighted by wide receiver Isaiah Washington’s 42-yard catch on a deep ball to make the score 28-17.
Tagovailoa balled out during the Terps’ final regular-season game, finishing 24 of 31 for 361 yards and four total touchdowns (three passing and one rushing). He broke the Big Ten passing record with a little more than a minute to play in the first half.
“I didn’t really have any idea of the record and then at halftime everyone was congratulating me,” Tagovailoa said. “That’s usually how it goes.”
Tagovailoa also said that he expects to play in the Terps’ bowl game, which will be his final game for Maryland and a chance to build on his career total of 11,256 passing yards.
After Tagovailoa broke the record, the Terps’ defense forced a three-and-out to keep the Scarlet Knights from possibly taking the lead by double dipping (scoring touchdowns before and after halftime). Maryland’s defense stopped Rutgers again coming out of halftime, forcing another three-and-out that helped quell any chance of the Scarlet Knights making a comeback.
Dyches nearly scored his second touchdown of the game by weaving in and out of defenders early in the third quarter but was tackled at the 1-yard line. Maryland brought in backup quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. for the second time on that drive, and he converted another “Tush Push” touchdown, increasing Maryland’s lead to 35-17. Edwards found the zone again late in the fourth quarter, his fifth score in two games.
The Terps played one of their most complete games of the season behind Tagovailoa’s brilliance and a stout defense that gave up just 69 yards in the first quarter and 142 yards in the second half. Maryland generated 13 explosive plays compared to eight for Rutgers.
The Terps closed out their regular season with a record-setting performance from a player who has helped change the trajectory of the program.
“For a guy that came here under the shadow of a huge last name to make his own mark here at Maryland but also in the Big Ten I think speaks volumes of the type of character that this kid has,” Locksley said. “Really proud of what he’s done helping us elevate this program.”
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Maryland Athletics