As the seconds ticked off the game clock and Maryland coach Randy Edsall got the word that he did not have to run another play, he took off his headset, and like a young boy full of joy, threw them high in the air and raised his arms in a victory pose. He just could not contain himself.
In the Terps first season in the BIG Ten their football season just became a BIG success. This team of underdogs had now won five road games including their first ever win at Penn State. They were now in third place in the East Division behind powerhouses Ohio State and Michigan State.
Now they had achieved another first: beating Michigan at Michigan Stadium on Senior Day at the “Big House” in front of 101,717 stunned fans. And it all happened with his best player, superstar Stefon Diggs patrolling the sidelines and offering verbal support for his team, out for the season with a kidney injury. The Terps also got their seventh win which guarantees a bowl bid for the second year in a row.
This 23-16 victory was achieved by the guts and determination of Maryland (7-4. 4-3 BT) quarterback C.J.Brown, who came into the game in a month-long slump, and midweek talk had him possibly being replaced if he had another poor start. Well, he responded by rushing for 87 yards and the tying touchdown while completing 13 of 24 passes for 165 yards, with no turnovers.
Maryland’s other Brown, Wes, scored the winning touchdown and rushed for the bulk of his 39 yards on the game-winning, clock-killing final drive which led to the now classic “headset toss of victory.”
Along the way, the Wolverines (5-6, 3-4 BT) committed two costly penalties which really helped Maryland. One cancelled out a punt return for a touchdown and another, a roughing-the-kicker penalty extended a Maryland drive which led to the tying points.
Michigan got on the board on their first possession of the game. They executed a fake punt when senior fullback Joe Kerridge took the snap and lumbered 52-yards all the way to the eight-yard line. The Terrapin defense held and Michigan had to settle for a 22-yard Matt Wile field goal making the score 3-0 with 9:35 to go in the first quarter.
Maryland did get off to a slow start and punted on their first three possessions. C.J. Brown was doing his job, the receivers were dropping passes that would have extended drives. As a result the Terps never crossed midfield in the first quarter.
They finally got on the board in the beginning of the second quarter. Maryland went 30-yards in five plays, highlighted by a 21-yard pass from Brown to Jacquille Veii (three catches, 45 yards) which moved the ball to the Michigan 28-yard line. The drive stalled and the Terps tied the game with a 38-yard Brad Craddock field goal, making the score 3-3 with 13:39 to play in the second quarter.
The Wolverines responded with a scoring drive which featured a 24-yard run by Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner (13-24, 1 INT, 106 yards) and a pass interference penalty on defensive back Will Likely. Gardner, playing his last home game had 82 yards rushing including one rushing touchdown. The penalty took the ball to the five-yard line but the Terps defense sacked Gardner on third down for an 11-yard loss. Wile came in and converted on a 33-yard field goal giving Michigan a 6-3 lead with 7:41 to play in the half.
Maryland answered with an eight-play 43-yard drive that ended with another field goal, this one from 41 yards to even the score at 6-6 with 3:32 to play in the half.
The Terps then got the only turnover of the game with defensive back Likely’s sixth interception of the season. He returned it 29-yards to the eight-yard line. Likely leads the Big Ten with six picks and is the first Terrapin to have that many interceptions in a season since Tony Jackson dii it in 2001. His 170 return yards are a single-season record.
The Terps continued their touchdown-less trend and Craddock came on to kick his 23rd straight field goal dating back to last season, which gives him the longest streak in the FBS. He is also second in Big Ten history. His 21-yarder gave his team a short-lived 9-6 lead with 1:50 to play in the second quarter.
Michigan answered with a 26-yard field goal and the score was 9-9 at halftime.
After halftime, Michigan received the kickoff and had their best drive of the game. They covered 66 yards in 10 plays, highlighted by a Gardner 22-yard run which took the ball to the Maryland 33-yard line. Gardner finished the drive with a 15-yard touchdown run giving his team a 16-9 lead with 10:25 to play in the third quarter.
The Wolverines appeared to score again in the quarter, but a punt returned for a touchdown by Dennis Norfleet was called back due to a penalty.
The Terrapins began the fourth quarter with the ball at the Michigan 17-yard line. An incomplete pass to Veii left Maryland with fourth and 12. Craddock came on to kick a field goal. During the kick, Michigan was called for a roughing-the-kicker penalty and the Terps got new life at the Michigan eight-yard line. On the next play, Brown took the snap and raced to the left corner of the end zone beating the Michigan defender for a touchdown which tied the score at 16-16. It was his 54th career touchdown, a new Maryland record.
The Wolverines would later miss a 39-yard field goal, and the next Maryland drive would prove to be the difference in the game.
Brown led his team on a 10-play , 78-yard march, and he was clutch when it mattered. He converted a big third and six at the Terrapins 26-yard line by courageously running to the sidelines and diving with his arm extended and landing right at the first down marker. The play went under review and turned out to be a first down for the Terps.
Now at their 32-yard line, Brandon Ross scampered for a 10-yard run. Brown then cooly his Veii with a 17-yard completion and the Terps had a first down at the Michigan 39-yard line. Wide out Amba Etta-Tawo then ran a stop-and-go which froze the Michigan defender. Brown completed a perfect pass and Etta-Tawo was shoved out of bounds at the three-yard line. One play later Wes Brown took it in from the one-yard line giving his team a 23-16 lead with 5:59 to play in the contest.
The Terps then stopped Michigan on a fourth and three getting the ball back on downs with 4:16 to go. Michigan having used two timeouts earlier in the game could only stand and watch as running back Wes Brown helped Maryland run out the clock. He ran for 32 yards on seven straight carries. The Wolverines called timeout with 47 seconds left in the game. Wes Brown then ran for one more yard to the Michigan 17-yard line.
It was then the team realized that victory was secure and that the plane ride home would be a joyful one, led by Edsall who probably never stopped smiling as he walked off the Michigan Stadium field.
Drake Johnson led Michigan in rushing with 94 yards on 14 carries. The Wolverines rushed for 292 yards. Devin Funchess led the way in receiving for the Wolverines with five catches for 30 yards. Deon Long led the Terrapins with four catches for 39 yards.
