The Maryland Terrapins, down 21 points on the road, came storming back to beat the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, 46-41 at High Point Solutions Stadium.
The Terps were down 31-10 in the first half but rallied around back up quarterback Caleb Rowe who had his best game of the season and more importantly had no giveaways for a team that leads the NCAA in turnovers.
The game was a real dogfight and the Terps took the lead for good on an 80-yard touchdown dash by senior running back Brandon Ross with 4:40 to play in the contest.
Then the defense did its part by stopping Rutgers on fourth and one with less than two minutes to go. Maryland was then able to run out the clock after Rowe made a first down on a quarterback keeper.
The Terps finally had something to cheer after going eight straight weeks with a loss. They ended the challenging season (3-9) and had to overcome the firing of head coach Randy Edsall earlier in the season. The team did rally around interim head coach Mike Locksley who earned his first victory.
The game also had special meaning for the team and was considered payback as Rutgers rallied from 25 points down to defeat the Terps at home last season.
After Rutgers jumped out to a 17-0 lead, Rowe, who finished the game 16-31 for 239 yards, led the team on their first scoring drive of the game, a 26-yard field goal making the score 17-3 with 9:18 to play in the second quarter.
Rutgers responded with two touchdowns and Maryland countered with 10 points of their own to keep the game from becoming a rout as the Scarlet Knights took a 31-13 lead into halftime.
In the second half the Terps began their comeback and it was achieved on the ground as Maryland rushed for a staggering 401 yards.
Ross, who rushed for a team-high 173 yards on 28 carries, and three rushing touchdowns, scored from 16-yards to cut the Rutger’s lead to 31-20 with 13:33 to play in the third quarter.
Ty Johnson then scored on a 44-yard run to trim the Scarlet Knights lead to 31-27 with 4:16 to play in the quarter. Rutgers responded with a one-yard touchdown run to make the score 38-27 with 43 seconds to go in the third quarter.
On this day, Maryland would not be denied, and Ross scored again from one-yard out to make the score 38-33, as the Terps two-point try failed.
Maryland would then complete the comeback as they outscored the Scarlet Knights 33-10 in the second half. Running back Kenneth Goins Jr. scored on a 42-yard run, his only carry of the day, giving the Terps their first lead of the game at 39-38, with 9:43 to play in the game.
Rutgers took their final lead of the game on a 30-yard field goal at 41-39 with 4:57 to go. Ross responded with the electrifying 80-yard game-winning scamper 17 seconds later to the delight of the Maryland bench that was all smiles for the first time in eight weeks.
Rowe also rushed for 98 yards on seven carries. Ty Johnson made his two carries count for 87 yards and two scores as the Terps finished the game with over 600 yards of offense.
The Terps were led in receiving by Jahrvis Davenport who caught seven passes for 81 yards. DeAndre Lane had four receptions for 63 yards.
The Scarlet Knights were led by quarterback Chris Laviano who was 21-33 for 344 yards and a career-best four touchdowns. He also threw one interception.
They were led in rushing by Paul James who gained 71 yards on 17 carries and scored one touchdown. Leonte Carroo had a team-high eight catches for 183 yards and scored one touchdown.
Janarion Grant also caught four passes for 56 yards and one touchdown in a losing effort for the (4-8) Scarlet Knights.
