The Maryland Terrapins totally tamed and vanquished the Villanova Wildcats 38-20 in a record-breaking game before 38,006 at a sun-splashed and hot SECU Stadium.
The Terps came out firing on all offensive cylinders and built a 24-0 lead going into the half.
The were led by 6-foot-3 Redshirt Junior quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. who set a program record with an 88% completion percentage going 28-32 for 328 yards to nine different receivers with two touchdowns and one interception.
Their leading receiver Tai Felton continues his record-breaking season catching 14 passes for 157 yards and one touchdown including a 61-yard reception. He has now recorded at least 100 yards receiving in his first four games of the season, a program record.
Felton has 604 yards through four games second-most in the first four games in Maryland history.
He now has 41 catches in his first four games of the season also a program record. His 14 receptions ties for second-most in a game in Maryland history and a career-best in a game for him.
Their leading ground gainer was 6-foot Redshirt Junior Roman Hemby who gained 68 yards on 14 carries and one touchdown.
Maryland got on the board in the first quarter on an 18-yard scoring strike to a diving Kaden Prather ending an 11-play 75-yard drive and making the score 7-0 with 9:38 to go in the quarter. Prather ended the contest with six catches for 57 yards and one touchdown.
A Hemby 6-yard scoring run with 5:52 to go in the first half increased the lead to 14-0 much to delight of the student section and the home crowd.
Kicker Jack Howes came through on a 46-yarder making the first quarter score 17-0. Freshman Nolan Ray added a one-yard scoring play as part of an 80-yard 13-play drive making the score 24-0 at the break and ending any doubt about the outcome of the game.
The Wildcats made the game respectable scoring 10 points in the third quarter and Maryland responded with an eight-play 75-yard drive ending with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Felton making the score 31-10 with 36 seconds to go in the quarter.
Villanova added a 37-yard field goal and Maryland responded with a 75-yard four play drive culminating in a 14-yard scoring dash by backup quarterback MJ Morris making the score 38-13 with 9:06 to go in the contest.
Villanova added a meaningless touchdown with 1:11 to go in the game making the final score 38-20 in favor of the home team.
Maryland outgained the Wildcats 497 yards to 231. They won the Rushing Yards Gained 168 to 109 and the Passing Yards 338 to 156.
Maryland was good on 3rd Down Conversion going seven of 10 while the Wildcats were four of 13.
The stats we closer in Red-Zone Scores-Chances with Maryland going 5-6 and Villanova finishing 4-5.
Connor Watkins led Villanova in passing going 12-29 for 106 yards and one touchdown. Their leading rushed was Ja’Briel Mace who gained 24 yards on two carries. Devin Smith led their aerial attack finishing with five catches for 62 yards and a touchdown in a losing effort for the (3-1) Wildcats.
