Terrapins Triumph Over Trojans

Timothy Earl October 26, 2024 Comments Off on Terrapins Triumph Over Trojans

The Mighty Maryland Terrapins shell-shocked USC at Terpsville triumphing over the Trojans 29-28 before 43,013 stunned and exhilarated fans at the gridiron called SECU Stadium.

With about three minutes to go in the game the USC defense sacked Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. and the fans started pouring out of the stadium all expecting a disappointing 28-22 USC victory.

But the Terrapins had other ideas and blocked the potential game winning field goal at the Maryland 24-yard line with 1:41 to go returning it to the Trojan 47-yard line setting up their game-winning touchdown drive.

The Trojans has one more chance to snatch victory from defeat, but their fourth down pass was jarred loose by a bone-crunching tackle from Caleb Wheatland and the Terrapins celebration was on.

The remaining fans poured out onto the field and danced in jubilation with the players and each other celebrating the most unexpected home victory in years.

The feel-good win gave the Terps a (4-3, 1-3 Big Ten) record.

Edwards was slinging the pigskin all over the field and finished 39 for 50 for 373 yards and two touchdowns and one interception.

The Terrapins were led in rushing by Nolan Ray who finished with 54 yards on six carries.

The Maryland receivers were led by Kaden Prather who caught nine passes for 111 yards and Tai Felton who snagged nine passes for 84 yards and a touchdown.

Octavian Smith Jr. out with an injury, was back on the field and showed up in a big way catching eight passes for 84 yards catching a nifty scoring pass in the corner of the endzone.

The special teams were led by Donnell Brown who blocked the field goal setting up the opportunity for victory.

The defense was led by Lavain Scruggs who had a 51-yard interception return which set up a touchdown. The other stars were Ruben Hyppolite II and Caleb Wheatland who both finished with seven tackles, five solo.

The coaching was led by Coach Locksley and his staff who had the wisdom to go for a 2-point conversion making the score 22-28 which allowed for the final touchdown to be a game winner.

USC struck first with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Miller Moss to Kyron Hudson making the score 7-0 as the first quarter expired.

Maryland tied the score with a 16-yard Edwards to Smith hookup making the score 7-7 with 11:07 to go in the second quarter.

The Trojans responded with Moss to Ja’Kobi Lane 15-yard scoring strike making the score 14-7 with 8:08 to go in the second quarter.

USC flexed their muscles by tacking on another touchdown, a five-yard scoring run by Woody Marks with 21 seconds to go before the half making the score 21-7 at the break.

The Terrapins fought back and answered with an Edwards scoring pass to Felton making the score 21-14 with 8:32 to go in the third quarter.

USC took a 28-14 lead with a Moss to Duce Robinson 26-yard touchdown strike with 13:31 to go in the game.

Maryland countered with a Hemby 10-yard scoring run as he appeared to be stopped at the line but somehow burst through the pile and made it into the endzone.

The slick call of a 2-point conversion pass to Prather made the score 22-28 with 9:56 to go setting up the exciting Terrapin finish.

The offensive game was balanced as each team finished with 25 first downs. The total yards were separated by 12 and the Time of Possession showed only an 18 second difference in favor of the Terps.

USC was led in passing by Moss who went 34 for 50 for 336 yards and three touchdowns and one interception. Marks led the team in rushing with 82 yards on 17 carries and one touchdown and their leading receiver was Makai Lemon who hauled in eight passes for 89 yards in a losing effort for the (3-4, 1-4 Big Ten) Trojans.