The Maryland Terrapins stunned the 23rd ranked Texas Longhorns, beating them 51-41 at a shocked and awed Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
How surprising was the victory before 88,396 Texas witnesses? The Terps (1-0) were a three touchdown underdog and had never beaten the Longhorns. While going 0-3 against Texas they had been outscored 102-0.
The win snapped a seven-year, 17-game string of losing against ranked opponents. It was also their first road win against a ranked opponent since 2008 and the most points ever scored against a ranked opponent.
Maryland’s starting quarterback sophomore Tyrrell Pigrome overcame a pick-six on his first pass by completing nine of 12 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns.
He also rushed for 64 yards on 11 carries and his 25-yard touchdown scamper evened the score at 7-7 with 8:28 to go in the first quarter.
The Terps then quieted the crowd and reeled off 20 straight points which included a 20-yard TD pass to leading receiver D.J. Moore ( seven catches for 133 and a TD) a blocked field goal returned 71 yards for a score by Antoine Brooks Jr. and another scoring pass, this one to Taivon Jacobs for 46 yards giving Maryland a 27-7 lead with 7:47 to go in the first half.
Texas responded with their own blocked field goal scoop and score and Maryland added a late 26-yard field goal to take a surprising 30-14 halftime lead.
Texas came to life in the second half and a 33-yard touchdown pass followed by a 91-yard punt return for a touchdown cut the Terps lead to 30-27 with 5:20 to go in the third quarter.
But as they did all game when they got punched in the mouth Maryland punched back.
With the score 30-27 and the Longhorns making a comeback, Ty Johnson returned the kickoff 62 yards to swing the momentum back in Maryland’s favor.
He then added a 40-yard touchdown run giving the Terps some breathing room and a 37-27 lead with 4:29 to go in the third quarter.
Johnson was the Terps leading rusher with 132 yards on 12 carries and one touchdown.
The Longhorns countered with a three-yard scoring dash by quarterback Shane Buechele to make the score 37-34 with 1:23 remaining in the third quarter.
Pigrome injured his leg as the third quarter came to a close and was replaced by four-star freshman Kasim Hill.
Hill displayed great poise and converted a third and 19 with a 40-yard completion to Moore.
He later scored his first touchdown as a Terrapin on a three-yard run giving Maryland a 44-34 lead with 7:36 to go in the game.
Maryland then sealed the deal with a 12-yard touchdown burst by Jake Funk giving them a commanding 51-34 lead with 2:08 to play in the game.
Texas added a meaningless score with 1:09 to go and the Terps held on to secure their best season opening victory in years.
Hill, who picked up where Pigrome left off, was three for three for 44 yards.
Maryland running back Lorenzo Harrison III finished the game with 45 yards on 11 carries and was a good one-two punch along with Johnson.
Maryland ran all over the Longhorns, rushing for 263 yards while averaging six yards per carry.
Jacobs finished the game with three receptions for 80 yards and one touchdown. He also averaged 26 yards on four kickoff returns.
The Maryland defense held Texas to 98 yards rushing and the Longhorns helped the Terps with 11 costly penalties for 117 yards.
Buechele finished 34 for 52 for 375 yards and two touchdowns and one interception.
Chris Warren III led Texas in rushing with 31 yards on six carries. Collin Johnson caught seven passes for 125 yards and one touchdown and Reggie Hemphill-Mapps caught seven passes for 69 yards and also had a 91-yard punt return for a touchdown in a losing effort for the ( 0-1) Longhorns.
