COLLEGE PARK, Md. — The post-Taulia Tagovailoa era for Maryland football began as well as coach Mike Locksley could have hoped.
Billy Edwards Jr. shepherded a largely untested offense to more than 600 yards and three touchdowns, and an experienced defense overwhelmed a middling opponent as the Terps waltzed to a 50-7 victory over visiting UConn in the season opener for both schools Saturday afternoon before an announced 35,421 at SECU Stadium.
Maryland, which reached the 50-point plateau for the first time since a 56-21 throttling at Charlotte on Sept. 10, 2022, did what it was expected to do against a Huskies team that went 3-9 last season and 9-16 in its first two years under former NFL coach Jim Mora. UConn dropped to 1-3 in its series with the Terps, with that lone win occurring Sept. 15, 2012.
Maryland’s 13th consecutive win against a nonconference opponent in season openers (which trails only Michigan State’s run of 24 straight) got a significant lift from Edwards. Locked into a competition with redshirt sophomores MJ Morris and Cameron Edge in the preseason, the 6-foot-3, 222-pound redshirt junior earned Locksley’s blessing to succeed Tagovailoa, who had started the past four years en route to becoming the Big Ten’s all-time leader in passing yards.
Edwards validated Locksley’s decision by completing 20 of 27 passes for 311 yards and two touchdowns and carrying the ball five times for 39 yards. Senior wide receiver Tai Felton proved to be Edwards’ favorite target as he caught seven balls for 178 yards and two touchdowns, including a 4-yard reception that he turned into a 75-yard sprint down the right sideline with two seconds left in the third quarter.
Edwards opted for more short-yardage throws on crossing routes and dump-offs to the flat than passes to test the Huskies’ defensive backfield, but…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/maryland-wallops-uconn-50-7-201300718.html
Author : Baltimore Sun
Publish date : 2024-08-31 20:13:00
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