The Terps extended their nonconference winning streak to 15 games.
The game was already decided. With Maryland football leading Villanova, 31-13, in the fourth quarter, it could have easily ran out some of the clock and escaped with a win.
But Maryland wasn’t satisfied.
Going 75 yards in the span of four plays and 1:27, the Terps put another touchdown on the board and secured Felton’s fourth consecutive 100-yard receiving game, making him the second Terp ever to do so.
The score propelled Maryland to a confidence-inducing 38-20 win heading into conference play.
“A lot of good things, lot of good teaching, a lot of cleaning up that we can get done,” head coach Michael Locksley said.
Quarterback Billy Edwards, Jr. didn’t falter out of the gate. He remained as sharp as he’s been all season, completing all five of his passes for 39 yards and a touchdown on the team’s first drive. He was sensational for the duration of the contest, too, going 28-of-32 for 328 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Felton and Hemby were heavily featured on the trip down the field, with the former nabbing three catches and the latter getting five carries. Felton finished the game with 14 receptions for 157 yards and a touchdown. He now holds the program record for most receptions through the team’s first four games in a season with 41.
“I take a lot of pride in just being able to set the tone for the game,” Hemby said. “So the first drive, first two drives, I do the best that I can to really help lean on the defense and kind of wear them down as much as I can.”
Meanwhile, Maryland’s defense stifled Villanova on its first two drives, as the Wildcats’ offense gained just four total yards. Quarterback Connor Watkins went a combined 0-for-4 on the two possessions.
The Terps quelled the concerns of a potential trap game in its early stages, leading 17-0 after the first frame. All three of their drives to that point ended with points.
As a sizable advantage formed for Maryland, its ability to control the clock became apparent. The Terps mixed dominant run plays with opportunistic strikes through the air, commanding the line of scrimmage throughout. They held the ball for 6:49 on one second-quarter drive, traveling 80 yards in 13 plays before Nolan Ray pounded it in for a 1-yard score.
“A lot of games end up becoming one in the trenches, up front, on the offensive line, defensive line, winning the line of scrimmage and churning the clock and being able to keep getting those first downs consistently, it shows a lot of domination,” Hemby said.
The lead also gave Locksley the ability to get a look at some of his bench players, including quarterback MJ Morris, who saw limited action in the second quarter, spelling Edwards of his duties mid-drive.
He also saw the field in the fourth quarter, and finished the day with three rushes for 20 yards and a touchdown.
Locksley also gave true freshman cornerbacks Braydon Lee and Kevyn Humes increased run on the boundary. Humes finished with three solo tackles.
At halftime, the game appeared all but over, as the Terps led, 24-0.
A strong defensive stand to open the third quarter initially appeared to solidify the result. While a few explosive plays sparked Villanova’s offense, including a 24-yard dart and a defensive pass interference, Maryland ultimately survived a fourth-and-4 shot to the end zone.
But Edwards threw his second interception of the season on the following play, as the pass deflected off Octavian Smith Jr.’s hands and into the arms of Villanova’s Ty Trinh. The Wildcats mustered a field goal off the turnover.
“We know we’re heading to conference play that we got to clean up some things pretty quickly, with a big one coming up on the road this week,” Edwards said.
To further Maryland’s problems, Villanova’s recovery of an onside kick and a subsequent touchdown put pressure on the Terps, who ran just one offensive play 10 minutes into the second half.
“We want to develop some of the younger players, and you lose that third quarter the way the way we lost it, we lost opportunities to develop the rest of our roster,” Locksley said.
But Maryland responded confidently, just as it did last Saturday at Virginia. Without hesitation, Edwards and company marched down the length of the field in eight plays, culminating in a Felton touchdown.
“Tai continues to be Tai and make the plays that he’s capable of,” Locksley said.
Perhaps a truer test of the Terps’ fortitude will take place next weekend against Indiana, but Locksley will undoubtedly settle for a 18-point victory in the meantime.
“[The team] knows we didn’t play as well as they wanted to play, and we had some opportunities,” Locksley said. “As a coach, I’ve got to make sure that they understand that can’t take winning football games for granted.”
Three things to know
1. Tai Felton’s stock continues to soar. Regardless of competition, Felton was nothing short of prolific Saturday, adding to his already nationally-growing hype. It is evident that the coaching staff is trying to manufacture him touches. It will be interesting to see if his production can be sustained throughout Big Ten play.
2. Three Maryland quarterbacks saw the field. With the game in hand, Locksley opted to give Morris and Cameron Edge the chance to operate the offense. Edge finished with one completion for 10 yards on two attempts.
3. Impressive defensive showing. Despite playing an FCS opponent, Maryland’s defense played well nonetheless. It recorded three sacks, six tackles for loss, two pass breakups and two quarterbacks hits.