Maryland thwarts Auburn’s chance for a milestone win. Terps took the lead and never looked back.
Billy Edwards had a key 61-yard screen pass to Roman Hemby that set up Maryland’s first score of the game and Maryland just took off and didn’t look back as the Maryland Terrapins ran over a favored Auburn Tigers team, 31-13, in Nashville.
During their weekend in Nashville, the Terrapins were treated to a welcome party, wrestling, an Opryland Concert, a comedy show, a chicken wing eating contest, and so much more. But all the party time atmosphere did not deter the University of Maryland from saying: “The national media is disrespecting us!”
Mike Locksley and Hugh Freeze showed grand respect for one another as Freeze called Maryland a “very quality opponent” and a “force to be dealt with.” Freeze and Locksley are very good friends outside the field and Locksley said, “Freezy here knows his stuff and he did his job to get his team here, so we know we have a formidable opponent.” After the news conference was completed, Freeze and Locksley were gifted guitars with their respective logos on it and proceeded to play a few tunes on it much to the pleasure and delight of the crowd.
Locksley ran a 2-quarterback rotation of Billy Edwards Jr. and Cameron Edge and it worked to perfection. Edwards began the scoring with a 61-yard screen pass which culminated into a 2-yard push and scramble by Billy Edwards Jr.
Following a three-and-out by the Tigers, Maryland went on a 11-play, 75 yard drive that took up 6:28 of the clock ending with a Preston Howard touch-and-go 5 yard catch. Jack Howes would follow with the extra point to make it 14-0.
Auburn again could get nothing going on offense as they only picked up 4 yards on 3 plays and they would punt again back to the Terps.
On the very next series for the Terrapins, Tai Felton’s 16-yard run would set up a 57-yard catch and run by Kaden Prather off of the arm of Cameron Edge. Edge would later complete the series with a 3 yard TD toss to Dylan Wade to make it 21-0.
Auburn would have a 42-yard, 14-play drive that had 2 4th down conversions but it would stop after Maryland made a huge stop on a 4th down from the Maryland 48.
Auburn would finally get on the board with a 14-play, 80-yard drive helped by a pass interference call at the Maryland 41. Payton Thorne would hit Brandon Frazier for a 3-yard TD and a kick would make it 21-7.
The Terrapins would get 3 more on a Jack Howes career-high 49-yard boot aided by a few key plays which included a 26-yard catch and run by Jeshaun Jones and a 3-yard 4th and 1 run by Billy Edwards Jr.
Maryland would seal the game as Payton Thorne was intercepted by Glendon Miller who took it 44 yards to the house for a touchdown. A Jack Howes kick would make it 31-7.
Despite a final Auburn touchdown, they would fail on the 2-point conversion. The Terps would melt the clock and win the game for their 3rd straight bowl win.
Billy Edwards Jr., despite only completing 6 of 20 passes (He had 11 straight incompletions after starting 6/9) for 126 yards and 1 TD, he also had 13 rushes for 50 yards and a TD. Edwards Jr. would be named the MVP of the game.
Maryland also prevented Auburn from winning their 800th game in program history.
Final Stats – Maryland
Passing:
Billy Edwards Jr.: 6/20, 126 yards, TD
Cameron Edge: 4/6, 82 yards, TD, INT
Rushing:
Billy Edwards Jr: 13 Rush, 50 yards, TD
Colby McDonald: 6 Rush, 23 yards
Roman Hemby: 7 Rush, 17 Yards
Receiving:
Roman Hemby: Rec. 61 yards
Kaden Prather: Rec. 57 yards
Dylan Wade: 2 Rec. 18 yards, TD
Preston Howard: Rec. 5 yards, TD
Defense:
Caleb Wheatland: 5 Tackles, 1 Sack
Perry Fisher: 3 Tackles, 1 Sack
Taizse Johnson: 2 Tackles, 1 Sack
Glendon Miller: INT, 44 yards, TD
Lavain Scruggs: INT
Final Stats – AUBURN
Passing
Hank Brown – 7/9, 132 yards
Payton Thorne – 13/27, 84 yards, TD, INT
Holden Geriner: 1/6, 8 yards, INT
Rushing:
Jarquez Hunter: 13 rushes, 44 yards
Damari Alston: 9 rushes, 23 yards
Jeremiah Cobb: 3 rushes, 4 yards, TD
Receiving:
Caleb Burton: 5 receptions, 78 yards
Rivaldo Fairweather: 5 receptions, 45 yards
Brandon Frazier: 2 receptions, 7 yards, TD
Defense:
Austin Keys: Sack, 3 tackles
Zykeivous Walker: Sack, 1 tackle
Keldric Faulk: Sack, 3 tackles
Caleb Wooden: INT, 15 yards
— Scoring Drives —
Maryland: 5 plays, 75 yards, 1:46
(Maryland 7 – Auburn 0)
TD – Edwards 2 run (Howes XP)
Maryland: 11 plays, 75 yards, 5:26
(Maryland 14 – Auburn 0)
TD – Edwards 5 pass to Howard (Howes XP)
Maryland: 3 plays, 76 yards, 1:26
(Maryland 21 – Auburn 0)
TD – Edge 3 pass to Wise (Howes XP)
Auburn: 14 plays, 80 yards, 4:56
(Maryland 21 – Auburn 7)
TD – Thorne 3 pass to Frazier (McPherson XP)
Maryland: 9 plays, 38 yards, 2:26
(Maryland: 24 – Auburn 7)
FG – Jack Howes 49 Kick
Maryland: Interception Return for Touchdown
(Maryland: 31 – Auburn 7)
TD – Glendon Miller 44 return (Howes XP)
Auburn: 3 plays, 66 yards, :58
(Maryland: 31 – Auburn 13)
TD – Cobb 1 run (2pt Conversion Failed)
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