Cam Edge came in at quarterback for Maryland football’s third drive against Auburn in the Music City Bowl. Already up 14 points thanks to stellar play from Billy Edwards Jr., Edge wasted no time picking up where the starter left off.
The redshirt freshman’s first pass was a 57-yard strike to Kaden Prather on a deep post. His second pass was a three-yard touchdown to freshman tight end Dylan Wade in the flat, bringing the Terps’ lead to three scores less than 12 minutes into the game.
“I think we both did a good job of preparing the right way,” Edwards said. “That gave us that confidence to come in here and let it rip.”
Following Wade’s touchdown, the Terps’ lead never fell below 14 as they cruised to a 31-13 win over the Tigers in Nashville. Maryland has now won a bowl game in three consecutive seasons for the first time in program history. The Terps’ 21 first-quarter points was the most they have ever scored in a bowl game.
The defense played arguably its best game of the season, forcing four turnovers — tied for Auburn’s season-high — and holding the Tiger offense to under four yards per play. Quarterback Payton Thorne threw for just 84 yards on 27 attempts, also gifting the Terps six points on a Glendon Miller interception return.
Auburn came in as a comfortable betting favorite, as Maryland lost numerous starters to the transfer portal and NFL Draft. Taulia Tagovailoa, Corey Dyches, Jaishawn Barham, Tarheeb Still, Antwain Littleton II and others did not play — but their backups stepped up to the occasion.
“There was a lot of blood, sweat and tears from our players, coaches and staff throughout the … crazy two week period of transfer portal, NIL, all that stuff,” coach Michael Locksley said. “It’s a testament to these kids, and I love the contributions we got from some of the young players today.”
Without their physical leader, the Terps’ linebacking core held a prolific Auburn rushing attack to just 2.2 yards per carry. Wade and fellow tight end Preston Howard caught touchdowns in relief of Dyches. And both Edwards and Edge presented formidable cases for next year’s starting job in Tagovailoa’s absence.
Edwards got the start at quarterback and took less than two minutes to lead his offense into the endzone. He topped off the five-play, 75-yard drive with a keeper into the endzone following a 61-yard screen pass to Roman Hemby, the running back’s longest play of the season.
Edwards got one more drive in the first quarter, throwing for 37 yards and a touchdown to go along with 33 rushing yards on an efficient 11-play drive. It was almost cut short when Octavian Smith Jr. fumbled on a first-down slant pass, but Auburn’s defense failed to recover it and offensive lineman Gottlieb Ayedze hustled 17 yards downfield to fall on the loose ball.
On the other side of the ball, the Terps’ defense dominated to the tune of 13 yards over two three-and-out drives. The pass rush made life hard for Thorne, and the back seven swarmed to the ball in the run game.
Auburn finally got on the board late in the second quarter, capping off a 14-play drive with a three-yard touchdown pass to tight end Brandon Frazier in the flat. Maryland got into kicker Jack Howes’ range on the ensuing drive, and the redshirt sophomore drilled a 49-yard attempt to make it a 24-7 game at the half.
The only points of the third quarter came on Miller’s pick six. Both offenses stalled out completely, combining for a measly 33 yards on 29 total plays.
“The defense was just playing fast and physical,” Miller said. “We just want to come out here and win.”
In a secondary with multiple starting jobs open for next year, redshirt freshman Perry Fisher made his name known, recording two pass breakups, a sack and a special teams fumble recovery.
Thorne left the game early in the fourth quarter, and his replacement — freshman Holden Geriner — sealed the Auburn loss with a fourth-down pick to redshirt freshman Lavain Scruggs.
Maryland finishes 8-5 for the second-straight year. Locksley called the bowl game a “movie trailer” for 2024 — and if that’s true, Terp fans have a lot to look forward to.
“We’ve got a bright future,” Locksley said. “The best for this program is still ahead of us.”
- No. 3 Virginia defeats No. 5 Maryland 14-10 in top-five local rivalry - March 16, 2024
- Shining youth in Music City Bowl gave Maryland football a positive preview to next season - January 3, 2024
- Maryland football stomps Auburn in Music City Bowl, 31-13 - December 30, 2023
