Maryland football unable to hold Indiana late in 42-28 loss

Photo courtesy of Maryland Athletics

With four minutes left, Ty Son Lawton took a handoff outside for a 14-yard touchdown. Two plays before, the Terps failed to convert a 4th down as any hope for a comeback faded.

Following his school-record 87.5 completion percentage last week, Billy Edwards Jr. played another clean game until the fourth quarter. With his two top receivers leaving the game due to injuries, Edwards completed 10-of-20 passes for 128 yards in the final quarter.

Maryland football (3-2, 0-2 Big Ten) suffered a 42-28 loss to the Hoosiers (5-0, 2-0) on Saturday. The win marked Indiana’s first 5-0 start since 1967.

Tai Felton left the game in the fourth quarter and never returned. Before the injury, he had five catches for 38 yards and was not heavily involved. Instead, Kaden Prather saw more action but also suffered an injury on a diving catch in the fourth quarter where he landed on his knee. Prather later returned to the game for the Terps’ final drive.

Maryland’s offensive line and the offense’s inability to score off turnovers had the Terps playing from behind all game. The offensive line committed seven penalties for 68 yards and allowed five sacks.

The first quarter was a defensive showdown. Entering the game Indiana Quarterback Kurtis Rourke had not thrown an interception all year but threw two on the Hoosiers’ first two drives. Jalen Huskey marked his third straight game with an interception and Glendon Miller secured his fourth of the season.

Despite this, Rourke settled in after throwing interceptions on Indiana’s first two drives of the game. The senior finished the game 22-for-33 for 359 yards and three touchdowns. 

However, Maryland’s offense did nothing with these opportunities, going three and out both times. Edwards was constantly under pressure on those drives and was sacked twice.

The Terps gained their initial first down in the second quarter following an Indiana touchdown. Back-to-back offensive line penalties took the momentum out of the drive as Maryland faced a 1st and 30. 

However, Edwards still found a way to score following an Indiana pass interference. Three plays later, he connected with Prather for a 33-yard game-tying touchdown.

The Terps still faced a deficit heading into the half after Rourke connected with Omar Cooper Jr. for a 27-yard touchdown with less than a minute remaining.

Maryland struck first in the second half, tying the game on a pass from Edwards to Dylan Wade. The pass was intended for Prather who was heavily covered. The ball was hit into the air and Wade tipped it to himself and dove for the catch.

The two sides traded touchdowns including a Roman Hemby 75-yard touchdown run, tying the longest rush of his career.

However, after three straight Indiana touchdowns, the game was out of reach. Hemby scored another touchdown late but it was not enough to mount a comeback.

Maryland gets a bye week before returning to action on Oct. 11 against Northwestern in College Park.