Maryland football uses explosive offense, suffocating defense to down Indiana, 44-17

Tai Felton led all Terps pass catchers in snaps entering their game against Indiana but was yet to find the endzone. 

He did so Saturday. 

But a single touchdown was not enough for the junior receiver. He found the endzone three times and recorded the first multi-touchdown game of his career. He also tallied a career-high in catches with seven and yards with 134.

Maryland football (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) used the offense’s big first half to defeat Indiana (2-3, 0-2), 44-17, at SECU Stadium Saturday and advance to 5-0 for the first time since 2001. It’s also the first time Maryland won its first two conference games since joining the Big Ten.

“For us in that building, the Jones Hill House, I don’t think there’s anybody in there that’s surprised,” coach Michael Locksley said. “I said this to my team a week ago or during the week, ‘How many of y’all didn’t expect to be at this position?’ That’s the position we’re in and nobody raised their hand.”

Maryland’s offense enjoyed favorable field position multiple times as a result of the defense’s dominance. A unit that allowed 12.2 points and forced 11 turnovers through four games recorded three turnovers on downs. 

The Terps’ aerial attack averaged 14.7 yards per completion, spearheaded by redshirt senior quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa. He posted 352 yards passing and six total touchdowns. Maryland’s offense scored more than 30 points in the first five games of a season for the first time in program history. 

Maryland found its fast start just three plays and less than 30 seconds into the game. Tagovailoa’s first pass attempt was a completion of 62 yards to Jeshaun Jones.

“When Jones had caught that first deep one on our first drive I was like okay, it’s time to go,” Felton said. “Kind of getting that momentum boost.”

Felton scored on a wide receiver screen two plays later from 13 yards out, giving Tagovailoa his 70th career touchdown. The Hoosiers responded with a big return by sophomore Jaylin Lucas, but the Terps hunkered down and held them to a field goal. 

The Terps’ third offensive possession began at the Indiana 28 yard line and ended after one play. Tagovailoa found Felton wide open on a post route for his second touchdown of the first quarter. 

The punishing Maryland defense recorded three straight negative plays, ending the Hoosiers’ drive with a Caleb Wheatland sack. The Maryland offense worked with another short field and two plays in, Tagovailoa rushed for a 19 yard touchdown.

The Terps led 21-3 at the end of the first quarter. All three scoring drives ended in three plays or less.

“I think it was an awesome job of everyone on offense and defense and special teams just doing their job,” Tagovalioa said. “Taking one play at a time and executing at a high level.”

The Hoosiers proved they could move the ball against the Terps’ defense, going 15 plays and 79 yards to begin the second quarter. But senior safety Beau Brade broke up a pass in the redzone on fourth down, keeping Indiana scoreless.

Indiana’s next offensive possession also ended with a turnover on downs with sophomore linebacker Kellan Wyatt chasing down quarterback Tayven Jackson for a sack.

“It was very important for us to get those stops,” senior linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II said. “We know that there will be big plays for our offense. And that’s the goal on defense man, three and out gives the offense the ball back, let the playmakers do what they do.”

Felton scored for the third time before halftime to give Maryland a 27-3 advantage heading into the locker room. 

Indiana’s offense couldn’t find a rhythm after the break and endured a scoreless third quarter. Meanwhile, the Terps continued their offensive onslaught with freshman tight end Dylan Wade finding the endzone on his first career catch to make the score 37-3. 

Indiana finally reached the endzone in the fourth quarter with Brendan Sorsby at quarterback. He connected with Donaven McCulley to make the score slightly more palatable, but the game was already out of reach. 

The Terps didn’t let up, producing a 75-yard drive capped off with a touchdown reception from junior receiver Kaden Prather to put the score at 44-10. The Hoosiers collected one more touchdown in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter, but Maryland left the field with a 27-point victory.

“I thought today was probably the most complete game that we played in all three phases,” Locksley said. “Started fast, finished strong, playing to our standard.”