Maryland football uses second-half domination to cruise past Virginia, 42-14

Tarheeb Still was ready for redemption. The defensive back was targeted several times in the first half and surrendered some big plays through the air. 

With nine minutes left to play, Still blanketed a Virginia receiver and came away with the football. It was Still’s second interception of the half, and Maryland scored on the ensuing drive to grow its lead by 28 — blowing the game open.

“The first two games I didn’t see much action and then the action picked up this week,” Still said. “So it really just made me tighten down on my coverage, it’s something I really needed, the ball to come that way so I can just get better.”

Maryland football (3-0) defeated its long time ACC rival Virginia (0-3) on Friday night at SECU Stadium, 42-14. The Terps scored 42 unanswered points and did so in style while debuting their brand new all-black script uniforms. 

Maryland went three-and-out on the opening drive and Virginia struck first on the ensuing possession as sixth-year Perris Jones rushed for a 13-yard touchdown after just three plays. The Cavaliers were set up in the red zone courtesy of a 49-yard reception by graduate student Malik Washington on a flea flicker on their first play of the night.

Freshman quarterback Anthony Colandrea was picking apart Brian Williams’ secondary that missed starting safety Beau Brade. He led a seven-play, 63-yard drive with four-straight completions on the next drive, including a touchdown pass to senior running back Kobe Pace.

Colandrea was a perfect 5-5 for 109 yards just two drives in, and Maryland were down 14-0 as a result of his early dominance.

The Terps needed a big play fast. Braeden Wisloski, awaiting his first chance on special teams, provided just that. The freshman responded with a 98-yard kickoff return for his club’s first points of the night. 

Wisloski ignited Maryland’s offense, as the Terps’ next offensive drive was their best of the first half. 

“He’s a guy that has the ability to make explosive plays,” coach Michael Locksley said. “We were looking for a guy that can give us a spark on special teams return game and he was able to do that and he kind of got us going.”

Quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa completed a pass to five different receivers on a 14-play, 97-yard drive that was capped off with a Roman Hemby touchdown rush. The possession was highlighted by a 43-yard reception by West Virginia transfer Kaden Prather, the longest reception of his career. 

The Tagovailoa-Prather connection has looked good early this season, as the strike marked the second-straight game the duo have linked for a completed pass of at least 40 yards.

Maryland entered the locker room tied 14-14, a week after trailing by five at the break — a stark difference from its 25-point halftime lead in its season-opener.

The Terps’ offense came out of the break dialed in through the air. Tagovailoa used his legs to extend a play before firing a pass down the right sideline, where graduate student Jeshaun Jones burned his defender and scored a 64-yard touchdown to provide Maryland with its first lead of the night, 21-14.

“We definitely are clicking. Me and him, we’ve had plenty of time together,” Jones said. “I think that’s a huge reason why I came back was just we’re comfortable with each other, we know each other and we can have those conversations when they’re needed.”

Virginia had a golden opportunity to tie the game at the beginning of the fourth quarter. But Still secured a huge interception in the corner of the end zone — Colandrea’s first mistake of the night — to thwart the Cavaliers’ scoring threat.

The turnover sparked an 80-yard drive that accumulated 3:34, capped off by Hemby’s second rushing touchdown of the night. 

Colondrea was intercepted by Donnell Brown on Virginia’s next offensive possession, marking back-to-back games with an interception for the defensive lineman. Redshirt sophomore Antwain Littleton II rushed for a two-yard touchdown three plays later to blow the score open, pushing the Terps’ lead to 35-17.

Maryland’s offense continued to eat up yardage and junior running back Colby McDonald found the endzone late for the Terps’ fourth rushing touchdown of the night.

The Terps cruised to their third win of the season with a strong second half performance. They hit the road for the first time this year to kick off conference play, taking on Michigan State next week.

“We’re going to enjoy this game and get back to the drawing board and get ready for Michigan State. Obviously, it’s a hard place to play at,” Tagovalioa said. “We just need to go in there and do our job.”