COLLEGE PARK, M.D. - On an overcast and gloomy Saturday afternoon, the Maryland Terrapins welcomed the Virginia Tech Hokies (and apparently most of their fan base) to Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium.  The day’s lack of sunshine wore on the spirits of Maryland football fans, but not nearly as much as the Terrapins’ lack of heart.

 

“I didn't think we had a lot of energy,” said Terps Head Coach Ralph Friedgen after the game.

On Virginia Tech’s first possession of the game, quarterback Tyrod Taylor was completed all three of his pass attempts including a 30-yard pass to sophomore Jarrett Boykin to the one-yard-line that led to a one-yard touchdown run by redshirt freshman, Ryan Williams.

In the Terps backfield, newly-minted starting quarterback Jamarr Robinson, a sophomore, missed on his first four pass attempts on his way to leading the offensive to two three-and-outs on their opening two possessions.

On Tech’s third possession Taylor got his team back on track after recording a three-and-out on their previous possession. Williams broke through the Terps defense on a 27-yard run and Taylor completed a 27-yard pass to sophomore receiver Dyrell Roberts that placed Tech at the Maryland four yard line. Taylor capped the 8 play, 72 yard drive with a three yard touchdown toss to junior tight end Andre Smith, a native of Germantown, MD.

With Tech already up 14-0 in the first quarter, Maryland was finally able to get some semblance of offense on their third possession, recording their first first-down of the game and forcing the Hokies to take a 15-yard pass interference penalty on their way across midfield, setting up a 36-yard Nick Ferrara field goal.

Taylor continued his domination in the beginning of the second quarter, rushing for 10 and 17 yards on consecutive plays before finding Roberts for a 10 yard touchdown reception. Virginia Tech attempted a two-point conversion but failed on a rush attempt, keeping the score at 20-3.  Taylor was not nearly done, though, completing a 64-yard touchdown pass to Boykin on the first play of the Hokies’ next possession to extend the Virginia Tech lead to 27-3 at the half.  It was the third big hookup of the afternoon between Taylor and Boykin.

But for a Matt Waldron field goal neither team scored in the third. Maryland’s offense continued to sputter save for a handful of big runs by Robinson, who was largely unable to connect with his receivers through the air.

“He makes plays with his feet,” said Friedgen of Robinson, who had 139 yards rushing. “His throwing game has to get better. He made some throws people couldn’t make plays on that would have helped them. I don’t think he sees things as well as he needs to and that has to improve. Overall [his play] was okay.”

“I'm seeing plays I haven't seen in my whole coaching career,” added Friedgen.  “We are going to have to improve and I'm sure he [Robinson] will as he gains experience.”

Not until the fourth quarter did the Terps break pressure Taylor, but when they did the results were good.  Senior defensive back Jamari McCollough made it into the Virginia Tech backfield to sack Taylor, and senior defensive lineman Jared Harrell recovered the fumble in the end zonefor the only Maryland touchdown of the afternoon.

“He made some nice plays,” said Virginia Tech Head Coach Frank Beamer of Taylor. “He had some nice throws and had a couple he’d like to have back. We didn’t get him well enough protected in the end zone there and that was a tough play. He gives us a chance to be successful every offensive play. I’m glad he’s on our side.”

The game ended on meaningless possessions for both teams as fans filed out with the game long decided already.

For the Terps Robinson accounted for 233 of the 236 total yards of team offense. Wide receiver Torrey Smith broke Lamont Jordan’s single-season all-purpose mark of 1,840 yard, finishing the day with 115 all-purpose yards (4 catches for 55 yards and three kickoff returns totaling 60 yards) to give him 1,921 on the season. Smith also topped 1,000 career yards receiving.

In terms of positives, Saturday afternoon was the first time this season the Terps did not turn the ball over, but ball security did little to keep them in a game that was a blow out from the first quarter on.

Dead last in the ACC with a record of 1-5, 2-8 overall, the Terps’ season has been reduced to “playing for pride.”

 When asked about his team’s future Coach Friedgen said: “There is a gap right now. One of the things I’m hoping will change it is when some of our younger guys mature and grow up. That’s the biggest area we have to work on and we still have to go out and recruit. We have to find players that want to be successful here at Maryland.”

Maryland travels next weekend to Tallahassee to face Florida State (5-5, 3-4 ACC) on November 21 before closing out their season at home on the 28th against Boston College.