Terrapins Top Hoosiers 38-35 as Defense Gets Burned

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

The Indiana Hoosiers (2-6) and Maryland Terrapins (5-3) both entered Saturday’s contest in desperate need of a win. Despite a mostly good display from the offense, IU was not able to breakthrough for their first Big Ten victory, falling in College Park 38-35 thanks to a strong showing from Taulia Tagovailoa and the Maryland passing game. A poor start and a late comeback that came up short doomed the Hoosiers to another loss and has them on the precipice of a losing season.

Donaven McCulley made his first collegiate start and the Hoosiers began the game with the ball. The first play was an aggressive one with McCulley throwing deep for Ty Fryfogle. It was incomplete and McCulley was sacked on third down to end the first drive without a first down. The punt from James Evans was only 25 yards and Maryland took over in IU territory at the 35-yard line. The Terrapins wasted no time taking advantage, drawing a pass interference penalty and scoring a touchdown from one yard out as Tayon Fleet-Davis dove into the end zone to make it 7-0. Indiana got a first down on a completion to Ty Fryfogle but had to punt three plays later. Maryland took over at the 10-yard line and continued their hot start, marching 90 yards and scoring on a Challen Faamatau one-yard run to make it 14-0. The Hoosiers went three and out again and Maryland got into position for a 40-yard field goal. Joseph Petrino sent it just wide and the score remained 14-0. The missed kick gave IU a bit of life and they converted a key fourth and two at the beginning of the second quarter to keep a drive alive. Peyton Hendershot got the ball to the one-yard line with a 31-yard reception and Stephen Carr scored to make it 14-7. Indiana’s defense kept the momentum going and forced a punt and Miles Marshall blocked the attempt. IU took over at the 13-yard line but the offense failed to capitalize, getting sacked and being called for a very questionable personal foul penalty. A completion to Ty Fryfogle set up a 42-yard kick for Charles Campbell but his attempt sailed just wide. The teams traded three and outs twice and then the Hoosiers stuffed a fourth and one run attempt at the 28-yard line, getting the ball back with 1:59 left in the half. Davion Ervin-Poindexter had a nice run for a first down and IU moved it to the 38-yard line before taking a time out with 13 seconds remaining. Charles Campbell nailed a 55-yard kick to make it 14-10 at the half.

The Terrapins opened the second half with the ball and the IU defense continued keep them in check, forcing a punt that gave Indiana possession at the 14-yard line. The Hoosiers set up a third and two and Stephen Carr broke a tackle and galloped into space and pulled away from the defense for a 66-yard score to put IU ahead for the first time at 17-14. Maryland was able to answer quickly, converting a long pass to the IU 33-yard line. A pass interference penalty on Noah Pierre was followed by a short run and then another one-yard touchdown for Faatamau to put the Terps back in front, 21-17. The Hoosiers went three and out and Maryland’s offense stayed in rhythm, moving into scoring territory through the air and then Taulia Tagovailoa connected with Carlos Carriere for a touchdown aided by poor tackling. IU now trailed 28-17 and was facing a fourth down in their own territory. They surprised everyone with a successful fake as Bryant Fitzgerald took the snap and ran for the first down. The offense moved it to the 13-yard line but could go no further as the red zone struggles continued. Charles Campbell hit the 30-yard field goal to cut the lead to 28-20. Maryland answered right away with another touchdown for Carlos Carriere as Tagovailoa continued to find holes in the depleted IU secondary. With the score at 35-20, IU pushed the ball downfield and were fortunate to avoid an interception as a pass bounced off a Maryland defender and fell into Miles Marshall’s hands for a big gain. A few plays later, Peyton Hendershot was wide open in the end zone for a touchdown. The Hoosiers followed it with a successful two-point conversion, again to Hendershot, to make it 35-28. IU’s defense forced a stop to give the Hoosiers a chance but they went three and out and gave it back to Maryland with a little more than six minutes left. The Terrapins converted a third and 13 for a first down. Another third down was converted, this one a third and short. Tagovailoa scrambled to continue to kill the clock and Joseph Petrino hit a 41-yard field goal with 1:20 remaining to effectively end the game. Indiana did not quit as McCulley found Fryfogle wide open and then hit Peyton Hendershot for a touchdown to make it 38-35. IU could not recover the onside kick and Maryland took a knee.

Taulia Tagovailoa was 26 of 40 for 419 yards with two touchdowns, both of them coming to Carlos Carriere. Donaven McCulley performed admirably in his first start, completing 14 of 25 passes for 242 yards with two scores. Both of those were to Peyton Hendershot. IU had 446 yards on offense, by far their best game on that side of the ball this season. However, the defense failed to slow Tagovailoa and the Maryland passing attack, giving up 499 yards of offense. The Hoosiers are now 2-6 and must win out to even be eligible for a bowl game. Next up is Michigan. Hoosier Huddle will have continuing coverage.