The excessive expectations for Maryland soccer’s offense is perhaps warranted.
Heading into the 2022 season, the mixture of star quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, a dynamic receiving corps that welcomed again Dontay Demus Jr. after final yr’s knee damage and a veteran offensive line that options potential NFL draft decide Jaelyn Duncan generated buzz that the Terps may have probably the greatest offenses within the Big Ten.
In Saturday’s season opener, it didn’t take lengthy for that expertise to point out up. Tagovailoa threw for 290 yards and the Terps’ operating recreation led by redshirt freshman Roman Hemby powered a 31-10 victory over Buffalo at Capital One Field.
After the departure of Tayon Fleet-Davis, coach Mike Locksley mentioned he deliberate to make use of three to 4 operating backs this season, using with whoever had the recent hand. In Maryland’s twelfth straight season-opening nonconference win, Hemby delivered. The former John Carroll standout rushed for 114 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries.
After junior receiver Rakim Jarrett’s 25-yard acquire on a jet sweep and Jeshaun Jones’ 14-yard reception, Hemby ran 33 yards whereas slipping previous a pair of defenders for a landing, capping off a five-play, 73-second scoring drive that gave Maryland a 7-0 lead within the opening minutes of the primary quarter.
Maryland’s offense remained quiet till the beginning of the second quarter, when operating again Antwain Littleton II bulldozed a pair of Buffalo defenders for a 21-yard acquire earlier than powering into the tip zone for a 2-yard landing, extending the Terps’ result in 14-0 with 12:14 left.
After taking a 17-7 lead into halftime, the Terps began the third quarter with a bang. On second-and-5, Hemby burst up the center for a 70-yard rating — the longest dashing landing by a Terps participant since 2019 — to present Maryland a 24-7 lead.
The Terps accrued a mixed 149 dashing yards and 4 touchdowns whereas averaging 5.7 yards per try.
After Tagovailoa rewrote the varsity’s document ebook in 2021, setting program benchmarks in passing yards (3,860), completions (328) and completion share (.692), his efficiency in opposition to an overmatched Bulls staff was inconsistent.
The Alabama switch completed 24-for-34 with 290 yards, however he threw an interception and tossed a handful of sloppy passes, typically placing his receivers in dangerous conditions.
During Maryland’s closing drive of the second quarter, Tagovailoa threw a pair of incomplete passes to Jarrett and Demus, who had been each sandwiched by Buffalo defenders.
Tagovailoa additionally lacked contact on his deep throws. In the primary quarter, Tagovailoa underthrew sophomore receiver Tai Felton, however Bulls defensive again Elijah Blades was known as for roughing the passer. When the Terps confronted a third-and-13 with beneath 11 minutes left within the third quarter, Tagovailoa’s go down the center soared over redshirt sophomore tight finish Corey Dyches earlier than being intercepted by Buffalo security Marcus Fuqua.
The junior quarterback did handle to unfold the ball round, nonetheless, connecting with 9 receivers. Jarrett led the way in which with six catches for 110 yards, together with a 35-yard reception that arrange Littleton’s second dashing landing with 13:49 left within the fourth quarter.
Jones, who suffered a season-ending leg damage final season, tallied 70 yards on 4 receptions, whereas sophomore tight finish CJ Dippre completed with three catches for 30 yards. In his first recreation again from a knee damage suffered Oct. 1 in opposition to Iowa, Demus has three catches for 23 yards.
This story will likely be up to date.
MARYLAND@CHARLOTTE
Saturday, 3:30 p.m.
Stream: Stadium
Radio: 105.7 FM
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Source: www.bostonherald.com