The Maryland Terrapins let one slip away Saturday against Purdue. Penalties, a blocked extra point, and failing to score after three turnovers by the defense doomed the Terrapins as Purdue edged Maryland 31-29 at SECU Stadium in College Park, Maryland.
Purdue quarterback Aidan O’Connell threw for 360 yards and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score to tight end Payne Durham. But Maryland’s missed opportunities allowed the Boilermakers to pull off the win.
Maryland had a fitting end with a penalty failed two-point conversion to tie the game
Maryland (4-2, 1-2 in the Big Ten) was doomed by nine penalties in the game. Penalties on Maryland highlighted Purdue’s first two touchdown drives in the first half. But, the biggest gaffe by the Terrapins occurred on Maryland’s two-point attempt to tie the game with 35 seconds remaining.
Down 31-23, Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa found tight end Corey Dyches for a touchdown to cut the deficit to two – Dyches second of the game. The Terrapins appeared to convert the game-tying two-point conversion with Tagovailoa connecting with wide receiver Rakim Jarrett. However, offensive lineman Delmar Glaze was flagged for an ineligible receiver downfield.
Glaze got caught blocking his man well into the end zone on the scrambled play. The penalty forced Maryland to retry the two-point conversion. Unfortunately, Tagovailoa sailed a pass over the hands of Jeshaun Jones in the corner of the end zone on the retry to clinch Purdue’s win.
Blocked Extra Point came back to haunt Maryland
The dramatic end of the game may not have been needed, if not for a blocked extra point by Purdue. Maryland took a 23-17 lead with an 11-yard touchdown reception by running back Roman Hemby. However, Purdue blocked the extra point.
In real-time, it appeared Purdue’s Cam Allen jumped offside before the snap. Maryland head coach Mike Locksley chastised the officials on the sideline. It’s debatable whether Allen was offsides or not, but the Terrapins whiffed on the blocking.
Purdue (4-2, 2-1) responded on their ensuing offensive drive with a touchdown by Durham. The Boilermakers made the extra point and eventually scored on their next drive to gain an eight-point lead with 1:20 remaining in the fourth.
Maryland squandered three consecutive turnovers by defense
Aside from the penalties and before the blocked extra point, Maryland still had chances to win the game. None were more glaring than three missed opportunities by its offense in the third quarter.
The Terrapins’ defense forced turnovers on three consecutive Purdue possessions. Two fumbles sandwiched between an interception. Yet, Maryland’s offense failed to score a single point off those turnovers.
The offense had a turnover on downs, and a punt on the first two opportunities. Then Maryland’s reliable kicker, Chad Ryland, missed a 52-yard field goal near the start of the fourth quarter. The score remained tied 17-17 following each possession. In a two-point loss, one score could have changed the outcome of the game.
