This was Maryland’s chance to validate their arrival as a college football contender. This was their chance to show that their 79-0 blowout of Howard and 63-20 drubbing over Syracuse was no aberration. However, after four failed trips to the red zone, Maryland stumbled.
For the second straight year, a 3-0 start denied by Temple. Unlike last year’s loss to the Owls, Maryland had ample opportunities to avoid the upset. Highlighted by four empty trips in the red zone, two of their last two key drives of the game.
Hindsight is always 20/20 and Maryland head coach Mike Locksley may be rethinking his decisions early on to pick trying (and failing) for touchdowns over easy field goals.
Failed Trip #1
Down 7-0, Maryland got their first real break of the game. In the first quarter, Temple fumbled on a punt return and Maryland recovered the football inside the Owls’ 20-yard line. Three plays later, the Terps were at the one-yard line, but it was fourth down.
Running back Anthony McFarland was stuffed for a one-yard loss, turning the ball back over to Temple on downs. Fortunately, Maryland recouped two points as they got a safety when a botched punt snap sailed in the back off the end zone.
Failed Trip #2: The Terrible Fake Field Goal
Their second trip to the red zone occurred early in the second quarter. By then Maryland missed a field goal and punt, but they were back in the red zone still trailing 7-2. Maryland came to a 4th-and-3 from Temple’s 16.
The Terrapins called a fake field that went embarrassingly awry. Holder Mike Shinsky was tracked down before he could ever get in position to throw the football. Two trips in the first half, two goose eggs.
Unlike the first failed trip, Maryland didn’t recoup points. Down 7-2, the score could have been 7-6. Two field goals > a safety.
Maryland did score touchdowns on their next two trips in the red zone. Anthony McFarland did punch in a 4th-and-1 from the 4-yard line. And quarterback Josh Jackson connected with tight end Tyler Mabry on a touch pass from 17 yards out. The two scores put Maryland ahead 15-13.
Doing the math, Maryland could have been up 20-13. That alone changes the complexion of the game in which they lost 20-17.
But the next two trips in the red zone crushed any chances of winning. And how they got set up made it all that more devastating.
Failed Trip #3: 55-yard Punt Return Not Enough
Trailing 20-15 with just over six-and-half minutes remaining in the game, Maryland caught another break. DJ Turner evaded being tackled to bounce off and roll 55 yards on a punt return down to the Owls’ 4-yard line. Unfortunately, they couldn’t get in the end zone in four plays. McFarland was destroyed for a three-yard loss on 4th-and-goal from the one.
Maryland’s offensive line didn’t stand a chance.
Failed Trip #4: Mulligan after 7-Yard Punt
Yet, their defense got them another golden opportunity. After forcing a three-and-out, Temple punter Adam Berry wolfed a punt that went just seven yards. Maryland’s offense took over from the Owls’ 10-yard line. And yet, they failed to score once again.
A false start and three incomplete passes from Jackson, including missing Turner in the back of the end zone on fourth down sealed their fate.
The odds of winning a game are tremendously low when a team has four failed red zone opportunities. Two coming in the final five minutes of game after being setup by a 55-yard punt return and a seven-yard punt, respectively. The odds of winning a game are tremendously low when a team has four failed red zone opportunities. Two coming in the final five minutes of game after being setup by a 55-yard punt return and a seven-yard punt, respectively.
Maryland had all the chances to be 3-0, marching into their Sept. 27 showdown against Big Ten rival Penn State. Instead, they’ll have a week to maul over what went wrong, hoping to mask their exposed flaws.
Maryland not only lost the game. They will lose their top-25 ranking. They lost the opportunity to silence critics who chirped despite their 79-point and 43-point wins to start the season.
Just as Maryland was ready to ascend on the college football world, four goal line stands put a halt to all of that.
