Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. threw for 373 yards and two touchdowns. Yet Edwards used his feet with a three-yard scramble into the end zone that capped the Terrapins’ comeback for a 29-28 win over the USC Trojans.
Maryland trailed USC by 14 points entering the fourth quarter. The Terps’ offense came alive, but the defense stifled quarterback Miller Moss and the USC offense in the final quarter.
The win snaps Maryland’s two-game losing streak. Meanwhile, USC will travel over 2,300 miles back to Los Angeles with many unanswered questions, falling to 1-4 in the Big Ten Conference.
USC scores first after a slow start from both teams
Both teams started slow offensively, with only five first downs in the first 11 minutes and four punts. Maryland’s defense staggered USC early, as defensive lineman Quashon Fuller had a sack and later a pass breakup to force a punt.
Miller Moss and USC’s offense finally woke up with back-to-back first-down passes to receivers Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane. But on third-and-seven, Maryland defensive back Kevis Thomas broke up a deep ball to Duce Robinson.
USC’s kicker, Michael Lantz, missed a 52-yard field goal. However, Maryland was flagged for an illegal substitution penalty as Jordan Philips got caught running on the field. The gaffe proved costly, as the missed field goal got erased, and USC converted a fourth-and-two, setting up a 22-yard touchdown pass from Moss to wide receiver Kyron Hudson.
USC 7, Maryland 0
QB’s Billy Edwards Jr. and Miller Moss trade touchdown throws
Maryland responded on the ensuing possession. The drive was heading towards a three-and-out when Edwards connected with wide receiver Kaden Prather for 33 yards on third-and-nine.
Edwards and Prather hooked up on a third-and-five for 11 yards. Two plays later, Octavian Smith Jr. hauled in a 16-yard touchdown pass from Edwards, tying the game.
Edwards was a perfect 6-for-6 passing for 73 yards on the drive. He also had a 12-yard run.
Maryland 7, USC 7
USC didn’t waste much time answering back. The Trojans marched 75 yards in under three minutes to regain the lead.
The Trojans opened the drive with back-to-back first downs. Wide receiver Zacharian Branch had a 23-yard reception. Then, running back Woody Marks gained 11. A 14-yard pass from Moss to Jay Fair had the Trojans in Maryland’s territory.
USC wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane tried outdoing Octavian Smith with a spectacular touchdown catch. Lane extended his arm out to catch the ball with one hand.
USC 14, Maryland 7
Maryland ends first half on sour note
Maryland converted two fourth-and-one opportunities — Edwards’ one-yard sneak run and a USC penalty. Edwards found Smith for 18 yards to get into USC territory. However, Maryland gained just one yard on their next three plays, forcing a 52-yard field goal attempt.
Maryland kicker Jack Howes had the distance but pulled it wide right.
The defense forced a three-and-out to give Edwards and the offense the ball back. But Maryland couldn’t move the football, punting it back to USC with just over a minute to play in the first half.
Branch got a good return of 19 yards on the punt, putting USC in a great field position. The Trojans offense marched 41 yards in 1:07, highlighted by a 24-yard reception by Makai Lemon.
USC running back Woody Mark accounted for the final 15 yards, scoring a touchdown, extending the Trojan’s lead.
USC 21, Maryland 7
Maryland threatened with 21 seconds on the clock, eating up ground to USC’s 27-yard line with five seconds left in the half. However, the Terps tried to make a play with the offense. Unfortunately, a bad snap got over the head of Edwards, turning into a fumble recovery by USC as the clock expired.
Maryland gets new life with interception
Maryland’s defense opened the door of opportunity, getting a huge turnover in the quarter. But first, Maryland’s offense turned over the ball on their opening drive of the third quarter. Running back Roman Hemby got stuffed on a fourth-and-three run.
The attempt on the fourth down was understandable. Maryland was desperate to score points.
However, the Terps got a break when Maryland defensive back Lavain Scruggs intercepted Moss before returning the pick 51 yards down to USC’s 18-yard line.
Moss got pressured by the Terps’ front. Scruggs jumped the pass intended for Branch.
On the very next play, Maryland capitalized off the turnover. Edwards zipped a pass to Felton, who got an assistant into the end zone by the Terrapins’ offensive line.
Maryland 14, USC 21
Edwards gets picked off in the endzone
Momentum shifted to Maryland’s side. The defense picked up where it left off with a huge three-and-out of USC’s offense. A false start followed by a four-yard loss by Marks helped lead to a third-and-ten.
Maryland cornerback Perry Fisher broke up a pass intended for Lane. Fisher landed awkwardly and needed assistance to the sideline.
After the punt, Edwards completed back-to-back passes. Then, he scampered nine yards to USC territory. Running back Nolan Ray busted open a 33-yard run, setting the Terps at USC’s 11-yard line.
Three plays later, Felton’s nine-yard catch set the Terps into a fourth-and-three from the four. Maryland head coach Mike Locksley dialed up the offense, needing a touchdown to tie the game. However, Edwards’ fade to Prather was intercepted by USC’s Jaylin Smith in the end zone.
USC turned the interception into points, as the offense marched 80 yards on ten plays into the end zone. From the 26-yard line, Moss found Robinson at the 12 before Robinson barreled through two Maryland defenders to get into the end zone for what appeared to be a back-breaking score with 13:31 left in the fourth quarter.
USC 28, Maryland 14
Edwards shakes off interception to keep Maryland alive
Edwards immediately responded with Maryland’s season on the line. He linked with Smith twice for a total of 32 yards. Maryland converted two fourth-down plays on the drive.
Ray ripped a 10-yard run on fourth-and-one. Then, with fourth-and-five, a short pass from Edwards to Hemby turned into a 14-yard first down.
Hemby finished the drive off on the next play with a ten-yard touchdown run. Edwards and Prather hooked up for a two-point conversion to cut the deficit to six.
The two-point conversion proved instrumental in Maryland’s comeback.
Maryland 22, USC 28
Blocked field goal saves the game
After Maryland’s defense forced a punt, the offense tried to answer with another score. Yet, the drive stalled when Edwards got sacked by Kamari Ramsey on a fourth-and-seven from midfield with 2:58 remaining.
The drive seemed to be Maryland’s last-ditch effort.
USC was unable to run the clock out, but because of their excellent field position, the Trojans still had a chance to seal the win with a field goal. Except, Maryland blocked Lantz’s 41-yard field goal attempt.
With the game on the line, Maryland’s special teams made a spectacular play, saving the Terrapins chances.
Edwards rallies Maryland to stunning win
Maryland’s offense took over possession at USC’s 47-yard line with the game on the line. The Terps got a lifesaver when an Edwards pass to Felton drew a pass interference call.
The penalty advanced Maryland to the 28-yard line. Edwards completed his three consecutive passes to Smith, Felton, and Hemby. Then, with second-and-goal from the three, Edwards called his own number, scoring the go-ahead touchdown with 53 seconds remaining.
Maryland 29, USC 28
USC tried to get into field goal range to win it. But the drive stalled when Moss’s fourth-down pass bounced off the hands of Marks, sealing the Terps’ comeback.
Maryland pulled an improbable comeback for its first Big Ten win of the season. The Terrapins had stumbled against Michigan State, got outpaced by Indiana, and unexpectedly got blown out at home by Northwestern.
So many questions lingered for Locksley and the Terrapins. The head coach had taken over play-calling duties a week ago. Saturday’s performance had mixed results, but when Maryland needed them, Locksley and his quarterback, Edwards, delivered.
USC is heading in the wrong direction. The Trojans’ inaugural season in the Big Ten has turned into a nightmare for head coach Lincoln Riley. USC now has four losses in conference play. The last two defeats were heartbreaking.
USC blew a 14-point halftime lead last week to Penn State at the LA Coliseum. This week, they held a 14-point lead at halftime and in the fourth quarter.
