Terps looking to turn series vs. Penn State into genuine rivalry

The weather was windy and wet across much of the Midwest this past Saturday afternoon, altering game plans and causing some of the better offenses in the country to look merely ordinary. 

Only two Big Ten teams — Penn State and Michigan — scored more than 24 points last weekend, and the Wolverines were playing in the comparatively tame weather of Piscataway, N.J. Even Ohio State, which had topped 40 points in seven consecutive games, had trouble handling the dismal field conditions in its matchup against Northwestern, managing only 3 touchdowns in a 21-7 win in blustery Evanston. 

But while many teams were affected, the one that was affected most was undoubtedly Maryland. Ohio State may have fallen 28 points short of its season scoring average, but the Terrapins did something worse: They lost.

The Terps fell to Wisconsin 23-10 in Madison, in large part because their offense simply couldn’t get anything going. Redshirt junior quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa completed just 10 of 23 passes for 77 yards and was sacked 5 times, and Terps’ poor showing through the air allowed Wisconsin to build a 17-point halftime lead and clamp down on the running game. Redshirt freshman running back Roman Hemby had gone into the game as the Big Ten’s sixth-leading rusher, but he managed just 66 yards on 16 carries. 

Coach Michael Locksley attributed the performance in large part to the slippery field conditions. 

“It was one of those games,” he said. “We didn’t manage the elements very well as a team. I didn’t think we coached very well. I didn’t think we played very well or managed the elements that we dealt with playing up there in Madison.”

Eager to rebound

The Terrapins now find themselves heading to Penn State in search of a bounce-back win. Over the years, Beaver Stadium has not been a great place to find such wins, the Nittany Lions having compiled a 23-2 home record against Maryland since the Terps’ first visit in 1917.

And yet, as PSU continues its pursuit of a New Year’s Six bowl invitation, Locksley’s comments are perhaps best read as a sign that it shouldn’t allow itself to be lulled into a false sense of security by last week’s results. The Wisconsin game was an outlier. Otherwise, the Terps have been pretty impressive on offense. 

Even with the Wisconsin game factored in, Maryland still ranks fourth in the Big Ten in both scoring (31.4 points per game) and total offense (424.9 yards per game). Tagovailoa is fourth in the league in passing (259.8 ypg), with 14 touchdown passes and 6 interceptions. Hembe is sixth in rushing (83.0 ypg), and among the league’s top 25 ball carriers, his average of 6.17 yards per carry ranks second. 

Penn State coach James Franklin heaped praise on both of those players this week, along with second-year offensive coordinator Dan Enos, a 30-year coaching veteran, including a stint as head coach at Central Michigan. 

“He’s got a tremendous resume,” Franklin said. “Five years of head coaching experience, 11 years of offensive coordinator experience. He’s really done a nice job with their offense. Obviously, it’s a combination of him and Mike Locksley, but he’s done a nice job.”

‘It’s not a rivalry game’

While the series’ long history is tilted decisively in Penn State’s favor, Maryland has gone 2-2 in State College since joining the Big Ten. In 2014, the Terps held PSU to 219 total yards and kicked a field goal in the final minute for a 20-19 win. Two years ago, they romped to a 35-19 victory, a game that was less competitive than the final score suggested. 

Despite their recent success, Locksley said that Terps have to win more frequently for the Penn State-Maryland game to turn into a genuine rivalry.

“I told our team, it’s not a rivalry game,” Locksley said. “We have to compete a little better to get it to that point.

“Right now, they’re a regional team that comes into our area to recruit. There are a lot of natural relationships because of the location of both universities, but other than that, it’s Penn State vs. Maryland. I can tell you that our guys are excited about this opportunity to go up there and play. I’m excited. It’s an opportunity to see where we line up and see how we have progressed when it comes to the Big Ten.”

With Tropical Storm Nicole clouding the weekend weather forecast, the Terps may need to show that they can do a better job handling the elements if they’re going to seize that opportunity. But with his team having already achieved bowl eligibility with three regular-season games still to play, Locksley is feeling confident, no matter what the weather forecasters and the Nittany Lions have in store. “We’ve played in tough environments,” he said. “That’s what you sign up for when you play in the Big Ten, to go to these tough environments. I know our players are excited about the opportunity, just like I am. We’re looking forward to getting up there to compete.”