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Minnesota Beats Maryland 48-23
Saturday, October 26, 2024

On the first play of the Minnesota at Maryland game, Terrapins quarterback Billy Edwards hit a wide-open Tai Felton for a 26-yard gain into Gophers territory. After that, Maryland did little right and Minnesota little wrong as the Gophers won their third straight game, beating the Terrapins 48-23. Both teams were 4-3 with both had beaten Southern California this month, Maryland pulling off the upset last week for its only conference win.

Maryland, after the opening pass, stalled and gave up the ball on downs. Minnesota moved quickly, Max Brosmer leading a 58-yard drive and capping it with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Jackson. On the next possession, Brosmer laid a seven-yard scoring pass into the arms of Elijah Spencer in the back of the end zone.

Minnesota didn’t even need to get the ball back to open up a 21-0 lead. On third down Edwards badly underthrew to Shaleak Knotts. Cornerback Justin Walley intercepted and had an easy runback for the touchdown.

Next it was freshman safety Koi Perich’s turn. This time Edwards overthrew Knotts, resulting in another pick and a 45-yard runback by Perich to the Maryland 23. The offense couldn’t get any farther and, on the first play of the second quarter, Dragan Kesich kicked a 40-yard field goal.

The Terrapins finally got on the board with a field goal and touchdown, but in between Jackson caught another touchdown pass and the Gophers were, after another Kesich field goal, led 34-10 at the half.

Brosmer already racked up 208 yards in the air with Jackson taking in nearly half that with eight catches.

Minnesota padded the lead fewer than two minutes into the second have with a five-play drive, Brosmer hitting a ridiculously wide-open Spencer for a 25-yard touchdown.

The Gophers got a final score early in the fourth quarter on an impressive 51-yard run—helped by an equally impressive block by Kenric Lanier on cornerback Chantz Harley at the 20—by Darius Taylor, who finished the game with 97 yards rushing after being held to a net five yards in the first half.

For a game with a three-touchdown-and-field-goal margin, the overall statistics were close. Minnesota had a 443 to 427 yard edge from scrimmage, the two interceptions and runbacks helping in that category. Both teams were over 100 yards rushing and over 300 in passing. Brosmer was 26 for 33 for 320 yards. Edwards passed for 201 yards, and his successor, M. J. Morris, completed seven of eight for 122 yards.

The Gophers won their third straight game to up their Big Ten record to 3-2. Next up for Minnesota is a trip to Illinois while Maryland, after a week off, will have to travel to face a mighty Oregon team.

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