Maryland Football hammers Towson for season opening win

COLLEGE PARK – The Maryland Terrapins football team returned to action Saturday afternoon, looking to capitalize on an eight-win season in 2022 that resulted in a Duke’s Mayo Bowl victory.

In their home opener against Towson, the Terps again showed much promise behind star quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa and a strong defense for the 38-6 blowout victory.

“Obviously, it’s great to start off and be 1-0,” said Maryland head coach Michael Locksley. “Our team came in and prepared to play and got off to the fast start that we like to get off. I owe it to our fans.”

It is the third straight game dating back to November of last year, where the Terps haven’t allowed an offensive touchdown.

The last time Maryland gave up a touchdown was against Ohio State on Nov. 19, 2022.

Maryland vs. Towson Photo Gallery by Alp Torumtay

Since then, the Terps beat Rutgers 22-0 in the regular season finale, allowed only four field goals in a 16-12 win over NC State in the 2022 Duke’s Mayo Bowl, and gave up only two field goals against the Tigers on Saturday.

Maryland quickly jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter, as Tagovailoa opened the scoring with a 23-yard rushing touchdown very early on.

The redshirt senior quarterback once again put up a terrific performance, completing 22 of 33 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns, surpassing the 8,000-yard mark for career passing yards.

“I felt really good,” said Tagovailoa. “The whole offseason and getting into fall camp, I know that our guys were ready for our game over there. Just connecting gives us a lot of confidence.”

With 8,139 passing yards, Tagovailoa holds the Terps career records for passing yards, passing touchdowns, total touchdowns, completions, completion percentage, 300-yard passing games, passing efficiency, and total offense.

He also threw for 246 yards in the first half, his most in a half since throwing for 305 at Charlotte last year.

Tagovailoa’s three touchdown passes ended up in the hands of Corey Dyches and Jeshaun Jones in the first quarter and Kaden Prather in the second.

Dyches led all Terps receivers on the day with a career-high 108 receiving yards on six catches, as the tight end switched his jersey number from 84 to 2.

“We have a great connection,” said Dyches. “[Tagovailoa] has a great connection with everybody on the team. The passing game, that’s how guys be.”

Jones finished with five catches for 57 yards, as he is now in his sixth year as a graduate student at UMD.

Prather is a new addition to Maryland, transferring from West Virginia. He also attended Northwest High School in Germantown in Montgomery County, Maryland.

“It was great to play at home in front of a lot of family,” said Prather. “At my other school, I would always have one or two people come in, but I can have a handful of people now.”

On the ground, Roman Hemby rushed for 58 yards and a score on 12 carries.

Feature photo by Alp Torumtay/The Sports Pulse