COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) --
Kasim Hill threw three touchdown passes,
Ty Johnson ran for 132 yards and Maryland had five interceptions against woeful Rutgers in a 34-7 victory Saturday.
The Terrapins (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) led 24-0 at halftime and cruised to the finish. A Rutgers touchdown with 43 seconds remaining ended Maryland's bid for its first shutout since a 37-0 win over West Virginia on Sept. 21, 2013.
Rutgers (1-6, 0-4) lost its sixth straight. Freshman quarterback Artur Sitkowski was pulled late in the third quarter after going 2 for 16 for 8 yards and four interceptions.
Johnson's 65-yard touchdown run in the first quarter started the onslaught, and Hill added a pair of touchdown throws in the second quarter.
The five interceptions were Maryland's most since a seven-pick performance against Duke in 1998.
The Scarlet Knights had only four first downs and 41 yards over the first half. In the third quarter, Maryland used a field goal and Hill's 8-yard TD pass to
Jeshaun Jones to make it 34-0.
Earlier in the week, Terrapins interim coach and offensive coordinator
Matt Canada bristled at the suggestion that the team relied too much on the run. Though Hill (8 for 17, 76 yards) and backup
Tyrrell Pigrome (1 for 3, 9 yards) didn't put up gaudy numbers, the three TD passes served as proof that Maryland can score through the air.
The running game, however, remains the team's strength -- and Johnson is the best of the lot. The senior ranks fourth in school history in yards rushing (2,564) and all-purpose yardage (4,081).
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