Maryland-Minnesota Postgame Notes

COLLEGE PARK, Md. --

In their five seasons in the Big Ten, Maryland has won four of their five Big Ten openers, defeating Indiana in 2014 (37-15), Purdue in 2016 (50-17), Minnesota in 2017 (31-24) and now Minnesota in 2018 (42-13).
On first and 10 from Maryland's 19-yard line, senior running back Ty Johnson busted a career-long 81-yard rushing touchdown to give Maryland a 14-0 lead. The rush marks the longest run by a Terp since Da'Rel Scott went for a 91-yard touchdown run in the 2010 Military Bowl against East Carolina (12/29/10). Johnson's previous long run was a 76-yard touchdown against Purdue on 10/1/16.
With 123 yards today, Johnson now has 2,429 career rushing yards and today jumped from 10^th to sixth on the all-time rushing list passing Da'Rel Scott (2007-10), Davin Meggett (2008-11), Rick Badanjek (1982-85) and Bruce Perry (1999, 2001-03).
Johnson now has two 100-yard rushing performances this season and 10 in his career, the third most of any Maryland player ever.
To start the second half, linebacker Tre Watson picked off Minnesota quarterback Zack Annexstad and returned it 36 yards to the house for a pick-six. This was Watson's second interception of the season and the second straight week Maryland's returned an interception for a touchdown, the first-time Maryland has had a pick-six in consecutive games since Dexter McDougle vs. Connecticut (9/14/13) and A.J. Hendy vs. West Virginia (9/21/13).
Three Terps scored their first touchdown today vs. Minnesota. Redshirt freshman running back Anthony McFarland scored his first and second touchdowns of his career. Freshman wide receiver Chigoziem Okonkwo ran for a 21-yard touchdown and senior linebacker Tre Watson scored his on a pick-six.
McFarland is the first Maryland freshman running back to have back-to-back 100-yard rushing games since at least 1986. After averaging 18.7 yards-per-carry today, McFarland is now averaging 10.8 yard per carry on the season, the most yards per carry in the Big Ten and the most for a freshman running back in the NCAA.
The Terps averaged 8.5 yards per carry on the ground today (315 yards on 37 attempts), the highest average yards per carry in a game since Maryland averaged 10.2 yards per carry last season against Towson (9/9/17).

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Players Mentioned

#24 Ty Johnson: RB; 5' 10"; Senior

#5 Anthony McFarland Jr.: RB; 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman

#17 Chigoziem Okonkwo: TE; 6' 2"; Freshman

#33 Tre Watson: LB; 6' 2"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#24 Ty Johnson
: 5' 10"; Senior
: RB

#5 Anthony McFarland Jr.
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman
: RB

#17 Chigoziem Okonkwo
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: TE

#33 Tre Watson
: 6' 2"; Senior
: LB