MINNEAPOLIS, MN -- Maryland suffered a 34-16 defeat at Minnesota on Saturday afternoon at Huntington Bank Stadium. The Terps are now 4-3 overall and 1-3 in the Big Ten. The Golden Gophers moved to 5-2 and 3-1 in conference play, tying for the lead in the Big Ten West. 

Safety Nick Cross (13), defensive lineman Sam Okuayinonu (nine), linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II (eight), and linebacker Ahmad McCullough (seven) each piled up career highs in tackles. 

Quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa threw for 189 yards on 17-of-27 and a touchdown. Receivers Marcus Fleming (five catches for 62 yards) Rakim Jarrett (four receptions for 56 yards) and were the top targets. Fleming scored his first-career touchdown on a 17-yard catch in the fourth quarter. Tailback Tayon Fleet-Davis picked up 21 rushing yards on the ground and scored his sixth touchdown of the season. Challen Faamatau ran seven times for 37 yards. 

The Gophers took a 31-10 lead after the third quarter on rushing touchdowns by Bryce Williams (2 yards) and Mar'Keise Irving (9 yards).

Minnesota held a 17-10 lead at halftime as the Gophers scored a pair of rushing touchdowns by Cole Kramer (2 yards) and Ky Thomas (10 yards) before Fleet-Davis answered with a 13-yard rushing score with 4:05 left in the first half. Minnesota looked to extend its lead just prior to intermission but Tarheeb Still blocked Matthew Trickett's 38-yard field goal attempt as time expired. 

The teams traded first-quarter field goals with Joseph Petrino opening the scoring with a 47-yarder that was answered by Trickett's 37-yarder with 3:41 left in the quarter. 

Fleming Flies To Highs

• Wide receiver Marcus Fleming, in his fourth game with the Terps after transferring in from Nebraska, saw his most playing time. Fleming had a career-high tying five catches for 62 yards and his first-career score. His highs at Nebraska were five catches and 75 yards. 
• His 43-yard catch in the second quarter which set up a Tayon Fleet-Davis touchdown was the longest catch of his career. His previous high was a 28-yard reception at Northwestern last season, while playing for the Huskers. 
• His first touchdown came on a 17-yard snag from Tagovailoa with 1:31 left in the fourth. 

Fleet-Davis, Fleet Of Foot

• Tailback Tayon Fleet-Davis scored his fifth rushing touchdown of the season on a 13-yard score in the second quarter. 
• The five rushing TDs, equals his single-season best, also accomplished in 2018. His six overall touchdowns, with one receiving, also ties his total in 2018, with five rushing and one receiving in both seasons. 
• He now has 12 rushing touchdowns in his career and 16 overall touchdowns. 

Heeb Island

• With one pass breakup in today's game, CB Tarheeb Still now has 14 over the first 11 games of his career, the most over a player's first 11 games of his career since Domonique Foxworth in 2001-02. 
• Still also had a blocked field goal for the first time in his career, knocking down Trickett's 38-yard field goal attempt at the end of the first half. It was Maryland's second blocked field goal this season as Ami Finau had one at Illinois (9/17/21). 

Punting For Fifty-Nifty 

• Punter Anthony Pecorella boomed punts of 52 and 53 yards giving him seven punts of 50-plus yards this season -- extending his career-high for a season. 
• Pecorella had six total 50-yard punts in his first two seasons, covering 16 games and now has 14 of his 63 punts in his career going more than 50 yards. 
• Colton Spangler also had a 50-yard punt for his third 50-yarder this season. 

Petrino on The Charts

• Kicker Joseph Petrino kicked the third-longest field goal of his career, with a 47-yard boot in the first quarter. The longest of his career was a 51-yard against Minnesota (10/30/20) and second-longest came in the Terps' last game at Ohio State with a 48-yarder.
• He stands tied for ninth in career scoring with 192, tying Steve Atkins (1975-78) at Minnesota. Next on the list are Steve Mike-Mayer with 203 and Brian Kopka with 218. 
• Petrino made his 27th career field goal to tie All-American Dale Castro for 12th all-time at Maryland. Next on the list are Joe O'Donnell (1994-96) with 28 and Nick Ferrara (2009-11) with 30. 
• With 111 extra points, he also ranks fourth in Maryland history. Third on the list is Brad Craddock with 126. 

Up Next

• Maryland returns home to face Indiana next Saturday, Oct. 30 at Noon. The Homecoming game will air on Big Ten Network and the Maryland Sports Radio Network. The Terps will honor the 2001 ACC Champions, including 2001 Coach of the Year Ralph Friedgen and 2021 College Football Hall of Fame inductee E.J. Henderson as part of Homecoming festivities.