COLLEGE PARK, MD -- Behind big games from running back Antwain Littleton II and quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, the Terps (4-1, 1-1) defeated Michigan State (2-3, 0-2) for the first time since 2016 in the first-ever game at newly-named SECU Stadium.
Tagovailoa continued his season-long dominance with yet another impressive outing, completing 32-of-41 passes for 314 yards and a score. Tagovailoa also crossed the 6,000 passing yards threshold, becoming the fastest quarterback to do so in program history. Additionally, he surpassed Terp legend Boomer Esiason (6,259) on the career passing yards list as Tagovailoa now has 6,287 in his career to stand third all-time in Maryland history. He also threw for 300 or more yards for the tenth time in his career, tying Scott Milanovich's school record of 10, set from 1992-95.
The Terps continued to be boosted by their young running backs as both Littleton II and Colby McDonald notched rushing scores on the day. Littleton finished with a career-high 120 yards on the ground to become the seventh different back under
Michael Locksley to gain 100-plus yards in a game.
Maryland's special teams came up with several momentum-swinging plays including a blocked field goal by Jakorian Bennett and a 56-yard punt from Colton Spangler. The blocked field goal was Maryland's third since the start of last season, the second-most among all FBS teams in the nation. Chad Ryland connected on field goals of 43 and 51 yards, as he tied the Big Ten record for most consecutive field goals made at 24.
The Terps' defense, led by Tarheeb Still (career-high nine tackles),
Beau Brade (eight tackles), and
Ahmad McCullough (career-high eight tackles), held Michigan State to zero points and just 75 yards in the second half, including just eight yards in the third quarter. At one point in the half, the Spartans were forced to punt four times in a row, three of which were off three-and-outs.
Coach Michael Locksley's Takes
"Really proud of the way this team responded to adversity coming off a tough loss up in Ann Arbor a week ago. It's always interesting, early in the year when you come off the first loss, to see how these guys respond. I expected them to respond the way they did today because that's just who this team is starting to become. Really excited. You look at the way the second half played out, our defense gave up 75 yards, no points. To me it's the third game in a row where our defensive staff led by Coach (Brian) Williams has done a tremendous job making the necessary adjustments at the half and coming out and playing really good defense for us. Big Ten wins are special."
"I tip my hat off to that kid," Locksley said of Tagovailoa. "You guys have no idea what the last 24 to 48 hours have been like for him. For him to be able to compartmentalize and get himself ready to play...obviously the injury to his brother was heavy on his mind, but we did a good job surrounding him. I really like the way that he was able to kinda compartmentalize and lean on his brothers. That's the kind of culture we've tried to create."
Player's Perspectives
"It's showing us each week that we can compete with the top teams in this conference," McCullough said of what this win means for the program. "It's just allowing us to see who we actually are. A lot of time Coach (Locksley) preaches that we're not here to prove anyone else wrong, but to prove ourselves right. He told us countless times during camp that we have a really good team, offense, defense, special teams, and we're just proving ourselves right. With that, we have to come in every Monday through Friday and just stick to that recipe. It's working."
"It was really just communication, it wasn't really anything special," Still said of the defense's second half performance. "It was just talking and making sure everybody is on the same page. Even if we're all wrong, we're all right. As long as we talk, we're a pretty good defense."
Breaking Down The Action
- Maryland opened today with a 12-play touchdown drive, which is tied for the team's longest scoring drive to start a game over the past 10 years (2020 vs. Northwestern, 2016 vs. FIU). Littleton capped off the drive with a 15-yard rushing score.
- After Michigan State scored a touchdown of its own, the Terps responded with another long drive to go back on top 14-7. Tagovailoa hit Corey Dyches on a big 44-yard gain and Colby McDonald found the end zone with a two-yard rush.
- The Spartans scored with 4:24 remaining in the first half but failed to convert on the extra point. The Terps responded yet again as Tagovailoa connected with Rakim Jarrett for a five-yard touchdown grab.
- After a questionable call nullified a Dante Trader Jr. pick-six, Maryland buckled down and Jakorian Bennett blocked a 45-yard field goal attempt on the last play of the half, sending the home team into the locker room up 21-13.
- The Terps turned their opening drive of the second half into three points thanks to a Chad Ryland 43-yarder. That was the only scoring of the third quarter and the teams went into the final 15 minutes of play with the Terps leading 24-13.
- Ryland knocked through a 51-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to put Maryland up by two scores for good and the Terps defense forced a late turnover on downs.
Taulia On The Charts
- Tagovailoa added to his record-setting Maryland career numbers with 314 passing yards on 32-of-41 passing and a touchdown.
- The redshirt junior quarterback has now thrown for at least 300 yards 10 different times.
- With his 314 yards, he passed Boomer Esiason for third all time in passing yards and now stands at 6,287. Next up is Chris Turner with 6,543.
- Tagovailoa continues to stand third all-time career touchdowns with 41 and third in career completions with 523.
- He became the fastest quarterback to surpass the 6,000 passing yards mark in Maryland history with a 20-yard pass to Roman Hemby on his third completion of the game.
Littleton Keeps Playing Big
- Littleton II stretched his touchdown streak to six games with a score on the game's opening drive.
- He now owns the longest scoring streak by a Maryland running back since Lance Ball scored in six straight games in 2005-05 (last three games of 2005 and first three games of 2006).
- Littleton's touchdown streak is good for second in the nation, trailing only Clemson's Will Shipley.
- The redshirt freshman finished with 120 yards on 19 carries plus the score.
- Littleton became the seventh Terp to rush for 100 yards during the Michael Locksley era at Maryland. (Tayon Fleet-Davis, Jake Funk, Roman Hemby, Javon Leake, Anthony McFarland, and Tyrrell Pigrome).
- Littleton's 68-yard rush in the fourth quarter was the fourth for the Terps of more than 50 yards this season, the most of any team in the nation.
- "It feels very good," Littleton said of his big day. "This is what I've been preparing myself for. This is what I've been working all offseason for. Coach (Charlie) Harley, the rest of the coaching staff, the strength and conditioning coaching staff, has gotten me right to this point. I'm just here to help the team win and contribute and just show everyone what I can do."
Ryland Ties Big Ten Record
- Ryland tied the Big Ten record for most consecutive field goals made at 24 with a 43-yarder in the third quarter. He tied Maryland's Brad Craddock (2013-14) and Ohio State's Mike Nugent (2001-02) with those 24 in a row.
- He missed a 50-yarder in the third quarter, ending his streak.
- Ryland rebounded from his earlier miss with a successful 51-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
- With three (53, 52, 51) 50-yard field goals made this season, Ryland has the most by a Terp since Nick Novak made three in 2002.
Special Teams Shining
- Highlighted by Bennett's blocked field goal as time expired in the first half, The Terps came up big on special teams all game.
- Spangler successfully flipped the field with a booming 56-yard punt in the second quarter.
- Maryland also held Michigan State to a missed field goal and a muffed extra point attempt.
Fourth-Down Success
- The Terps have converted a fourth-down conversion in seven games in a game row dating to last season.
- Maryland is now 7-of-9 on fourth-down conversions this season.
Spreading It Around
- 10 different Maryland players recorded a reception, with all 10 guys making a catch in the first half.
- This is the third time this season the Terps have had 10 or more guys catch a pass, the first was against Charlotte with 13 and Maryland had 10 receivers last week at Michigan.
- Last season, the Terps had five games with 10 or more players catching a pass, with a season-high of 13 against Ohio State.
Streaks Extended
Series History
- The Terps beat the Spartans for the third time in history and first since 2016 on Saturday.
- Maryland's last win over Michigan State came on Oct. 22, 2016 with a 28-17 win in College Park.
- The Terps' other win in the series came on Oct. 7, 1950, a 34-7 Terrapin victory in East Lansing.
27 Point Success
- Maryland has now scored at least 27 points in each of its last seven games dating back to last season against Rutgers, their longest such streak since seven consecutive games since the 1984 season.
Early Season Dubs
- With the win, the Terps moved to 4-1 for the second consecutive season.
- It also marks the first 3-0 home start since 2013.
- Maryland also won its third straight game in the Terps Script uniforms.
New Beginnings
- Today marked the first game played in newly-named SECU Stadium.
- On Sept. 16, Maryland Athletics announced a sweeping partnership with SECU, Maryland's largest state-chartered credit union, that will recognize SECU (pronounced "see-cue") as the Official Banking Partner of the Maryland Terrapins.
Notes And Nuggets
- Maryland has allowed just seven total points in the third quarter this season after pitching another shutout in the third today.
- True freshman Caleb Wheatland made his first-career start at WILL linebacker.
- Transfer Vandarius Cowan made his first start as a Terp at SAM linebacker. He started four games last season at West Virginia.
- Tight end Corey Dyches matched his career-long reception with a 44-yard catch in the first quarter, equalling his new long set last week.
- Punter Colton Spangler had his sixth punt of 50 or more yards this season with a 56-yarder in the second quarter.
- Defensive lineman Taizse Johnson had his first-career sack with a 8-yard loss in the third quarter. Maryland has now had nine different players record a sack so far this season.
- Junior Tarheeb Still set a new career high in single game tackles with nine, breaking his previous record of seven set against West Virginia on Sept. 4th, 2021.
- Ahmad McCullough's eight tackles were also a new career-high.
- Senior receiver Jeshaun Jones tied his career-high with six receptions, he also had six against Charlotte earlier this season
- Redshirt freshman Roman Hemby set a new career high with five receptions totaling 29 yards, breaking his previous record of four receptions set against SMU earlier this season.
Up Next
- The Terps stay at home to host Purdue at SECU Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 8 at noon. The game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network and the Maryland Sports Radio Network.
