COLLEGE PARK, MD – Maryland football completed its spring practice season with its annual Red-White Spring Game, with the White team winning, 34-3, on Saturday at SECU Stadium.
Maryland fans were treated to a special afternoon as the Terps returned to the field for the first time since their triumphant victory over Auburn in the 2023 TransPerfect Music City Bowl. The game coincided with Maryland Day, a celebration featuring nearly 400 free events.
Quarterback MJ Morris was awarded the Keith "Special K" Moore Most Valuable Player Award. He led the White team and completed 6-of-8 passes for 65 yards, including a touchdown pass to Dylan Wade.
Defensive lineman Jordan Phillips was presented the Randy Starks Most Valuable Lineman Award. He led the Red team's defense with six tackles, including a half sack.
Team Red scored first, but the white team responded with 34 unanswered points the rest of the way. White had two pick-6's from Keyari James (29 yards) and Jonathan Akins (94 yards).
In addition to Morris, Billy Edwards Jr. was 6-of-14 for 36 yards. Cameron Edge threw for 151 yards on 11-of-25 passing for the Red Team. Champ Long was 5-of-12 for 63 yards, also for team Red.
Nolan Ray led all rushers with 96 yards, including a 49-yard burst, the longest offensive play of the day for the White team. Roman Hemby carried seven times for 26 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown. Ryne Acheson scored the other offensive touchdown on a one-yard plunge, finishing with 12 rushing yards. For Red, Edge picked up 30 yards on one run and Eli Mason had 11 carries for 24 yards.
Ezekiel Avit led all receivers with four catches for 79 yards for Red. Ray also had four catches for 23 yards. Robert Smith (3-for-37), AJ Szymanski (3-for-23), Octavian Smith Jr. (2-for-46) and Wade (2-for-41) were the others to total multiple receptions.
Other defensive standouts included, Caleb Wheatland (5 tackles), Tayvon Nelson (4 tackles, 1.5 TFLs), Neeo Avery (4 tackles, 1 TFL) and Kellan Wyatt (4 tackles, 0.5 TFL).
Coach Locks' Thoughts
"The spring game is the culmination of the work we put in the past 14 practices and and I liked the way that it ended," Head Coach
Michael Locksley said. "I saw some good things today. I think we got about 108 total plays in, and to me that's some good work for spring game. It was about running, blocking, tackling, catching, throwing the football [and] the fundamentals. [We] didn't try the game plan and I think what you saw was what has happened all spring. I see a defensive side of the ball that has created a lot of depth."
Offensive Highlights
- Ezekiel Avit hauled in a 31-yard reception on the left sideline for the first big offensive play of the afternoon. The play was a big part of Champ Long's 13-play, 61-yard drive in the second quarter, ending in a field goal for the Red team.
- MJ Morris scrambled 13 yards for a first down to put the White team just outside the redzone. Roman Hemby later capped off the drive with a three-yard rushing touchdown. White took a 7-3 lead with 5:43 left in the half.
- Octavian Smith Jr. made an impressive over-the-shoulder catch on the right sideline for the Red team. It gained 36 yards on a free play on 3rd-and-10.
- Morris hit Dylan Wade for a gain of 28 yards over the middle late in the third.
- Nolan Ray ripped off a big run of 49-yard yards for team White, and Morris hit Wade for a 13-yard touchdown shortly after. White took a commanding 21-3 advantage with 4:54 remaining in the game.
- Billy Edwards Jr. scrambled for a 13-yard run on 4th-and-4. He was ruled down at the one and Ryne Acheson plunged in for the score as White led 28-3.
Defensive Highlights
- Kevis Thomas recorded a bass breakup for the Red team on third down to force an opening drive three-and-out. DJ Samuels made a tackle for loss on the White team's first defensive snap.
- Team White swarmed Colby McDonald to make a fourth-down stop on 4th-and-1 from the 29-yard line in an uptempo situation.
- Thomas made another bass breakup, this time in 1-on-1 coverage down the right sideline. Jordan Phillips and Kellan Wyatt then combined for a sack to force a White team punt before halftime.
- Keyari James intercepted a pass and returned it for a 29-yard touchdown with 12 seconds remaining in the half. The White team took a 14-3 lead after a successful PAT.
- Brandon Jacob broke up a deep pass over the middle on a flea flicker for team White.
- Jonathan Akins intercepted a pass for the white team and returned it 94 yards for a touchdown. It was the final play of the afternoon and White won 34-3.
Special Teams
- Jack Howes nailed a 26-yard field goal in the second quarter to get the White team on the board, 3-0.
Back In The Shell
- Detroit Lions running back Jake Funk returned to College Park to watch the scrimmage. Funk played for the Terrapins from 2016-20 and was named Third Team All-Big Ten his senior year. The Los Angeles Rams drafted him in the 2021 NFL Draft.
- New York Giants defensive back Deonte Banks was also in attendance. Banks was a Terp from 2019-22 and was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten his senior year. The Giants drafted him in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
- Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Spencer Anderson joined his former teammates. Anderson was a Maryland student-athlete from 2019-22 and was an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection during his junior season.
- Jaylen Duncan, Tennessee Titans offensive lineman, was at the game. He played with the Terps from 2018-2022 and was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten in his sophomore, junior and senior seasons.
- Dontay Demus, a star wide receiver for the Terps from 2018-2022, returned to College Park to catch the game. He was Honorable Mention All-Big Ten three times in his career and ranks among the best receivers in program history in several different categories. Demus was formerly with the Baltimore Ravens practice squad.
Up Next
- The Terps open the 2024 season on Aug. 31 against UConn at SECU Stadium. Season tickets, starting at $99, can be purchased here.
