Terps Dominate UConn In 2024 Season Opener, 50-7 - University of Maryland Athletics (2024)

COLLEGE PARK, MD –Maryland opened its 2024 season with a convincing50-7 victory over UConn on Saturday at SECU Stadium. The 50points marked the most against an FBS team in a season-opener since scoring 51 in the 2017 win at Texas.

It was also the largest margin of victory in a season-opener against an FBS opponent since 1978,whenDivision I was divided into subdivisions. Additionally, the seven points allowed marked the fewest for an FBS opponent in a season-opener since defeating North Carolina 23-7 in 2001.

50 BURGER! TERPS WIN!

➡️ https://t.co/QLfROuVVRn pic.twitter.com/mNcmWZnjL7

— Maryland Football (@TerpsFootball) August 31, 2024

The Terps have now won 19 consecutive home openers and 13 consecutive non-conference openers, the second-longest streak in the nation. Overall, Maryland has won 13 non-conference games in a row with a 15-1 record in those contests under head coach Michael Locksley since 2019.

Billy Edwards Jr. led Maryland to scoring drives on five of his first six possessions. He completed his first seven passes in the game and finished with career highs of 20-of-27 for 311 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 39 rushing yards.

Tai Felton was the primary beneficiary of Maryland's aerial attack, hauling in a career-high-tying seven receptions for a career-high 178 yards. It was his third 100-yard receiving game and second multi-touchdown game. Felton's receiving yardage total was the most for a Terp since current Chicago Bear D.J. Moore had 210 vs. Northwestern in 2017.

Tai Felton gets @TerpsFootball on the board for the first time this season 💥#B1GFootball on FS1/@CFBONFOX 📺 pic.twitter.com/EW7DUp97To

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) August 31, 2024

Overall, the offense piled up 629yards with 381coming through the air and 248 on the ground. It was the most total yards for the Terps in a game since gaining 675 vs. Minnesota in an overtimevictory in 2020. The 248rushing yards were the most for Maryland since posting281 againstMinnesota in that same game.

Maryland's defense held UConn to just 88rushing yards. It also forced either a punt or a turnover on 11 of 15 of UConn's drives. Glendon Miller intercepted a pass and led the Terps with six total tackles. Ruben Hyppolite II also intercepted a pass in the contest, the first of his career. Ricardo Cooper Jr. provided a fumble recovery on special teams.

Roman Hemby led Maryland's rushing attack with 66 yards and a touchdown. His score tied him for 17th place on the Terps' career rushing touchdown leaderboard. Nolan Ray also found the endzone, scoring his first career touchdown in the first quarter. Ray totaled 60 yards on the ground while averaging 10 yards per carry.

HOME FREE‼️

Nolan Ray punches through on this rushing touchdown for @TerpsFootball 🤜#B1GFootball pic.twitter.com/Igzwy3P43f

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) August 31, 2024

Locksley's Take
"Great team win, great start to the 2024 season, and great liftoff to it," head coach Michael Locksley said. "We talked to our team going into this game about the start and the importance of getting off to a fast start and putting it all together. I thought we were able to do it today with all three phases contributing to the win."

Felton On His Big Day
"Being thedominant receiver, I know I can be.That was one of the big things that [came from]just the way I work in practice, the way the whole team works in practice. We're getting pushed in practice every day by the coaches and the defense. Trader, Glen Miller, all those guys are pushing me in practice, so it only makes me better so I can show it like I did today."

Breaking Down The Action

TAI CAN FLY!!! pic.twitter.com/e6SNbVyMiv

— Maryland Football (@TerpsFootball) August 31, 2024

• Tai Felton scored on an 18-yard touchdown reception to finish an 8-play, 75-yard opening drive. Billy Edwards Jr. was 3-3 for 34 yards on the drive.
• Maryland's defense forced a three-and-out, and on its next offensive possession, Edwards completed an 18-yard pass to Octavian Smith Jr. before Nolan Ray took a 48-yard rush to the house. The Terps led 14-0.
• The Terps' defense forced another three-and-out, and Jack Howes drilled a 29-yard field goal to increase the Maryland lead to 17-0.
• UConn finally reached enemy territory after completing a 37-yard pass. However, the Huskies could not manufacture any points, missing a 43-yard field goal.
• Howes connected on another field goal with 43 seconds remaining in the half to lead 20-0.
• Glendon Miller intercepted a pass on the first play of the ensuing UConn possession. Dylan Wade then caught two consecutive passes for first downs, and a Howes kick sailed through the uprights as Maryland entered the locker room with a 23-0 advantage – the largest halftime shutout for the Terps vs. an FBS opponent since leading Rutgers 24-0 in 2018.
• Edwards completed a 39-yard pass to Felton on Maryland's first drive of the second half. The drive ended in a four-yard rushing score by Roman Hemby.
• Ruben Hyppolite intercepted a pass at 9:15 in the third quarter, ending UConn's best drive (8-plays for 63 yards).
• UConn reached the endzone late in the third with a 27-yard touchdown reception.
• Edwards and Felton then collaborated for a one-play, 75-yard touchdown reception on the ensuing possession. The Terps led 36-7.
• Cameron Edge entered the game in the fourth quarter and threw a touchdown to Josiah McLaurin to increase Maryland's lead to 43-7.
• Ricardo Cooper Jr. recovered a muffed punt at 2:44 in the fourth quarter andDeJuan Williams punched in a nine yard score to increase the lead to 50-7.

Billy Bigtime

• Billy Edwards Jr. had his best game as a collegiate quarterback, going 20-of-27 for 311 yards with two touchdowns.
• Edwards Jr. had a tremendous start to the game against UConn. He was 7-for-7 passing for 66 yards in the first quarter. It was the fifth time since 2012 that a Maryland quarterback went at least 7-for-7 in the first quarter of a game, joining Taulia Tagovailoa (10-for-10), Nov. 4, 2023), Tagovailoa (9-for-9, Nov. 19, 2022), Kasim Hill (8-of-8, Sept. 9, 2017), Perry Hills (7-for-7, Sept. 3, 2016).

Ground And Pound

• The Terps ended the game with 248rushing yards,the most for Maryland since posting281 againstMinnesota in 2020.
• Maryland racked up 165 first-half rushing yards, the most in the first half of the Michael Locksley Era. It surpassed the Terps' 145 yards vs. Minnesota on Oct. 30, 2020. It was the most for the Terps in a first half since gaining 281 vs. Ohio State on Nov. 17, 2018.
• The Terps recorded 131 rushing yards in the first quarter, which was the most for any Maryland team in a first quarter since 148 vs. Ohio State in that 2018 game.

Season-Opener Success

Our largest margin of victory in a season-opener against an FBS opponent since 1978!@MDLottery

— Maryland Football (@TerpsFootball) August 31, 2024

• With the win, the Terps have now won 19 consecutive home openers, dating back to 2006, when they beat William & Mary 27-14 on Sept. 2, 2006.
• During those 19 wins, Maryland has outscored its opponents 771-291.
• Excluding the 2020 shortened season, Maryland has won 14 consecutive season openers, the fifth-longest active streak in the FBS (Ohio State-23, Alabama-21, Air Force-16, Michigan State-15.
• The Terps have also won 13 consecutive non-conference season openers, second in the Big Ten only to Michigan State, as the Spartans have won 15 in a row. Maryland's streak dates back to 2010 when the Terps beat Navy 17-14 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore and includes two wins over Texas.
• During those 13 wins, Maryland has outscored its opponents 558-198.

Non-Conference Success

• Maryland has now won 13 consecutive non-conference games, every game since the 2021 season. Overall, the Terps are 15-1 in non-conference games under Michael Locksley.
• Under Locksley, the Terps have scored 30-plus points in 14 of 16 non-conference games.

Numbers And Nuggets To Know

Have yourself a day @playboytaishar pic.twitter.com/w3x6n6Y8X1

— Maryland Football (@TerpsFootball) August 31, 2024

• 0: Maryland held UConn scoreless in the first half. Last year, the Terps had only one first-half shutout (7-0 at Nebraska).
• 0: Saturday's 23-0 lead was the Terps' largest halftime lead by shutout vs. an FBS opponent since 24-0 vs. Rutgers on 10/13/2018.
• 0: This was the sixth first-half shutout Maryland has forced under Mike Locksley (since 2019).
• 1: Nolan Ray, Josiah McLaurin and DeJuan Williams scored their first career touchdowns. Ray's was a 48-yard rush in the first quarter,McLaurin's was a 24-yard reception in the fourth quarter andWilliams' was a nine yard rush in the fourth.
• 1: Ruben Hyppolite II intercepted the first pass of his career.
• 2: Tai Felton recorded his second career multi-TD game.
• 3: Ray is the third Big Ten freshman since 2022 to score a 40+ yard TD in the season opener, joining Terp Roman Hemby in 2022 and Michigan State's Germie Bernard in 2022.
• 3: Felton recorded his third career 100-yard receiving game.
• 7: Billy Edwards Jr. completed his first seven passes in the game.
• 9: Felton hauled his ninth career receiving touchdown to move on to the Top 20 career list (19th) in Maryland history. With his 10th, he will tie for 13th all-time.
• 10: The Terps had 10 different receivers in the game. Last season, the Terps did it four times.
• 13: Under coach Michael Locksley, Maryland is now 21-4 (.840) when leading after the first quarter, including 13-0 when being up by double-digits, as the Terps were on Saturday (14-0).
• 17: Roman Hemby is now tied for 17th on Maryland's career touchdowns list.
• 27: The Terps have won 27 straight when being up by double-digits heading into halftime (streak began in 2015).
• 40: Maryland had 15 offensive plays of 40+ yards last season, tied with Ohio State for best in the Big Ten. Ray's first career touchdown went for 48 yards.
• 61.5: Maryland scored on its opening drive against UConn. Last season, the Terps scored on 61.5% of its game-opening drives, tied with Rutgers for best in the Big Ten.
• 72: Maryland had 72 players see the field on Saturday.
• 75: Maryland had 23 touchdown drives of at least 75 yards last season, second most in the Big Ten (Michigan - 27). The Terps went 75 yards on their opening drive to go up 7-0. For the game, Maryland had five drives over 75 yards.
• 129: Maryland scored 129 points in the first quarter of games last season, seventh most among power conference teams. The Terpswereup 14-0 at the end of the opening period.
• 178: Felton's receiving yards are the most for a Terp since D.J. Moore had 210 in 2017 vs. Northwestern. The 178 ranks 14th all-time at Maryland in a single game.
• 248: The 248 rushing yards werethe most for the Terps since running for 281 againstMinnesota in 2020.

Up Next

• The Terps will host Michigan State next Saturday at SECU Stadium. The game will kick off at 3:30 p.m. and air on Big Ten Network and the Maryland Sports Radio Network. The Terps beat the Spartans last year in East Lansing, 31-9.