Maryland Terrapins suffered a 39-18 loss to Oregon – the nation’s number 1 team. The Terrapins put up a good fight, even though they weren’t considered a favorite to win among football experts – or bettors.
Even though there are many people who bet anonymously in 2024, especially during the peak of the season, not many of them would have chosen the Maryland Terrapins over Oregon’s superstar team. However, the Terrapins fought throughout the entire game, which could have resulted in an unforeseen upset, were it not for all the opportunities they missed.
Even the team’s head coach, Mike Locksley, said in an interview that it’s frustrating to see the team not play well, as they practice hard and have the potential to make it happen. He’s not frustrated with their lack of effort or practice – he’s frustrated with their execution.
The game featured some memorable moments and yielded interesting results. Billy Edwards Jr. ended the day with one touchdown, two interceptions, and 206 yards passing. As a quarterback for the Terrapins, all eyes are on Edwards during every game. But he wasn’t the only notable player during the game, as Tai Felton also scored seven catches for 72 yards.
Although young, Felton (who serves as a wide receiver for the Terrapins) has already totaled 23 receptions for 309 yards and two touchdowns. Knowing that Dillon Gabriel—who is leading the number 1 ranked Oregon Ducks—has scored 147 touchdowns in 60 games makes it a lot easier to understand why the Maryland Terrapins weren’t a favorite for winning the game among experts or bettors alike.
The team did seem like they might have a surprise in store waiting for everyone, as they finished the first half with similar yardage, plays, passing, and rushing splits as the Oregon Ducks. In fact, Maryland even had a better time possession in the first half, leading 18:50 to 11:10.
However, when you have a team that’s as good as the Oregon Ducks, it’s not enough to be average and open up opportunities to score points – you need touchdowns. That’s what the Maryland Terrapins failed to do, with Oregon’s players scoring a touchdown in the third quarter of the game, ultimately tipping the scales in their favor. The touchdown will be remembered – but so will the Terrapins players’ fight to their last breath.
The game was a treat for spectators. Maryland Terrapins received nine penalties in total and, since four of them were on special teams, it gave Oregon’s star defensive lineman a chance to go for 36 yards on a fake punt. This was only one of the many tricks the Oregon Ducks played, the other notable one being Gabriel’s three-yard touchdown pass to Gernorris Wilson.
With Dante Trader Jr. back into the game after missing a few games, things might be looking up. As the team’s defensive back with 38 tackles, his presence can add a lot of value and potential to the game. Trader said there’s no time for licking their wounds, as the team has to keep going and fix the things that went wrong during the game. He also stated they still have breath in their lungs, so they can wake up tomorrow and use that blessing to play football.
The Maryland Terrapins will have another shot at winning a week after their game with the Oregon Ducks, as they will be taking on Rutgers at home field.
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