Maryland shows sizzle but mostly fizzles

IOWA CITY - Maryland's football narrative began with hope, transitioned to change and now boasts an odd mix of present purgatory with faith on the future.

The Terrapins (2-5, 0-3 Big Ten) won seven games in their inaugural 2014 Big Ten campaign with victories against Penn State, Michigan and Iowa. That led to a bowl game, an extension for Coach Randy Edsall and optimism.

Instead, it was a mirage. In a three-week span this year, the Terrapins were terrible. They were outscored 122-34 by West Virginia, Michigan and Ohio State. With a 2-4 record and attendance lagging, Maryland Athletics Director Kevin Anderson fired Edsall on Oct. 11, one day after a 49-28 loss to the Buckeyes. Offensive coordinator Mike Locksley was installed as interim head coach, and the Terrapins hoped to salvage what remained of their season.

Buoyed with a week off and then preparation for a game against hopeful rival Penn State, Maryland responded last Saturday. In a game featuring six lead changes, the Terrapins lost 31-30. On defense, Maryland blitzed repeatedly and stymied Penn State's running game to 48 yards on 31 carries. The blitz also generated four sacks and kept the Nittany Lions to just 13 completions in 30 attempts. But Penn State burned the Terrapins' man coverage for 315 passing yards - 24.5 yards per completion - and three touchdowns.

'Usually when you play someone like that and you burn them a couple times deep they stop, and they didn't,” Penn State Coach James Franklin said. 'Good for them.”

While the game showed character, it wasn't enough for Locksley afterward. He was proud of the effort, but the execution at times was poor. Maryland outgained Penn State 466-363 but had five turnovers. Maryland rushed for 241 yards but was 4 of 13 on third down.

'Good teams find a way to win those games, and I feel we are a good team,” Locksley told reporters after Saturday's game. 'We just have to continue to coach them through this stuff and correct it, and I think that's when we'll start seeing the success that we want.

'I'm proud of the way they've responded to some adversity. They gave everything that they had.”

Maryland's statistics show an unbalanced performance. The Terrapins rank third in Big Ten rushing at 186.7 yards a game, but are 13th in rush defense (175.6) and last in first downs per game (17.1). Maryland is fourth in sacks (24) but last in interceptions (five). Maryland ranks second in most opponent penalty yards (66.9) but is 13th itself (69.9). Its red-zone offense is fifth but it has scored the third-fewest red-zone touchdowns.

Maryland does have potent playmakers and the Big Ten's second-heaviest offensive line behind only Wisconsin. Quarterback Perry Hills (6-foot-2, 210 pounds) rushed for 170 yards against Ohio State and 124 against Penn State. Cornerback Will Likely, who led the Big Ten in interceptions last year with six, leads the league in punt-return yards (19.9 per game), ranks third in kick-return average (21.7) and has broken up the fifth-most passes (nine). Likely played on offense against Penn State, rushing for 30 yards on four carries and catching one pass for 4 yards. He's fourth in all-purpose yards (118.7 per game) and broke Nile Kinnick's 76-year record with 233 punt return yards against Richmond.

But the schedule doesn't lighten for Maryland. They make their first trip to No. 10 Iowa (7-0, 3-0 Big Ten) on Saturday and then follow with games against Wisconsin and Michigan State. That's why Maryland needed to beat Penn State to keep even flickering postseason hopes alive.

'We're way beyond moral victories,” Locksley told reporters. 'In terms of what I did tell them is if you can come in the locker room after a game like (Saturday) and look yourself in the mirror and know that you did everything you could possibly do to win that ballgame, then the scoreboard won't define you. I don't have a problem with that.

'We're way too mature as a team to buy into moral victories, and (Saturday) we didn't take care of our business.”

l Comments: (319) 339-3169; scott.dochterman@thegazette.com