MIKE BURKE
Allegany Communications Sports
Maryland had a chance to put it away early and to put it away late, but did neither as the Terps sent away the partisans of the crowd of 34.819 grumbling with a deflating 27-24 loss to Michigan State Saturday at SECU Stadium.
Maryland had opportunities beginning to end despite not being able to control the line of scrimmage on either side of the ball and giving up 363 yards to the Michigan State pass offense. Worse, three gift-wrapped first downs on third-down penalties made the game-ending possession the Spartans’ game-winning drive.
Maryland was flagged nine times for 100 yards, with six coming in the first half for 65 yards. The half ended with Michigan State missing a 55-yard field goal attempt, but getting another chance and making it from 50 after an offsides call on Maryland on the missed attempt, and the Terps trailed by three at the half.
Still, thanks to another big game from receiver Tai Felton, the Terps managed to take a seven-point lead and had a chance to put the game away. But because the offensive line could get no push all day long (2.8 yards per carry for the Terps running game), head coach Michael Locksley opted for a field goal rather than to go for it on a fourth-and-one in an effort to make it a two-score lead.
The reasoning was sound, but the kick was not, as struggling placekicker Jack Howes missed from 41 yards out. On the very next play, Maryland gave up one of the many long pass completions by MSU quarterback Aidan Chiles and the dye was cast for good.
After a sharp performance against UConn, quarterback Billy Edwards missed on what could have been two touchdowns and hasn’t hit deep in the first two games. There was no running game on Saturday, the offensive line was terrible, the defensive front was pushed around and the young cornerbacks look to be in for a long season of being targeted.
Michigan State stuck to its game plan and it paid off. Maryland abandoned its running game, because there was no place for the running game to go.
Yet it was still right there for the Terps in the end, and, once again, they let it slip away.
It was disappointing on many fronts as Maryland entered the game a nine-point favorite and the feeling had prevailed that the program was making the positive strides it has been working for and the Maryland fanbase has been hoping for. The feeling was Maryland’s days of shooting itself in the foot were a thing of the past. Clearly, they are not.
For Maryland to take the next step in its progression, wins over the teams they’re supposed to beat are mandatory with an upset or two as an underdog getting them to the next level. With this loss to Michigan State, Maryland has set its schedule of progression a step back. With a tough road game coming up this week at Virginia, the Terps can’t afford to take another step back.
There were a lot of grumpy fans leaving SECU Stadium early Saturday evening and it’s easy to understand why. Contrary to what you might believe, there are a lot of Maryland supporters who have returned to the program and who have embraced Locksley and the progress that has been made.
Still, there are others who hear Locksley’s pleas for support, but who are hesitant to make the investment, not so much financially (although college football is a significant financial investment for a fan), but emotionally.
The sting of that risk was loud and clear on Saturday as the Terps let one they had to have and should have had get away.
Mike Burke writes about sports and other stuff for Allegany Communications. He began covering sports for the Prince George’s Sentinel in 1981 and joined the Cumberland Times-News sports staff in 1984, serving as sports editor for over 30 years. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on X at @MikeBurkeMDT