FIRST QUARTER
SUMMARY: The Terps set the tone early with a strong defensive effort. Despite allowing 87 points in their first two games, Maryland held Middle Tennessee to 46 yards of scoreless offense in the first quarter. Linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield barely missed a pick, linebacker Adrian Moten sacked Blue Raider quarterback Dwight Dasher for a loss of 15 yards that stalled a drive, and special teams came inches from blocking a punt. Running back Da'Rel Scott rushed for 72 yards, including a 48-yard score.
KEY PLAY: Da'Rel Scott's 48-yard touchdown run with 6:46 left made it 7-0.
KEY PLAYER: Da'Rel Scott rushed for 72 yards on just six carries, including
a touchdown.
KEY STAT: The Terps outgained the Blue Raiders 113-46 in the first quarter.
MTSU- 0
Terps- 7
SECOND QUARTER
SUMMARY: The Terps let the Blue Raiders back in the game with a pair of mistakes. An offsides penalty on 4th down extended a Middle Tennessee drive and allowed them to score a touchdown, and Scott coughed up the ball to begin‹and end‹Maryland's first possession of the quarter, leading to another Middle Tennessee touchdown, but Maryland would bounce back, putting seven on the board after a Davin Meggett touchdown and PAT with 1:19 in the half.
KEY PLAY: Kicker Nick Ferrara had a 31-yard field goal attempt blocked with 2:58 left, but Maryland recovered a MTSU fumble on the next play that led to a touchdown.
KEY PLAYER: Backup running back Davin Meggett had seven carries and scored
the lone Maryland touchdown of the quarter.
KEY STAT: Dwight Dasher, who gained 89 yards on the ground last week against
Memphis, rushed for -8 yards and turned the ball over twice‹the first turnovers forced by Maryland this season.
MTSU- 13
Terps- 14
THIRD QUARTER
SUMMARY: Maryland burst out of the gate with a 74-yard drive capped off by a 37-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Torrey Smith. Scott and Smith both surpassed the 100-yard rushing and receiving marks on the opening drive, respectively, but the Blue Raiders put 10 unanswered points on the board, capitalizing on Scott's second turnover of the game. A 27-yard field goal at the 2:07 mark gave Middle Tennessee a 23-21 lead.
KEY PLAY: Da'Rel Scott_s second lost fumble, with 3:00 remaining in the
quarter, drew some boos from the crowd and led to a Blue Raider go-ahead
field goal.
KEY PLAYER: Big-play receiver Torrey Smith caught a 37-yard touchdown pass early in the quarter that gave Maryland a two-score lead.
KEY STAT: Middle Tennessee ran 26 plays, as opposed to Maryland’s 15.
MTSU- 23
Terps- 21
FOURTH QUARTER
SUMMARY: The back-and-forth quarter began with a 64-yard touchdown grab by
Smith. Dasher would answer with a 32-yard touchdown strike to put Middle Tennessee back on top, but Maryland would regain the lead with a 42-yard field goal. Up 31-29, Maryland had a chance to extend the lead, but a missed field goal gave the Blue Raiders one more shot. With 1:30 remaining, Dasher drove his team down the field, thanks in large part to a 35-yard completion to receiver Chris McClover. A 19-yard field goal as time expired gave Middle Tennessee the 32-31 victory over Maryland.
KEY PLAY: Nick Ferrara's second missed field goal with 1:35 left in the game gave Middle Tennessee great field position and a two-point deficit to overcome, instead of five.
KEY PLAYER: Dwight Dasher, despite a slow start, came alive in the fourth quarter, going 8-of-12 for 145 yards and a touchdown, including going 4-of-5 for 65 yards during the final drive.
KEY STAT: Maryland has lost its last two games to Middle Tennessee, last year on the road and today at home.
MTSU- 32
Terps- 31