Story By: Andrew Lang
Photos By: Sol Tucker
College Park, MD–
When you aren’t given a shot to win the game to start, you try and win it at the end. This is exactly what Maryland did in the fourth quarter when they had the game within striking range but losing 31-24 as the clock expired.
This game was bittersweet for the Wolverines as they had to win their 1000th game without the suspended Jim Harbaugh.
Michigan’s had one of the strongest pass rushes that the Terps had seen all season and when the Terps had the game close at 29-24, Michigan DT Kenneth Grant sacked Tagovailoa for a 9-yard loss. On the next play, Tagovailoa aired it out to Tai Felton on third-and-long, and Mike Sainristil picked him off for his second interception of the game.
Maryland had at least one more chance to make something happen with 4:10 remaining in the game when they were pinned at their own 1-yard line after a perfect punt by Michigan Punter Tommy Doman.
The Wolverines got pressure on Tagovailoa in the end zone, forcing him to get rid of the ball early. The refs made a judgement call and threw a flag for intentional grounding, giving Michigan its second safety of the game. It was the second safety on the day for the Terps, the first coming in the first quarter when the Terps kicked the blocked punt out of the end-zone.
“I don’t know if the ball was too short or what happened. I feel like there was a receiver in the vicinity,” Tagovailoa said. “Playing at Maryland, they don’t give us those calls like that. We knew that going into the game and you just can’t make mistakes like that backed up.”
For the second straight week and fifth time this season, the Wolverines won without Harbaugh on the sideline. The head coach was serving the second game of his suspension for the sign-stealing scheme that has put an even bigger spotlight on the Michigan program over the past few weeks. The Wolverines also fired linebackers coach Chris Partridge on Friday.
While the Terps have one game remaining against Rutgers, they are still bowl eligible, but will need to do some work if they want to make to a game that actually matters in the post season.
