Tai Felton, Maryland continue to dominate, beat Villanova

Field Level Media|published: Sat 21st September, 15:32 2024

Sep 21, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins wide receiver Tai Felton (10) runs the ball against the Villanova Wildcats during the first quarter at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

Billy Edwards Jr. threw for 328 yards and two touchdowns, guiding Maryland to a 38-20 win over Villanova, Saturday afternoon in College Park, Md.

Tai Felton had a career-high 14 receptions for 157 yards and a touchdown to become the first player in Terrapins history to open a season with four straight games with at least 100 receiving yards.

Roman Hemby ran for 67 yards and a touchdown run as Maryland (3-1) extended its winning streak over nonconference teams to 15, which is second-longest in the Football Bowl Subdivision trailing only Georgia's run of 24 straight.

Kaden Prather had six receptions for 57 yards and a touchdown. Nolan Ray and backup quarterback MJ Morris added touchdown runs for Maryland.

Edwards completed 28 of 32 passes with one interception on a tipped pass as Maryland out-gained Villanova (3-1) of the Football Championship Subdivision 497-231.

Tommy Akingbesote led the Maryland defense, helping derail one Villanova drive with a tackle for a loss and stopping another march with a third-down sack, forcing the Wildcats to settle for a field goal.

Connor Watkins completed 12 of 29 passes for 106 yards and a touchdown for Villanova. In a backup role for the Wildcats, Tanner Maddocks completed 4 of 4 passes for 50 yards and ran for a touchdown.

The Terrapins dominated the first half, scoring on their first four possessions to take a 24-0 lead.

On their lone drive into Maryland territory in the first half, the Wildcats came up empty as Dillan Fontus blocked a 33-yard field goal attempt by Ethan Gettman.

Villanova's best stretch came in the first 11 minutes of the second half. After Gettman booted a 33-yard field goal, he followed with an onside kick that he recovered at the Wildcats 47.

Seven plays later, Watkins found Devin Smith open across the middle for a 17-yard touchdown pass that cut the Terrapins' lead to 24-10.

The lead would have been whittled further were it not for a replay reversal of a fourth-down, 26-yard pass from Watkins to Jaylan Sanchez which was initially ruled a touchdown on the Wildcats' opening drive of the second half.

After Villanova cut the deficit, Maryland resumed control on the ensuing series as Edwards completed five straight passes, including a 9-yard scoring toss to Felton which boosted the lead to 31-10.

--Field Level Media