Taulia Tagovailoa becomes Big Ten's top all-time passer as Maryland tops Rutgers

Field Level Media|published: Sat 25th November, 19:54 2023

Nov 25, 2023; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Maryland Terrapins wide receiver Jeshaun Jones (6) gains yards after a catch during the first half as Rutgers Scarlet Knights linebacker Deion Jennings (17) and defensive back Flip Dixon (10) pursues at SHI Stadium. credits: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Taulia Tagovailoa became the Big Ten's all-time leading passer as he guided Maryland to a 42-24 win over host Rutgers in the regular-season finale Saturday in Piscataway, N.J.

Tagovailoa completed 24 of 31 passes for 361 yards and three touchdowns for the Terrapins (7-5, 4-5 Big Ten). He broke the record on a 6-yard completion to Jeshaun Jones late in the first half and added on after halftime.

Tagovailoa has thrown for 11,256 yards in his Maryland career. He began the day fourth on the list and passed Drew Brees before topping another Purdue quarterback, Curtis Painter, and his previous record of 11,163 yards.

Tai Felton caught five passes for 140 yards and a touchdown for Maryland. Roman Hemby rushed for 113 yards on 15 carries and caught a touchdown.

Rutgers (6-6, 3-6) fell behind 28-3 less than 18 minutes into the game before mounting a comeback that fell short.

Gavin Wimsatt went 13-of-34 passing for 165 yards, a touchdown and an interception and ran for 48 yards and two scores for the Scarlet Knights. Kyle Monangai added 20 carries for 118 yards.

Maryland scored touchdowns on its first four possessions, featuring a 34-yard TD pass to Felton, a 6-yard run by Tagovailoa, a 17-yard completion to Hemby and a wide-open 44-yarder to Corey Dyches.

Rutgers went on a 10-play, 75-yard drive to begin clawing back. Wimsatt's 10-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Young cut it to 28-10 with 6:43 left in the half.

After a Terrapin three-and-out late in the half, Wimsatt hit Isaiah Washington for a 42-yard play that got Rutgers to the 1. Wimsatt ran it in on the next play to make it a manageable 28-17 halftime deficit.

Dyches appeared to have his second touchdown of the game on a 20-yard catch-and-run, but he was ruled down at the 1. Backup quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. pushed it in on the next play for a 35-17 Maryland lead at 9:15 of the third quarter.

Rutgers managed to drive 94 yards in 14 plays, aided by Dillan Fontus' targeting penalty on what would have been a third-down stop. Wimsatt scored from the 1 again to make it 35-24 with 6:48 to play.

But the Terrapins chewed up most of the remaining clock and Edwards scored his second 1-yard touchdown, one week after rushing for three touchdowns against Michigan.

—Field Level Media

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