Maryland Football Survives Trip to Minnesota in Big Ten Opener (Videos)

Ty Johnson and Max Bortenschlager power Maryland football to a crucial road victory against Minnesota to begin Big Ten Conference play.

Maryland football redeemed themselves in Minnesota as they defeated the Minnesota Golden Gophers 31-24 behind a Ty Johnson game-clinching touchdown and a J.C. Jackson interception.

Maryland football had one big question to answer before Saturday’s matchup, how well would Max Bortenschlager do under center in his first start?

Well, he did rather well against a Minnesota defense that through the first three games of the season only allowed eight points per game (No.1 in NCAA). They were also ranked first with 24 total points given up and they also had the No. 1 rushing defense only allowing 59 yards a game.

In this matchup, the Terps put up 262 rushing yards on the Golden Gophers defense and junior running back Ty Johnson yet again had another 100-yard game, carrying the ball 18 times for 130 yards and a touchdown.

He averaged 7.2 yards per rush, moving through Minnesota’s defense. Below was the 34-yard run that sealed the game offensively for the Terps.

Bortenschlager completed 18 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns. He also got in on the running game scoring a touchdown on the ground and adding 18 yards there.

The greatest thing about his performance is he didn’t turn the ball over which Maryland quarterbacks, historically, are known to do. Yes, it’s only one game, but he showed great control of the offense and didn’t try to do too much.

D.J. Moore was D.J. Moore of course. He caught eight passes for 90 yards and one touchdown.  With his lone score Saturday, he tied fellow Maryland Wide Receiver Standout Stefon Diggs for fourth all-time with 14 touchdowns.  Moore now has 30 catches, 403 yards and five touchdowns in 2017.

Maryland football defensively only allowed 80 yards rushing from Minnesota, and they held Rodney Smith to 35 yards on 18 carries, and he only saw the end zone once.  Conor Rhoda passed for 229 yards, a touchdown and one of his two interceptions were picked off for the win by J.C. Jackson.

The Terps improve to 3-1 and 1-0 in the Big Ten football standings after Maryland hands Minnesota their first loss of the season.

Next: Jacoby Jones to Retire with the Baltimore Ravens

Maryland football will remain on the road as they prepare for their biggest test of the 2017 college football season against Ohio State Saturday afternoon.