Maryland Football: Terps honor Jordan McNair, beat Longhorns 34-29

After a tumultuous offseason for Maryland football, the Terps had a rematch with the Texas Longhorns who they beat last season 51-41.

After a tumultuous offseason for the Maryland football program that involved the death of one of their own, Jordan McNair, the Terps had a rematch with Texas Longhorns who they beat last season 51-41.

A lot has changed since then. Tyrrell Pigrome and Kasim Hill are back and healthy to start the season and Interim Head Coach Matt Canada was not quick to name a starter for the game. Hill got the start at FedEx Field.

In honor of Jordan McNair the Terps took the field with 10 players on the first play of the game resulting in a delay of game penalty that Texas declined.

The Terps put the first points up on the board as Freshman Wide Receiver Jeshaun Jones ran for a 28-yard score on his first play as a Terp.

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On the Longhorns’ side of the things offensively, Sam Ehlinger got the start at Quarterback and on their second drive, he hit Devin Duvernay for a 39-yard touchdown pass tying the game at seven apiece with 9:17 to go in the first quarter.

That was set up by a Brandon Jones 33-yard punt return.

Jones came up big for the Terps again. This time on a 65-yard jet-sweep pass across the field. Two touches and two touchdowns. The Terps took the lead 14-7 under nine minutes to go in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Texas took over. After Maryland scored via a 20-yard trick play pass from Jones to Tavion Jacobs, the Longhorns scored 15 unanswered points to end the first half. The score at halftime was 24-22 Terps.

The story of the first half was Jeshaun Jones. He became the first Big Ten player since Michigan’s Vincent Smith to score a rushing, passing and receiving touchdown in the same game.

Despite the defense giving up points to the Longhorns in the second quarter, the aggression of the Maryland football secondary was noticeable right off the bat. Darnell Savage Jr and Antoine Brooks were making plays left and right.

Texas and Maryland both scored touchdowns heading into the fourth quarter before inclement weather caused the game to be suspended. The Terps had the lead 31-29 with 14:25 left in the game.

Two penalties by Texas’ defense led to the Terps getting three points and with 4:29 left to go in the game, Texas had to get a move on.

Unfortunately for the Longhorns, on their game-winning drive, Brooks sealed the 3victory with an interception.

Maryland football beat Texas in a season opener for the second year in a row. They now face Bowling Green on the road next Saturday. Game time is 6 pm EST on ESPN+