Maryland-The Terapins just played bad football with mistakes after mistakes. They gave the Cornhuskers numerous opportunities to score by turning the ball over the entire game.
On Nebraska’s second kickoff of the game, the Cornhuskers chose to pooch a kick to Maryland football’s sideline around the 22-yard line.
Running back Javon Leake— attempted to field the live ball, but it slipped through his hands and bounced off his leg and the Cornhuskers recovered the fumble.
Leake’s second fumble of the day — the first coming from the Terapins’ first offensive play from scrimmage after a 14-yard rush — led to a score by the Cornhuskers that led to a 54-7 blowout of Maryland on senior day at Capital Field.
“The thing that continues to sit in my craw is the fact that its us hurting us — I mean we had four turnovers,” head coach Mike Locksley said. “Four fumbles with a bunch of penalties there on special teams, which kind of broke the back of our team and our momentum early in the game. And you just don’t win games when you beat yourself.”
The Terps has been outscored 185-42 at home this season. And it has now lost six consecutive contests — allowing an average 48.5 points per game.
A penalty resulted in Nebraska’s second score of the game, which quarterback Adrian Martinez hit paydirt from the 1-yard line.
“We can’t start off that way,” Maryland senior offensive lineman Ellis McKennie said. “We’re the type of team where we got to get the momentum going, and we couldn’t get it going today.”
Maryland did play a little defense with red zone stop came during Nebraska’s fourth drive of the game when Cross stayed home on the left side of the field, covering the tight-end and intercepting Martinez pass.
After the turnover the Terps began at the 20-yard line but resulted in a Lance LeGendre fumble at the 31-yard line, ending the drive. LeGendre exited the game with a dislocated non-throwing shoulder on the play and did not return back into the game.
At the break Maryland was trailing Braska 34-0.
After putting up 128 offensive yards in the first half, Maryland totaled -11 yards in the third quarter, while Nebraska put up 134 total yards and 10 points.
After putting on an air show for two touchdowns in the first half, Martinez killed them on the ground, totaling 44 rushing yards in the second half. He finished the contest 16-25 for 194 yards to go along with 94 rushing yards and three total touchdowns.
In the fourth, Leake fumbled the ball for the third time of the game around the 10:30 mark, giving the Cornhuskers the ball for their last score of the contest.
Despite having fumbling issues and a muffed kick return, Leake provided the Terps with its only score of the game off of a 58-yard touchdown rush.
The loss was the sixth straight for Maryland (3-8, 1-7), which finishes the regular season next week at Michigan State.
Nebraska quarterbacks Adrian Martinez and Christian McCaffery, the younger brother of Carolina Panthers star Christian McCaffery, were a combined 19 of 30 for 230. Martinez threw two touchdowns and had a pass intercepted by safety Nick Cross.
“I feel so bad for the guys that have to walk out of here with that last taste of Maryland football in their mouth,” McKennie said. “But it’s on us to make it happen, and we just didn’t.
