Edwards starts at quarterback, leads offensive explosion as Maryland dominates UConn

COLLEGE PARK — Led by starting quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., Maryland’s new-look offense hummed along without a hitch, producing an eye-popping 629 total yards of offense in a complete, 50-7 victory over Connecticut in its season opener Saturday afternoon.

“If you just look at the comfort level that he showed operating the system with all the stuff going on around him, and the way he was able to distribute the ball, you know, that’s the reason [he was the starter],” Maryland coach Mike Locksley said. “And he protected the ball the way we needed to.”

Taking over for four-and-a-half-year starter Taulia Tagovailoa, the former two-year understudy Edwards showed precision and pace on his throws. Edwards finished 20-of-27 for 311 yards and two touchdowns, including a perfect 7-of-7 passing in the first quarter.

“It was good to get a few completions under my belt that first drive, the run game get going,” Edwards said. It felt good … I was just trying to stay calm. You know, it’s practice out there for me. That’s what I was telling myself the whole time.”

Seven of those completions were to fellow Virginian Tai Felton, who racked up a career-high 178 receiving yards and two touchdowns. One came on a 75-yard screen pass in the final minute of the third quarter. Maryland’s offensive output was the highest since recording 617 at Charlotte two seasons ago.

“Billy’s definitely a guy. I was telling him on the sideline how proud I am of him,” Felton said. “Just seeing him work being at Wake Forest, I knew Billy previously in high school, so just seeing everything he’s been through, the adversity he has been through. Just seeing how hard he’s worked this whole time. It’s definitely a blessing to have him back there.

With Maryland up 14-0, North Carolina State transfer MJ Morris spelled Edwards for the first drive of the second quarter, completing one pass for 7 yards before an eventual punt. Morris reentered for a drive each in the third and fourth quarters before being knocked out of the game on a late hit that resulted in targeting. 

Cameron Edge played the rest of the game under center after Morris gingerly limped off the field. However, it was Edwards’ day carrying the keys of Maryland’s offense.

“It’s Billy’s job. He is our quarterback. There’s no short leash, he’s not looking over his shoulders,” Locksley said. “But when we have opportunities to play guys like MJ and some of these other players, we’re going to play them because we understand that the Big Ten is a tough league, and we’re going to eventually need these guys, and the only way they get better is by playing, not standing on the sideline.”

Maryland’s ground game was a noticeable bright spot, gaining 248 yards, including the most first-half yards (165) by a Locksley-led Terrapins team. After only averaging 108 rushing yards per game in 2023 for the third worst in the Big Ten, establishing the run has been an offseason point of emphasis, though that didn’t mean the offense felt that different for Edwards since his last start, Maryland’s Music City Bowl win last December.

“I would say it’s very similar. I think just me mentally, I think I’m going about it a lot differently, a lot better for me in terms of where I’m at as a player, being an older guy,” Edwards said. “I’ve got a lot of good skill guys around me, and when I get after it individually in practice and push the tempo and make those throws and try to treat it like a game, that it makes coming out here feel good.”

The biggest of those runs came from heralded freshman Nolan Ray. Touted by Locksley, offensive coordinator Josh Gattis and others as someone to watch throughout spring ball and training camp, Ray lived up to the hype early.  

On his first touch as a Terrapin late in the first quarter, Ray broke off a 48-yard touchdown run to the far side of the field, leaving UConn defenders in his wake and putting Maryland up 14-0.

“I’m not going to say I told you so,” Locksley said. “I said a few years ago that some of these young players … this system is built for playmakers.”

That was more than enough for the Terrapins, who added three Jack Howes field goals in the second quarter and second-half touchdowns from Felton, running back Roman Hemby (4 yards), and freshmen Josiah McLaurin (24 yards) and DeJuan Williams (9 yards) en route to the win. 

Maryland’s defense picked up where it left off last season, only allowing 11 Huskies first downs and grabbing two interceptions. One interception came from defensive back Glendon Miller and linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II’s first of his career.

“I thought our defense had a really good plan going into how we wanted to defend UConn, and really not knowing what they were going to be, new quarterback, new system, new coordinator, made it tough,” Locksley said. But once we kind of figured out how they wanted to attack, I thought, [defensive coordinator Brian Williams] and the defensive staff did a good job for the most part.”

The victory was Maryland’s 13th-straight win in a nonconference opener, a streak dating to 2010. The schedule flips temporarily to conference play, with Michigan State coming to College Park next Saturday.