Michigan Wolverines vs Maryland Terrapins Match Player Stats On Oct 03, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Oct 3, 2015

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- No. 22 Michigan survived a scare with a strong third quarter to overcome Maryland 28-0 at Capital One Field in Byrd Stadium in the Big Ten Conference opener for both teams.

The Wolverines (4-1, 1-0) scored the game's first two touchdowns in a span of 2:31 in the third quarter to take command and ride their strong defense to a fourth straight win.

Jourdan Lewis' interception of Caleb Rowe's pass set up the Wolverines in Maryland territory and three plays later, Michigan quarterback Jake Rudock connected with running back Drake Johnson on a 31-yard screen pass for a score.

A two-point conversion pass from Rudock to Khalid Hill, made it 14-0 at 7:59.

After a Maryland punt on the ensuing possession, wide receiver Jehu Chesson took a handoff and went 66 yards down the sideline for a touchdown and a 21-0 lead at 5:07.

That was all the scoring Michigan would need on a wet, cold afternoon on which Maryland (2-3, 0-1) never got on track offensively.

The Terrapins gained only 105 total yards, 29 on the ground, and punted 13 times, falling for the second consecutive week.

The Terrapins had only two of their seven first downs after the first quarter, and have scored just six points total the last two games.

Michigan has shut out two straight opponents and allowed only 14 points in the last four games. The Wolverines came in fourth in the nation in scoring defense at 9.5 points per game.

After a scoreless first quarter, Michigan carved out a 6-0 halftime lead on two field goals by Kenny Allen, the first from 30 yards, set up by a Jabrill Peppers 29-yard punt return.

Allen's second field goal came only 53 seconds before the half, and it came after a well-executed screen, Rudock finding tight end Jake Butts on a 44-yard play, the longest gain of the first half.

Maryland gained 60 yards and had five first downs in the first quarter but the Michigan defense, No. 2 in the nation in total defense, clamped down.

The Wolverines also came up with two first half interceptions, offsetting two fumble recoveries by the Terrapin defense.

The Terrapins were a heavy underdog but coming off an embarrassing 45-6 loss at rival West Virginia, played inspired before a home crowd of 51,802 for more than half the game.

For the second straight week, though, backup quarterback Daxx Garman replaced an ineffective and turnover prone Rowe, who threw three interceptions.

NOTES: Saturday's game was moved from its original 8 p.m., kickoff to noon as a precaution against potentially hazardous weather from Hurricane Joaquin off the eastern seaboard. ... The Wolverines have won nine of their last 10 Big Ten openers, and are 49-12-2 in the last 63 years. ... The loss snapped a streak of seven straight regular season victories coming off a loss (dating to 2013) for Maryland. ... Michigan quarterback Jake Rudock played for Iowa last year against Maryland in a 38-31 Terrapin victory.