Quarterback Perry Hills prepares his offensive line during the Terps’ 50-21 win over Richmond at Byrd Stadium on Sept. 5, 2015.

Strong field position wasn’t hard to come by Saturday for the Terrapins football team with the help of stellar returns from defensive back Will Likely. Once the Terps reached the red zone, though, coach Randy Edsall often had to call on the field-goal unit.

The Terps, who started five of their 12 drives in Richmond territory, had two touchdowns in six red-zone possessions.

While the Terps’ inability to punch the ball into the end zone didn’t cost them in the 50-21 victory over Richmond, Edsall wasn’t pleased with the team’s ineffectiveness near the goal line.

READ MORE: Will Likely set Big Ten punt return record for yards in a game Saturday

“We moved the ball, but we weren’t good enough in the red zone,” Edsall said. “That’s something we have to get better at.”

The trend began on the game’s first drive. The Terps started 4 yards shy of midfield thanks to a 42-yard return from Likely. They drove to Richmond’s 16-yard line, where they stalled and settled for a field goal.

At halftime, the Terps took a 22-14 lead into the locker room, but had zero red zone touchdowns in three opportunities. Their first touchdown inside the red zone didn’t come until the fourth quarter, breaking a 0-for-4 streak.

Before that, though, the Terps came up empty on a red zone possession in the third quarter. A 47-yard punt return from Likely set the Terps up at Richmond’s 16-yard line, but they weren’t able to pick up any points after kicker Brad Craddock missed a 28-yard field goal.

Capping those drives will be a point of emphasis moving forward.

“We’ve got to learn how to go down and finish the drives off instead of taking field goals,” freshman wide receiver D.J. Moore said.

EDWARDS NABS TWO CATCHES IN DEBUT

Late in the first half Saturday, freshman tight end Avery Edwards caught a pass on two consecutive plays. In the process, he equaled the individual reception totals of the Terps’ top tight ends last year.

The tight end unit had six receptions last season, divided equally between P.J. Gallo, Derrick Hayward and Andrew Isaacs.

While all three tight ends returned this season, and Hayward started, Edwards was the one who hauled in the most catches against Richmond.

Edwards was the No. 22 tight end in the 2014 class and initially committed to North Carolina. He never played for the Tar Heels, though. In June 2014, he was charged with felony larceny for stealing more than $50,000 of jewelry, according to authorities. His charge was later dismissed, according to court documents.

The Raleigh, North Carolina, native, who spent last year at the IMG Academy in Florida, caught passes for 4 and 8 yards on the Terps’ final drive of the first half, which resulted in a touchdown.

“I want to be able to do it all,” Edwards said. “I don’t want to be the guy that it’s third-and-1 and you get taken off the field because it’s a run play. I want to fit every role that the tight end does here.”

LIKELY GARNERS HONORS

Likely earned the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week award Tuesday after setting a conference record with 233 punt return yards Saturday.

The junior was also named to the Paul Hornung Award Weekly Honor Roll. The award, for which Likely was named to the preseason watch list, is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football.

Likely, a first-team All-Big Ten performer last year, had 296 total return yards and a 67-yard punt return touchdown against Richmond. Likely’s 233 punt return yards broke a record that had been set in 1939.

“He’s the best I’ve ever been around in terms of tracking the ball, having a feel for everything and then being able to produce the way he produces,” said Edsall, who’s coached in the NFL.