In its first game against an FBS opponent, the Maryland football team is having no trouble handling Florida International in Miami.
Here are three takeaways and some other notes from the opening 30 minutes:
1. No. 23 is the magic number
Maryland has scored four touchdowns, but two of the scores have come from players wearing this number.
Deep in his own territory, Florida International quarterback Alex McGough attempted a short pass to his receiver on a slant route. Defensive back Alvin Hill bobbled the ball, which landed in the hands of linebacker Jermaine Carter Jr., who ran it in for a 15-yard touchdown to put Maryland up, 10-0, late in the first quarter.
Jermaine Carter and his buddies must’ve had reservations in the end zone for 6 tonight around 8:05 pm: https://t.co/sF8lisIS3R
— Terps Watch (@TerpsWatch) September 10, 2016
Early in the second quarter, freshman running back Lorenzo Harrison, also wearing No. 23, took his first touch of the game from the FIU 40-yard line. Using a series of jukes (see below) Maryland’s leading rusher from its 52-13 win over Howard on Saturday once again found the end zone.
So far, the DeMatha High School product has shown the ability to contribute for the Terps right away.
Is this Lorenzo Harrison or LaDainian Tomlinson? https://t.co/YylcRiDWPT
— Terps Watch (@TerpsWatch) September 10, 2016
2. Hills thrives at QB
After completing his first 10 passes against Howard, Hills’ arm was erratic on the Terps’ first drive Friday.
His first attempt, intended for wide receiver/defensive back Will Likely on a screen pass, fell incomplete. A couple plays later, the redshirt senior signal caller had wide receiver Malcolm Culmer wide open down the middle but sailed the ball a little high.
Those turned out to be two of the three incompletions Hills threw in the first half. Hills entered the break 10-for-13 for 144 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns. He’s also rushed the ball four times for 21 yards.
While the Panthers defense doesn’t compare to those of Big Ten powerhouses Ohio State and Michigan, Hills has shown improved accuracy so far this season after throwing 13 interceptions in 2015.
3. Less is Moore
Several Terps wide receivers pointed to D.J. Moore as the unit’s leader at media day Aug. 16, and Moore justified those claims with four receptions for 98 yards in the first half.
Moore’s big play came with the Terps leading, 17-7, midway through the second quarter. Seeing Moore wide open down the left sideline, Hills hit the sophomore wideout for an easy 45-yard score.
Aside from Moore, Maryland hasn’t done much else through the air. New Mexico State graduate transfer Teldrick Morgan has three receptions for 38 yards, while Hills caught a 21-yard pass on a trick play early in the first quarter.
Also of note: JC Jackson returns
An academic issue kept the former Florida four-star recruit off the field against Howard, but Jackson returned to the field as one of the team’s starting cornerbacks Friday. He finished with two tackles in the first half.
Cornerback RaVon Davis, a former walk-on who recently received a scholarship, started in place of Jackson last weekend, but Jackson provides the Terps defensive backfield with another high-major talent to pair with Likely.