Maryland football linebacker Tre Watson took out his mouthguard as he rested on his knees in the end zone and stared toward the Terps’ sideline in apparent disbelief that another bounce went Michigan State’s way.

Defensive lineman Byron Cowart was a few yards away from the end zone early in the fourth quarter, a few yards away from turning Saturday’s eventual 24-3 loss into a one-score game, when Spartans wide receiver Darrell Stewart swatted the ball out of Cowart’s grasp.

Tight end Matt Dotson scrambled after the loose ball and fell on it for a touchback. If the ball had bounced a little differently, defensive back RaVon Davis may have fallen on it, or Watson’s lunge would have reeled in the ball and slimmed the Terps deficit.

Instead, like so many close plays Saturday, the Spartans were just a little faster or a little luckier. Those close plays added up and resulted in Maryland’s 24-3 loss at Maryland Stadium, leaving interim head coach Matt Canada to lament the near-misses on offense and defense that let the Terps down and turned into a lopsided scoreline.

“If you think about that play right there, it would have been 17-10,” Canada said. “This far away.”

[Read more: After turbulent week, Maryland football loses to Michigan State, 24-3]

About 15 seconds after Stewart knocked the ball out of Cowart’s hands, running back Connor Heyward broke away for an 80-yard touchdown that sealed the win for the Spartans.

Throughout Saturday’s game, Maryland’s defense gave its offense chances to climb back into the contest. Davis intercepted quarterback Brian Lewerke early in the fourth quarter, one play after running back Javon Leake coughed up the football deep into Michigan State territory.

Quarterback Kasim Hill completed a 14-yard throw to wide receiver Jeshaun Jones on the first play of the drive, one of Hill’s eight completions for 74 yards. But Hill fumbled the ball on the third play of the possession and, shortly after recollecting the ball, was sacked for the fourth time Saturday, driving the Terps out of field goal range on a windy afternoon in College Park.

[Read more: “A roller-coaster”: Maryland football reacts to DJ Durkin’s return, firing]

Then, Hill couldn’t complete a pass to wide receiver Dontay Demus, and the redshirt freshman quarterback whipped off his helmet and slammed it on the bench. Cowart and defensive lineman Jesse Aniebonam patted Hill on the head and appeared to offer words of encouragement.

Earlier in the game, Hill had wide receiver Darryl Jones open in the end zone but overshot him by about 10 yards, at least partially a result of the wind.

“He was frustrated with himself on one because we had a guy open and he missed him,” Canada said. “It was all over. If it’s all over, we’ve all got to get a little bit better.”

After season-ending injuries to two punters, Michigan State now relies on walk-on Bryce Baringer, who joined the team in mid-September. His inexperience showed as he tried to kick into the wind. Baringer’s two second-quarter punts traveled an average of 18.5 yards, and one gifted Maryland a start at Michigan State’s 42-yard line.

But the Terps settled for a field goal — their only points Saturday. In the third quarter, Leake fumbled away a drive that started at the Spartans’ 34 after an eight-yard punt from Baringer.

“We were moving the ball and we had a chance that we didn’t make the play,” Canada said. “So, it’s very frustrating.”

The loss moves Maryland to 5-4, one win from bowl eligibility in a tumultuous season that was particularly trying last week, with the reinstatement and firing of coach DJ Durkin within a day of each other.

So while the Terps struggled to move the ball Saturday, managing just 100 total yards and 1.9 yards per play, Canada doesn’t feel the need to hit the panic button as he leads the team during a campaign that’s been plenty unstable.

“I’m still going to be the offensive coordinator. I’m going to be the cheerleader for the defense, and we’re going to keep doing exactly what we’ve been doing,” Canada said. “We’re not going to panic, we just have to play better. I have to coach better.”