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PSU loses fourth straight, 20-19 to Maryland

UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State hadn’t lost to Maryland since 1961 and owned a 35-1-1 record in the all-time series, but that dominance ended Saturday.

The Terps won for the first time ever at Beaver Stadium, 20-19, getting a go-ahead 43-yard field goal with 51 seconds left to beat the Nittany Lions (4-4), who have lost four in a row.

It wasn’t really a rivalry before Saturday, but as Maryland coach Randy Edsall boasted afterward, “Let the rivalry begin.”

The hard feelings actually started before the game as Maryland’s captains refused to shake the hands of the PSU players at midfield for the coin toss. Edsall later apologized for that.

“Disrespectful,” PSU linebacker Mike Hull said.

SCORING SUMMARY

FIRST QUARTER

Penn State 3, Maryland 0: The Lions started with good field position at the 34 after an unsportsmanlike penalty before the game on the Terps. Christian Hackenberg came out sharp, hitting his first four passes, including a 17-yard throw to Geno Lewis to the Maryland 31. The drive stalled, and Sam Ficken kicked a 47-yard field goal with 10:56 left in the quarter.

SECOND QUARTER

Maryland 7, Penn State 3: A 24-yard punt by Danny Pasquariello gave Maryland the ball at the PSU 43. The Terps got a couple of first downs to the 17, then a late hit by safety Marcus Allen on an overthrow to receiver Stefon Diggs gave Maryland first-and-goal at the 8. C.J. Brown took it 6 yards on first down, then rolled to his right on second down and found tight end P.J. Gallo wide open for a 2-yard score with 13:52 left in the half.

Maryland 7, Penn State 6: PSU got a huge break on a close call when Hackenberg was intercepted for a pick-6 by Yannik Cudjoe-Virgil, but Yannick Ngakoue was flagged for roughing the passer. Ngakoue hit Hackenberg just a tad late, but he was flagged anyway, negating the Terps’ TD and giving the Lions a first down at the Maryland 40. On third-and-7 from the 37, the Terps were flagged for pass interference, giving PSU another first down at the 22. Penn State got a first down at the 11, but the red zone struggles continued, and the drive stalled at the 8. Ficken kicked a 25-yard field goal with 5:06 to go in the half.

Penn State 9, Maryland 7: A bizarre decision by Terps coach Randy Edsall gave PSU a chance to take the lead. The Lions were called for holding on an incomplete pass on third-and-10. Instead of making it third-and-20 on the Maryland 39 which would have been a 56-yard field goal attempt — Edsall’s call to decline the penalty left it third-and-10 at the 29. That made it a 46-yard field goal try, and Ficken nailed it for the lead with 1:30 left in the half.

THIRD QUARTER

Penn State 16, Maryland 7: The defense came up with a big play, with Anthony Zettel forcing a fumble and C.J. Olaniyan recovered at the 49. Hackenberg and the passing game finally got going after a long struggle, with back-to-back catches by DaeSean Hamilton (14 and 13) followed by back-to-back catches from tight end Kyle Carter (12 and 9). On third-and-3 from the 8, Hackenberg lofted a pass to the right side of the end zone, and Jesse James won a jump ball for a TD with 3:18 to go in the quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER

Penn State 16, Maryland 10: The Terps hadn’t done much offensively all day until putting together an impressive drive to end the third quarter. Maryland got its passing game going behind Brown to keep moving the chains and had first-and-goal at the 9. Mike Hull made a big tackle as receiver Stefon Diggs tried to dive into the end zone but was stopped just short. On third-and-goal from the 1, Wes Brown fumbled the pitch, so the Terps had to settle for a field goal.

Maryland 17, Penn State 16: Grant Haley fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and Maryland’s Alex Twine recovered at the PSU 24. After a 10-yard sack, Brown hit Amba Etto-Tawo for 20 yards to set up first-and-goal at the 9. Brown found Diggs for 8 yards to the 1, then Brown scored from a yard out to give the Terps their first lead with 11:30 remaining.

Penn State 19, Maryland 17: Ficken’s huge day continued as he booted a 48-yard kick with 6:52 left to play to put the Lions back on top. Hackenberg picked up 17 yards on a scramble early in the drive. PSU faced third-and-23 at its own 35 when Hackenberg connected with Lewis for a 33-yard gain to the Terps’ 33. The offense gained only 2 more yards before Ficken came on for his field goal.

Maryland 20, Penn State 19: The Terps got a short field after PSU punted from its 20 and William Likely returned the 37-yard kick 15 yards to the PSU 42 with 2:16 remaining. Maryland has one of the best kickers in the country, so it only needed one or two first downs at most to give Brad Craddock a chance. The Terps got the one first down and stalled at the 25, then Craddock kick a 43-yard field goal with 51 seconds lift for the winning points.

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