Five turnovers doom Nebraska in loss to Maryland
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Nebraska committed five turnovers in a 13-10 loss to Maryland on Saturday.
Three Husker quarterbacks saw playing time at Memorial Stadium, and all three threw interceptions.
The loss means that Nebraska, 5-5, still needs one more win to clinch a bowl game, a goal that has eluded the Huskers since 2016.
The Huskers’ first possession ended on an interception by Heinrich Haarberg, but the defense forced the Terrapins off the field.
Jeff Sims replaced an injured Haarberg in the second quarter and moved the ball deep into Maryland territory on his first drive.
But the Huskers couldn’t convert on fourth-and-2 deep.
When the Terrapins took over, quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa threw the ball 53 yards to Tai Felton.
On the next play, Tagovailoa connected with Felton again for the game’s first score.
Nebraska was looking to score with 25 seconds left in the first half, when Sims was intercepted in the end zone.
Early in the second half, Nebraska’s Omar Brown recovered a Maryland fumble at the Terrapins’ 27-yard line.
The Huskers took advantage of the short field, scoring on a 2-yard run by Janiran Bonner.
Nebraska soon got the ball back when Javin Wright intercepted Tagovailoa near midfield.
After an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Terrapins, the Huskers started the drive at Maryland’s 31-yard line.
Nebraska took the lead with a 38-yard field goal by Tristan Alvano.
Early in the fourth quarter, Sims fumbled at Nebraska’s 21-yard line, and the Terrapins recovered the ball.
The Blackshirts prevented a touchdown, but Maryland tied the game on a 35-yard field goal by Jack Howes.
Sims threw another interception on the first play of the next possession.
The Terps drove deep into Nebraska territory only to fumble at the 3-yard line.
The Huskers recovered it, and third-string QB Chubba Purdy came out to lead the offense.
But that drive also ended on an interception.
Maryland won the game with a 24-yard field goal as the clock expired.
The Terps dominated Nebraska in the air, with 283 passing yards to Nebraska’s 86.
Tagovailoa had a 67% completion rate. Sims led Nebraska’s trio of QBs; he completed 61% of his passes for 62 yards.
Billy Kemp IV had two receptions for 30 yards to lead the receivers.
The Huskers fared better on the ground, moving the ball 183 yards. Emmett Johnson led with 84 yards on 17 carries.
Nebraska plays at Wisconsin next Saturday. The game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. on NBC.
