Maryland finally got some offense going thanks to the contributions of two true freshmen, but both offenses still looked sluggish in a quarter that featured two touchdowns. At halftime, Connecticut leads Maryland 14-7.
On a drive that started at the end of the first quarter, Lyle McCombs had 24 yards on the ground to bring the Huskies to the three-yard line on third and goal. Quarterback Scott McCummings ran it in to give UConn the 14-0 lead.
On the Terps' next drive, they were finally able to get some movement, thanks to 13 yards on the ground from Perry Hills and a late hit penalty against Connecticut. After an underthrown incompletion to a double-covered Kevin Dorsey and a drop over the middle by Kerry Boykins, Hills found Stefon Diggs over the middle for a huge fourth down completion. Diggs faked out three Husky defenders on his way to an 18-yard gain. Two plays later, Wes Brown took a hand-off up the middle for 19 yards and the score, making it 14-7 Huskies. It was Brown's first collegiate touchdown, and his first touch of the day.
Connecticut was able to move down the field after a 19-yard completion to tight end John Delahunt on their next drive, but Chad Christen missed the 49-yard field goal.
On Maryland's next drive, Hills had a wide open Boykins over the middle but instead threw it to Marcus Leak, who was unable to pull it in. Hills was sacked on the next play, forcing a punt.
Later in the quarter, Diggs made something out of nothing with a 23-yard punt return from his own five, and big ground gains from Hills and Brown moved the Terps down the field. The drive ended quickly, with a Hills incompletion (again with an open receiver), a Diggs rush for no gain, and a sack.
Brown had three rushes for 38 yards in the quarter, and Diggs has 100 total yards of offense on seven touches. Hills has looked dismal thus far, with a 2/11 mark for 24 yards and an interception.
For more on the Maryland Terrapins, head over to Testudo Times and continue to check out SB Nation DC for the latest news and updates. Visit The UConn Blog and SB Nation Boston for Huskies news and notes.