Hoosiers Fall Short Against Terps, 38-35

Saturday, October 30

College Park, Md.

12:00 PM

Indiana University

2-6 , 0-5

Maryland

5-3 , 2-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Indiana

Maryland

10/30/2021 3:35:00 PM | Football

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes

By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Welcome to the evolution of a college quarterback, and the continued excellence of a record-setting senior tight end.

Was it enough for a Hoosier victory under must-win pressure?

Not on Saturday at Maryland.

Indiana (2-6) fell behind by 14, rallied for the lead, but couldn't hold it in a 38-35 defeat.

"I'm very disappointed," head coach Tom Allen told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during his post-game radio show. "We needed this win.

"The kids are fighting. They fought to the end."

The defense, which got burned for the second-straight week, generated this blunt Allen assessment:

"We got let down by our defense."

In his first college start, true freshman quarterback Donaven McCulley was 14-for-25 for 242 yards, an IU true freshman yardage record, two touchdown, and no turnovers.

"It was his first college start as a true freshman on the road in the Big Ten," Allen told Fischer. "That's tough to do. He played the way I hoped he would. Expected him to."

It was big improvement from last week's college debut against No. 5 Ohio State, when McCulley, a four-star prospect from Indianapolis Lawrence North High School, completed just one of six passes for 30 yards in rainy conditions after starter Jack Tuttle got hurt.

"Last week was tough to be thrust in that moment," Allen told Fischer. "But he had a good week of practice.

"You can see the talent that's there. Mistakes were made, but he grew up a whole bunch and gave us a chance to win."

The 6-5 McCulley started fast -- hitting six of his first eight passes -- while avoiding turnovers. He made mistakes, but never lost his poise. To help with that, offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan was on the sidelines rather than in the press box.

The result -- even with the status of veterans Tuttle and Michael Penix Jr. uncertain with injuries, quarterback prospects are promising.

"Donaven is going to be a very special player," center Dylan Powell told Fischer. "He's young. He's shown flashes of what we have in the future with him.

"No matter who's back there, we expect them to make plays. They have to play to the standard we need them to play. The offensive line has to produce for them."

Peyton Hendershot went where no Hoosier tight end has gone before. He passed Ted Bolser as the school record holder for receiving yards. He caught six passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns, plus a conversion. That gives him a tight-end record 125 catches for a record 1,383 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Bolser had 117 catches with 15 TD receptions and 1,337 yards.

Wide receiver Ty Fryfogle caught four passes for 78 yards. Miles Marshall had one catch for 41 yards, plus blocked a punt.

Tailback Stephen Carr had his third 100-yard rushing game of the season. He ran 21 times for 136 yards and two touchdowns. He broke loose for a 66-yard TD run.

He sparked a ground game that totaled 204 yards.

With left guard Mike Katic not making the trip with an injury, right guard Matthew Bedford took his spot and back-up center Zach Carpenter moved to right guard.

"I'm proud of our offense," Allen told Fischer. "We're trying to find some ways to move the ball and score. They did that.

"Carpenter was ready to step in there. He deserved to play. He's versatile. He can play guard and center."

Maryland (5-3), which snapped a three-game losing streak, was led by quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa's 419 passing yards and two touchdowns.

"I know we had some (breakdowns) in our secondary," Allen told Fischer. "We were trying to do some things there to patch that up. We got exposed. There were too many third downs we didn't get off the field."

After rallying for a 17-14 lead early in the third quarter, IU gave up consecutive touchdown drives and never recovered.

"I'm really disappointed in the defense," Allen told Fischer. "We got that lead. Gave up two drives on those scores. It can't happen."

Maryland opened a 14-0 lead after 11 minutes, then missed a field goal.

IU caught fire.

McCulley hit Hendershot with a 31-yard pass, converted a crucial fourth-down pass to Fryfolge for a first down, then another long pass to Hendershot to set up Carr's 1-yard touchdown run and close within seven points.

The Hoosiers forced a three-and-out, then Marshall blocked a punt to give IU the ball on the Maryland 13-yard line. It didn't take advantage when Campbell missed a 42-yard field goal attempt.

Campbell made up for it with a career-long 55-yard field goal -- the second-longest in program history behind Griffen Oakes' 58-yarder -- for a 14-10 halftime score.

McCulley was 6-for-13 for 93 yards, no touchdowns, and no interceptions. His ability to avoid turnovers gave the Hoosiers a second-half chance.

Carr's 66-yard touchdown run – a combination of good blocking and then good vision and speed – pushed IU ahead 17-14 early in the third quarter.

The Terrapins responded with a pair of touchdowns for a 28-17 lead.

IU used a fake punt – Bryant Fitzgerald took the snap and ran for a first down – to set up Campbell's 30-yard field goal to make it 28-20.

After another Maryland touchdown, McCulley connected with Hendershot twice – once for a touchdown, once for a two-point conversion, for a 35-28 score.

IU forced a punt, but the offense couldn't capitalize and the defense gave up a field goal for a 38-28 score with 80 seconds left.

McCulley connected for 53 yards with Fryfogle to set up a second TD pass to Hendershot to make it 38-35 with a minute left.

The Hoosiers went for an onside kick, but didn't get it.

In the aftermath, Allen told Fischer, "We need a playmaker on every part of this team."

IU heads to No. 6 Michigan (7-1) next Saturday. The Wolverines are coming off a 37-33 loss to No. 8 Michigan State.

The Hoosiers need to win out to become bowl eligible.

"That's the way it is," Allen told Fischer. "We have to watch film, make corrections, keep competing, keep fighting. That's what we're going to do."

Added Powell: "We can't give up. We're going through some adversity, but we're going to keep strapping up our helmets and playing for each other. Doing whatever we can to turn this around.

"We're going to keep coming to work. I know we can turn this around."