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Penn State Football: 3 Keys to beating Maryland

By Lawrence Santa Maria

Sep 27, 2019; College Park, MD, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford (14) celebrates with Nittany Lions wide receiver Jahan Dotson (5) after scoring a touchdown against the Maryland Terrapins in the first quarter at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2019; College Park, MD, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford (14) celebrates with Nittany Lions wide receiver Jahan Dotson (5) after scoring a touchdown against the Maryland Terrapins in the first quarter at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 30, 2020; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa (3) throws from the pocket during the first quarter against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2020; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa (3) throws from the pocket during the first quarter against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

Controlling Little Tua

Taulia Tagovailoa, the younger brother of Tua, the former Alabama standout and now Miami Dolphins quarterback, transferred to Maryland this offseason and was immediately handed the starting job.

The younger Tagovailoa’s 2020 campaign got off to a rocky start after the Terrapins were defeated by Northwestern 43-3 in Week 1. Tagaovailoa struggled, going 14-25 for 94 yards and three interceptions.

Last week, though, Tagovailoa bounced back in a big way vs the Minnesota Golden Gophers, throwing for 394 yards and three touchdowns in a come form behind 45-44 victory. The sophomore quarterback also ran for 59 yards and two scores, posing a real dual threat to the Penn State defense this weekend.

The Nittany Lions are coming off a game with Ohio State in which they gave up 318 yards through the air and showed they are vulnerable on the back-end of the defense.

Junior wide receiver Dontay Demus Jr. has built a nice rapport with Tagovailoa, hauling in 11 receptions for 142 yards and a touchdown over two games. Sophomore wide receiver Jeshaun Jones is another play to watch for, averaging almost 18 yards per reception he has been Tagovailoa’s down field threat.

Slowing down this pair of Terrapins will fall directly on Penn State football cornerbacks Tariq Castro-Fields and Joey Porter Jr who could use a bounce back game after last week.

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