MT kicker Alan Gendreau wanted every chance he could get to kick against Maryland after having his extra point kick blocked in the second quarter. He made the most of every chance he received by making his next two extra point attempts and the game-winning field goal as the Blue Raiders (2-1) defeated the Terrapins (1-2), 32-31.
“The team put me there and I had to do my job and my job is to kick and I put just it through,” Gendreau said.
This was the second year in a row that MT beat UM. Last year, the Blue Raiders defeated the Terrapins 24-14 in their first-ever victory over a BCS team at home.
QB Dwight Dasher went 27 for 44 for 324 yards and two touchdowns but it was his two interceptions and a fumble that almost cost the Blue Raiders a victory. A missed field goal by UM kicker Nick Ferrara gave MT the chance to drive down the field and score without having to make a touchdown.
Turnovers were not kind to UM as well as they lost three fumbles and threw one interception.
“The problem we had is when we turned the ball over, three of them led to scores,” UM head coach Ralph Friedgen said. “That’s what killed us.”
UM quarterback Chris Turner finished the day with going 19 for 30 for 288 yards and two touchdowns to go along with the one interception.
The MT running game was below average as five players were able to combine for 87 yards on 36 carries. In comparison, UM running back Da’Rel Scott was able to gain 117 yards on 13 carries.
In the first half, the Blue Raiders and Terrapins stayed competitive, never getting more than six points away from each other. The first score of the game was a 48-yard run by Maryland’s Da’Rel Scott to make the score 7-0. MT answered back with touchdowns from Dwight Dasher and Sancho McDonald. A blocked extra point made the score at 13-7 for the Blue Raiders. A 1-yard run by Maryland RB Davin Meggett made the score 14-13 at halftime.
There were 43,167 in attendance at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium to see the Blue Raiders upset the Terrapins. MT head coach Rick Stockstill hopes this game helps change the perception of playing the Blue Raiders.
“When we play, we expect to win,” Stockstill said. “Against Clemson, we expected to win the game…we expected to win this one.
“I don’t know how [others] perceive us, but we’re not going to back down from anybody.”
