Several more questions remain as Maryland football closes non-conference slate against Kent State
(Photo Courtesy of Maryland Athletics)
At to the lowest degree one question was addressed concluding week at Champaign.
The Friday night lights were bright, Maryland'southward unblemished record was on the line, several mishaps could have easily derailed the Terps' chances at winning and head autobus Mike Locksley had a question nigh his team that needed an answer.
Can this year's team overcome adversity?
After a Week Three contest that was laden with errors but ended with a clutch ii-infinitesimal touchdown bulldoze led by Taulia Tagovailoa, a subsequent defensive stand that resulted in 18 negative yards for the Illini and a game winning field goal past Joseph Petrino, the respond to that question is a resounding yes.
"This was one of the starting time games where I thought we had a chance to possibly fold under adversity," Locksley said. "I was really pleased with the way the team responded."
Early on in the flavour, whatsoever questions regarding the team's ability nether pressure are always adept to have answers to — especially when the answers are encouraging. The question of adversity was ane of many that Locksley posited heading into the flavour, and after merely three weeks of play, at that place are yet plenty more to be answered — namely, the ones regarding discipline.
"I feel similar we've played with amend discipline but we're nonetheless not where nosotros need to be," Locksley said.
Indeed, discipline was a trait that wasn't always present in last week's matchup. From the Lavonte Gater targeting ejection to the viii penalties that amounted to over threescore yards, the mistakes piled up and were enough to make an affect.
Confronting Kent State, a disciplined team in its own right, some corrections for Maryland could exist the difference between a needless nailbiter and a tune-upward victory. The Golden Flashes aren't as lowly as their one-ii record would suggest. Despite being outscored by No. 5 Iowa and No. seven Texas A&Chiliad, 17-71, Kent State's efforts in the opening quarters of both games were enough to give both top-10 teams trouble scoring.
"Kent State has a very aggressive defense," Tagovailoa said. "They're very tough. I think they're a much older group, they play together a lot … Everyone flies to the ball, they're very aggressive, they're pretty fast too."
In both games, the Gilt Flashes kept things close before their ranked opponents ran upwardly the score. They held the Aggies to just 10 points in a half and zero in the second quarter before they sprinted to lx points and, about recently, they faced just a single-possession deficit against Iowa until the floodgates opened in the terminal seconds of the third frame.
Much of their success can be attributed to a swarming defence that has nine takeaways on the season and a defensive front brimming with upperclassmen talent along with a dual-threat quarterback to kick.
"On criminal offense, their quarterback is the guy that makes [Kent State] go," Locksley said. "[Dustin] Crum is a savvy veteran quarterback that knows that organisation really really well."
Maryland, an unranked side, doesn't accept the luxury to have a delayed beginning to Sabbatum's contest — especially against a squad as experienced and battle tested as Kent State.
Ultimately, information technology'due south a game that begs a major question that Locksley had earlier the season began and will likely proceed to stress as the flavour trudges on:
Tin can this team be disciplined?
Maryland and Kent State will exist kicking off at 3:30 on Saturday and the contest will air on Large Ten Network.
Source: http://wmucsports.net/several-more-questions-remain-for-maryland-football-against-kent-state/
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