2014 Recap
Written by: Big 33 Staff on June 14, 2014.
In the first-ever Big 33 double overtime game, Maryland beat Pennsylvania 31-24 in dramatic fashion.
Maryland jumped out early in the first quarter, as running back Marquel Dickerson saw a big hole up the middle, taking the carry for a 72-yard touchdown. A 39-yard field goal put Maryland ahead 10-0 near the end of the first quarter. Shortly into the second quarter, they added to their lead. Jalen Jones capped a 62-yard drive with a pass to Kevin Joppy in the flat, which he ran 14 yards for a touchdown.
Pennsylvania had its next drive interrupted abruptly, as Maryland’s Josh Woods picked off a Mark Pyles pass and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown and the 24-0 lead. Woods, a Maryland signee, finished with three interceptions and was named Maryland’s Most Valuable Player.
Down 24-0 in the second quarter, Pennsylvania stormed back with Chase Edmonds scoring on Pennsylvania’s first touchdown midway through the second quarter on a 28-yard run. The Fordham signee was later named Pennsylvania’s Most Valuable Player, taking seven carries for 50 yards. Maryland almost scored right before halftime, but Christian Lezzer stripped Micah Till near the goal line and Niko Thorpe recovered the ball in the end zone to give Pennsylvania the ball back. Thorpe recovered another fumble on a botched handoff in the third quarter, and it led to Pennsylvania’s next score. Toledo-bound tailback Terry Swanson made the turnover count as he punched in a touchdown from 5 yards out. That made it a 24-14 Maryland lead with 4:23 to go in the third quarter.
Pyles led Pennsylvania’s first drive of the fourth quarter and capitalized with a 20-yard touchdown run to make it just a three-point deficit. The Pennsylvania defense took over after that, riding the momentum. The defensive line swarmed into the Maryland backfield and held them to negative 3 yards of offense in the fourth quarter. Lower Dauphin kicker Joe Julius, who erased a disastrous start, nailed a 29-yard field goal that forged a 24-all battle with 1:19 left in regulation.
In the first overtime, Julius went wide left on a 42-yard field goal attempt, but the Pennsylvania defense had his back. Patrick Amara intercepted Maryland quarterback Jalen Jones near the goal line to send the game to another overtime period. Maryland had the ball first in double OT and on the first play; Antwaine Carter dropped a 25-yard pass right into the arms of Reggie White Jr. for a touchdown. Starting at the 25-yard line, Pennsylvania moved the ball 13 yards on two plays. But on the next one, Mark Pyles was intercepted by Rasheed Gillis at the 2-yard line to send Maryland home on top.
