Purdue football failures reflected in report card vs Maryland
· Yahoo Sports
WEST LAFAYETTE − There will be no Homecoming dance for Purdue football, which likely will be grounded after turning in this report card.
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The Boilermakers (3-6) continue their downward trend, this one the most humiliating during a three-game losing streak, 34-29 to Maryland (3-6) at Ross-Ade Stadium.
The Terrapins, playing inspired in their second game under interim head coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim, was able to limit Purdue's offense to field goals in the first half, keeping the door open for a comeback.
The Boilermakers settled for four field goals, taking a 12-0 lead, but Maryland marched back with one long touchdown after another, a timely turnover to take over possession inside the 5, and a first Big Ten victory to boot.
Purdue's last-ditch effort, starting at its own 5 with 1:01 to go, ended with a thud after the Boilermakers advanced all the way to the Maryland 11. An illegal substitution penalty was followed by Ryan Browne getting sacked on the final play.
OFFENSE GRADE: D-
The defense held up its end for awhile. We know by now you can't anticipate that to carry on for a full game. Not cashing in on touchdowns in the red zone has been a season-long problem and it bit the Boilermakers in the backside against Maryland. Ryan Browne was sacked seven times, including one inside the 5 that was fumbled and scooped up by Maryland.
DEFENSE GRADE: F
This was trending towards a favorable grade. By day's end, the Terrapins averaged 8.7 yards per play. Chris Durr Jr.'s dead to rights in the backfield catch on a second-and-19 turned 87-yard touchdown trumped any good the defense had prior. The 75-yard touchdown run, 44-yard touchdown reception and 15-yard quarterback run for Maryland's first score just further justified this grade. And any staff decisions Barry Odom might need to make.
SPECIAL TEAMS GRADE: B+
Maryland had one long kickoff return and it turned into a touchdown three plays later. It's hard to criticize anything else. Another week, another game where the special teams play was the one certainty for the Boilermakers. Jacobo Echeverria Lozano padded his impressive freshman stats with five field goals. He's now 21 of 22 this season.
COACHING GRADE: F
What was that at the end of the first half? Purdue got a gift on a ricocheted ball that became a Trey Smith interception. The Boilermakers didn't have to go far to get into field goal range. Instead, the half ended with back-to-back sacks. A swing pass earlier in the first half on third-and-goal from the 7 was a mystifying, especially given that it was well covered. Running wildcat from the 12? The defense was put in compromising positions but also gave up three home run plays for touchdowns. Not winning at previously Big Ten winless Penn State? Understandable. Not winning on Homecoming against previously Big Ten winless Maryland? This is how coaches become unemployed.
GAME MVP
Maryland had one player who stood out coming in to Saturday. And he's the one who made seven Boilermakers swing and miss on the second-and-19 play that became an 87-yard touchdown. It was the play that essentially sealed the game for Maryland, playing inspired under an interim coach. Durr finished with 127 receiving yards on four catches.
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue football failures reflected in report card vs Maryland