Billy Edwards Jr. leads Maryland to win over Auburn in Music City Bowl
NASHVILLE — With its record-setting starting quarterback unavailable, the Maryland football team got a lengthy look at its potential future in Saturday’s Music City Bowl. Billy Edwards Jr.’s audition went about as smoothly as Terrapins Coach Michael Locksley could have scripted in the early stages, included some hiccups later and culminated in a 31-13 triumph over Auburn at Nissan Stadium.
The redshirt sophomore and heir apparent to Taulia Tagovailoa, the Big Ten’s all-time leader in passing, accounted for 176 yards of total offense, although he completed just 6 of 20 passes, and directed touchdowns on his first two series to help Maryland (8-5) earn a bowl victory in three consecutive years for the first time.
The Terps scored touchdowns on their first three possessions to complete a third consecutive winning season for the first time since 2001 to 2003. And they won eight games in back-to-back years for the first time since 2002 and 2003.
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“I just tried to go out there and do my job to the best of my ability,” Edwards said after his first start this season. “Obviously I was grateful for the opportunity. The biggest thing in my mind going into this game, I put a lot of pressure on myself. I just wanted to win for these older guys.”
The transfer from Wake Forest, a Northern Virginia native who played at Lake Braddock High, was voted Maryland’s MVP after he rushed for one touchdown and passed for another in place of Tagovailoa, a four-year starter who several weeks ago said he would opt out of the game, presumably to concentrate on the NFL draft.
Cameron Edge, the third-string quarterback in the regular season, also received some playing time, leading a first-quarter touchdown drive in front of a crowd of 50,088 who began streaming out of the stands when cornerback Glendon Miller stepped in front of a severely underthrown pass by Tigers quarterback Payton Thorne. The redshirt junior returned the interception 44 yards for a touchdown and a 31-7 lead with 11:05 to play in the third quarter.
Miller raised an arm in celebration during the return, drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty enforced on the kickoff, but Maryland, which forced four turnovers, got the ball back when the Tigers (6-7) fumbled the return. Edwards was able to enjoy an extended stretch of the second half from the sideline, the outcome all but settled.
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“I’m really happy with the way the quarterback performed — both of those guys,” said Locksley, who has said he will hold an open competition for the starting role entering next season. “There were some great learning moments. It was a lot of great teaching and learning throughout the course of this game, and I saw some of young guys, including our quarterbacks, grow up today.”
Maryland had a 24-7 lead at halftime thanks to a scoring drive that began with 2:28 to play in the second quarter after the Tigers had drawn within 14. Edwards accounted for all 38 yards during the series, which ended with redshirt sophomore Jack Howes’s career-best 49-yard field goal with eight seconds to go. That was the longest field goal in bowl history for the Terps.
Edwards made just the second start of his career but had played in seven games this year, serving as the goal-line replacement for Tagovailoa. In the final two games of the regular season, Edwards rushed for five touchdowns, highlighted by three on four carries in a 31-24 home loss to then-No. 3 Michigan on Nov. 18.
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His responsibilities grew far more extensive against the Tigers, who also were without several notable opt-outs Saturday. But Maryland faced additional uncertainty in the starting lineup with cornerback Tarheeb Still opting out and linebacker Jaishawn Barham and tight end Corey Dyches entering the transfer portal. Dyches was one of Tagovailoa’s favorite targets, but Edwards had a full complement of wideouts, the majority of whom are expected to be back next year.
On the opening possession, Edwards leaned on tailback Roman Hemby, who took a short pass 61 yards to the 2, breaking several tackles along the way. One snap later, Edwards capped the drive with a run through the middle for a 7-0 lead.
Edwards directed another 75-yard touchdown drive on Maryland’s ensuing possession, completing a five-yard pass to tight end Preston Howard for a 14-0 lead with 5:58 to play in the first quarter. It was the first passing touchdown of the season for Edwards and the fourth of his career.
Edge took over for the third possession as the Terps remained aggressive, with Edge finding wide receiver Kaden Prather for a 57-yard pass to the Auburn 3. Maryland called a timeout on first and goal with the play clock about to expire, but on the following snap Edge connected with tight end Dylan Wade for a 21-0 lead.
That gave Maryland the most points in the first quarter of a bowl game in program history.
“Being able to practice and play in a game like this is just so instrumental in us being able to continue to develop because you can’t get this type of experience,” Locksley said. “… It’s a precursor to next year while also trying to finish up this season.”
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