CHARLOTTE – It was a dreary, overcast day on Saturday afternoon at Richardson Stadium in Charlotte. While the forecast called for more precipitation throughout the afternoon, it was not water droplets falling from the sky but long passes from Maryland’s Taulia Tagovailoa. The junior, younger brother of former Heisman winner Tua, performed at a level commiserate with the family name, throwing for over three hundred yards in the first half alone, pacing the visiting Terrapins to a 56-21 win over the 49ers.
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Charlotte WR Grant DuBose hauls in a TD.
Photo Credit: Ed Conway |
Charlotte redshirt freshman quarterback Xavier Williams made the first start of his career and was serviceable in his debut appearance against a Big Ten opponent. Going 19 of 35, Williams found the end zone twice on the afternoon, connecting with star receivers Victor Tucker and Grant DuBose. Tucker, who led the team with ten receptions, added a second touchdown in the fourth quarter on a pass from backup Trexler Ivey.
Tagovailoa was every bit as special as anticipated going into the game. The redshirt junior was 27 of 31 on the day, tallying nearly four hundred yards along with four passing touchdowns. He added a short rushing touchdown in the third quarter. Defensively, Maryland stifled Charlotte, holding the 49ers to ninety-six yards on twenty-seven attempts.
Maryland, whose average scoring drive was less than three minutes, scored touchdowns on eight of their nine drives before kneeling out the clock to end the game. The only drive to not score a touchdown was at the end of the first half when Tagovailoa was picked in the end zone by Comanche Francisco, a lone bright spot for the 49ers defensively.
Next Week
Charlotte (0-3) goes on the road to face Georgia State in Atlanta for the second year in a row while Maryland (2-0) hosts SMU.
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