Rutgers 37, Maryland 30: 24 straight second-half points erase a 10-point deficit

Rutgers went into halftime at SECU Stadium down 23-13 and came out of it a different team. The Scarlet Knights scored the next 24 points, held the ball for nearly 36 minutes and left with a 37-30 win over Maryland on Saturday.

The swing came from third down and the clock. Rutgers converted 9 of 14 third downs; Maryland converted 4 of 13. Rutgers had 28 first downs to Maryland's 19 and controlled possession 35:52 to 24:08. Full odds history is on the game page.

How it was won

Maryland struck first. Damon Hall Jr. scored from a yard out at 7:30 of the first quarter. Dylan Lonergan answered with a 15-yard touchdown pass to KJ Duff with 50 seconds left in the quarter, tying it 7-7.

The second quarter belonged to Maryland. Malik Washington hit Dorian Fleming for a 3-yard score to make it 14-7. Lonergan found Duff again from 9 yards out, but Dane Pizzaro's extra point was blocked and Jamare Glasker returned it for a defensive conversion. Instead of a 14-14 tie, Maryland led 16-13. Chris Durr Jr. then ran 16 yards for a touchdown with 53 seconds left in the half, and the Terrapins led 23-13 at the break.

Rutgers took over from there. Pizzaro kicked a 25-yard field goal at 10:43 of the third quarter. Clay Thevenin caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from Lonergan at 4:00 to tie it 23-23. Thevenin put Rutgers ahead for the first time with a 7-yard run at 12:52 of the fourth, and Antwan Raymond's 2-yard run at 4:03 made it 37-23.

Washington hit DeJuan Williams for a 10-yard touchdown with 2:17 left, but Maryland got no closer.

Lonergan finished 23 of 35 for 291 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Duff caught 9 passes for 113 yards and both first-half scores. Dyzier Carter added 6 catches for 88 yards. Thevenin carried 17 times for 109 yards; Raymond had 29 yards on 16 carries. Rutgers totaled 442 yards, 291 passing and 151 rushing.

Maryland had 378 yards and did not turn the ball over, which makes the result harder to swallow. Washington went 19 of 38 for 263 yards and two touchdowns and led the team with 56 rushing yards on 9 carries. Durr caught 6 passes for 104 yards to go with his rushing score. Williams ran 9 times for 39 yards, and Jayden Kitchens caught 3 passes for 50 yards.

Against the number

Maryland closed as a 5.5-point favorite. Rutgers covered by winning outright, and the Scarlet Knights' moneyline paid at +180. Maryland's closing moneyline was -218.

The total closed at 55.5. The teams combined for 67, an over. Raymond's touchdown pushed the score to 60 with four minutes left, so the over was settled before Maryland's final score.

What's next

Rutgers improves to 2-4 and has its first win against an FBS opponent this season, after losses to Massachusetts, Boston College, No. 12 USC and No. 6 Indiana. The Scarlet Knights travel to No. 25 Northwestern on Saturday, October 24, on Peacock.

Maryland falls to 2-5 and has lost five straight since opening with wins over Hampton and UConn. The Terrapins host Illinois on Saturday, October 31.