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COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Taulia Tagovailoa threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Corey Dyches with 7:30 remaining, and Maryland held on for a 34-27 victory over SMU on Saturday night.
Roman Hemby ran for 151 yards and a touchdown for the Terrapins, who overcame 15 penalties to win this matchup of flawed-but-unbeaten teams. The Mustangs (2-1) had three of the game's five turnovers, and they lost the ball on downs at the Maryland 9 when Tanner Mordecai's fourth-down pass to the end zone sailed high with 2:31 remaining.
SMU got the ball back one more time but turned it over on downs again near midfield with 46 seconds left.
Maryland trailed 20-17 at halftime, and the Terrapins (3-0) wasted an opportunity early in the third quarter after driving to the SMU 6. A touchdown pass from Tagovailoa to Jeshaun Jones was wiped out by a holding penalty, and Jones was also called for unsportsmanlike conduct, putting Maryland in a third-and-goal situation back at the 31.
The Terps did manage a field goal to tie the game, but on SMU's next drive, they were flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, roughing the passer and pass interference. A fumble by Mordecai inside the Maryland 5 ended that drive, but the Mustangs quickly forced a punt and then took a 27-20 lead on a 7-yard scoring pass from Mordecai to Moochie Dixon.
SMU then got the ball back near midfield after a Maryland fumble, but a missed field goal kept the lead at seven, and the Terps drove to tie it on a 1-yard run by Hemby.
After an interception by Dante Trader, Maryland had a chance to take the lead. The Terrapins went for it on fourth-and-9 from the SMU 45. Dyches caught a pass a couple yards short, but he dragged linebacker Jimmy Phillips across the line to gain. Moments later, his TD made it 34-27.
SMU led 13-3 in the second quarter after a 51-yard TD strike from Mordecai to RJ Maryland. Antwaine Littleton scored on a 1-yard run for the Terps, and after Mordecai threw an interception, Tagovailoa found Rakim Jarrett for a 48-yard touchdown to put Maryland momentarily ahead.
Mordecai's 13-yard TD pass to Austin Upshaw put SMU back in front with 2:42 left in the half.
