COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Taulia Tagovailoa threw for three touchdowns and ran for one in the first half of Maryland's 38-6 rout of Towson on Saturday.
The Terrapins (1-0) had little trouble pulling away from a Towson team playing its first game under coach Pete Shinnick. Maryland leaned on its veteran quarterback, with Tagovailoa throwing for 260 yards in under three quarters, and the offense looked mostly sharp against this FCS opponent.
Corey Dyches had six catches for 108 yards and a touchdown for the Terps.
The Terrapins have high hopes in coach Michael Locksley's fifth season at the helm. They're coming off an eight-win campaign last year and have a talented, experienced quarterback in Tagovailoa. He opened the scoring with a 23-yard touchdown run.
Tagovailoa struck twice more in the first quarter with a 23-yard TD pass to Dyches and a 24-yarder to Jeshaun Jones. He added a 13-yard scoring toss to Kaden Prather with 14 seconds left in the half to make it 28-3.
Roman Hemby scored on a 9-yard run in the third quarter.
Tagovailoa had 32 pass attempts in the first half and only one in the second before he was replaced by Billy Edwards Jr.
Nathan Kent threw for 128 yards for Towson (0-1).
STREAK
Maryland has held three straight opponents without a touchdown, dating to last season. It's the first time the Terps have accomplished that since they shut out Cincinnati, Clemson and Virginia to finish off an undefeated regular season in 1976.
THE TAKEAWAY
Towson: Locksley didn't run up the score against his alma mater, removing Tagovailoa late in the third quarter. The Tigers never got into the end zone, but they avoided turnovers, which helped keep the final score somewhat reasonable.
Maryland: Jones and Dyches were the top returning pass catchers for the Terps, and their connection with Tagovailoa looked strong as expected. Tagovailoa did have to do his share of scrambling, so Maryland's pass protection will be something to watch in the coming weeks.
UP NEXT
Towson: The Tigers open conference play in the CAA when they host Monmouth on Saturday night.
Maryland: The Terps host Charlotte on Saturday night.
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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll
