Tag: Maryland Terrapins

Jahan Dotson got emotional after smashing Penn State’s single-game receiving record

Penn State WR Jahan Dotson got a little emotional following his school-record performance against Maryland

You can have fun debating who the best wide receiver in Penn State’s program history is, but Jahan Dotson continues to make a strong case to be considered in the conversation. In his performance against Maryland in Week 10 of the 2021 season, Dotson added another debating point in his favor by not only setting a new Penn State school record, but smashing the old one in the process.

Dotson set a new Penn State school record for most receiving yards in a single game by racking up 242 yards against Maryland in a 31-14 victory on Nov. 6, 2021. Dotson now cruised past the previous record of 216 yards in a 2006 game against Northwestern.

After the game, Dotson got a bit emotional reflecting on how his family helped him get to this point in his collegiate career.

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Dotson is now the fourth player in Penn State history to have 200 receiving yards in a single game. In addition to Butler, the previous record-holder, Dotson joins O.J. McDuffie (212 yards vs. Boston College in 1992), and Bobby Engram. Engram is the only Penn State player with multiple 200-yard games with 200 yards against Rutgers in 1994 and 203 yards against Purdue in 1995.

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Penn State Twitter was mildly optimistic after a win against Maryland

Penn State Twitter was mildly optimistic after the Nittany Lions toppled Maryland in Week 10

Twitter is always a fun place, or a dangerous place, to find instant reactions from fans in real time. And after th first half of Penn State’s games, Twitter was full of negativity and pessimism with Penn State clinging to a 7-6 lead at Maryland. So how did fans react to the game after Penn State pulled away with some big plays to score a 31-14 victory at Maryland?

As you might expect, there were some more positive vibes after the game from Penn State Twitter, although a few fans can’t help but enjoy a win it seems.

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Here is how Twitter reacted to Penn State win over Maryland, starting with this little bit of incoherent stream of consciousness…

Jahan Dotson had a monster game, setting the school record for most receiving yards in a single game. Some fans loved it, and may have gone too far in establishing just where Dotson ranks in the history of college football’s top wide receivers, but who are we to rain on the parade?

It may not have been pretty, but some fans are finding an optimistic way of shedding some perspective on the entirety of the season to this point.

And some others took another spin on things…

Some fans still are not fans of how Maryland suits up for games…

How did a Maryland fan react to the game? By looking back fondly on a previous regime, of which Franklin was a small part of once upon a time…

And a word to the wise when it comes to in-game sports wagers…

Penn State will return home next week when they take on Michigan at Beaver Stadium.

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Report Card: Grading Penn State’s win over Maryland

Report Card: The early grades are in following Penn State’s win against Maryland. Jahan Dotson earned very high marks

Penn State had a very up-and-down performance against Maryland in Week 10, but they finished much better than how they started the game. With a 31-14 victory over the Terrapins on the road, Penn State snapped its three-game losing streak and clinched bowl eligibility for the 2021 season.

Let’s take a more in-depth look and grade the performance of the Nittany Lions win today.

Quarterbacks: A-

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Sean Clifford finished better than how he started. Penn State’s offense started off very shaky to open up the game. Even though he didn’t have consistent protection, Clifford had a very up-and-down performance in the first half. Clifford has played much more like himself ever since their loss to Illinois two weeks ago.

Next: Running Backs

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Instant Reaction: Jahan Dotson leads Penn State to 31-14 win at Maryland

Instant Reaction: Penn State grabs a win at Maryland behind big game from Jahan Dotson

Penn State has defeated Maryland, 31-14, in a gutsy performance from start to finish. Jahan Dotson set a new school record for the most receiving yards in a game and the Nittany Lions are now bowl eligible with three games to play.

The Penn State offense really struggled to get the ball moving to start the game, going -7 yards to start their first drive and back four yards on its second drive. But a big touchdown strike from Sean Clifford to Dotson, the first of three in the game, opened the scoring in Penn State’s favor.

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The Nittany Lions didn’t really get it going until late in the third quarter. It was a low-scoring game with several mistakes from both Sean Clifford and their struggling offensive line.

There were also quite a few questionable plays that many fans took to Twitter, expressing their frustrations and blaming it on coaching.

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For example, there were drives where Penn State attempted to go for it on fourth down using their run game, where they have struggled at all season. Both teams had a fairly quiet first half. Maryland missed a PAT to put Penn State up 7-6 at halftime.

The offense just didn’t click all game. Despite three big touchdown catches from Jahan Dotson, there wasn’t much rhythm in the passing game.

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Dotson’s third touchdown run ended up being Penn State’s longest offensive play of the season. He is continuing to perform at the highest level and could potentially hear his name called as a first-round wide receiver come April.

Penn State heads back home to take on the Michigan Wolverines, who, despite their loss to Michigan State last weekend, have had an impressive season.

With three games left of the season, it’s all about how they finish. Michigan is a winnable game, but a lot is going to have to change after today’s performance.

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WATCH: Ji’Ayir Brown pick-six puts Maryland away

WATCH: Ji’Ayir Brown pick-six vs. Maryland slams the door shut on the Terps

The final whistle has yet to be blown, but Ji’Ayir Brown may have just dealt the knockout blow to the Maryland Terrapins. Stepping in front of a pass from Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, Brown timed his movement perfectly to pick off a pass in the red zone and there was nobody anywhere in the proximity to stop Brown from going the distance.

With Penn State up 24-14, Maryland was moving the football well and once again in a position to put points on the board as time was beginning to run thin. But Penn State’s red zone defense has been stellar all season long, and Brown has been a part of that success time and time again.

Brown timed the pass perfectly and had nothing but empty space in front of him with most of the Maryland offense already situated on the opposite end of the field in a red zone situation.

The Brown pick-six was the first Penn State touchdown not scored by wide receiver Jahan Dotson in the game. Dotson set a new school record for single-game receiving yardage (242 yards), with three touchdowns on top of it.

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WATCH: Jahan Dotson scores 86-yard TD to break tie with Maryland

WATCH: Penn State WR Jahan Dotson races away from the Maryland defense to put PUS back in front

After Maryland clawed their way back to tie the game early in the fourth quarter against Penn State, it was Jahan Dotson who provided the much-needed answer for the Penn State offense. For the third time in the game, Dotson was on the receiving end of a touchdown pass from Sean Clifford, but it was his third one that left the Maryland defense in the dust.

On a 2nd-and-17 from the Penn State 14-yard line, Clifford dropped back and waited for one of his receivers to find some open space. Leave it to Dotson to do just that. After hauling in a deep lob over the middle from Clifford, Dotson turned on the jets and sped his way down the middle of the field separating himself from the Maryland defenders for the score.

With the touchdown, his third of the game, Dotson was up to 189 receiving yards in the game.  And the way the fourth quarter is going, Penn State may need to rely on Dotson to make another big catch or two. Clifford is now with a 300-yard day on the dot with that touchdown to Dotson.

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WATCH: Sean Clifford and Jahan Dotson cap 95-yard drive with TD

WATCH: Sean Clifford to Jahan Dotson strikes again against Maryland

Fans may not have been too pleased with what Penn State did on offense in the first half against Maryland, but the Nittany Lions put some of those criticisms to rest midway through the third quarter with a 95-yard touchdown drive. And what better way to cap the drive than with a Sean Clifford to Jahan Dotson touchdown?

The second touchdown connection between Clifford and Dotson gave Penn State a 14-6 lead on Maryland, who opened the second half with a punt that pinned Penn State’s offense at the five-yard line. The 95-yard touchdown drive is tied for the longest drive of the year for the Nittany Lions, and it was only fitting it ended with Clifford connecting with Dotson.

Clifford found Dotson for a 21-yard touchdown that gave the Nittany Lions a small bit of breathing room with the way the defense has been playing.

Dotson has been having himself a ballgame against the Terps. The second touchdown catch of the game was Dotson’s seventh reception of the game, and it put him over 100 yards (103, officially).

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Twitter reacts to Penn State’s first half performance against Maryland

Penn State Twitter was not pleased with the first half performance of the Nittany Lions

The Penn State Nittany Lions came into today’s game against Maryland looking to end a three-game losing streak but in the first half, but the first half performance by the Nittany Lions was anything but inspiring.

Despite Penn State leading the game at halftime, all hanks to a missed extra point by Maryland late in the first half, Penn State Twitter was not happy with what it witnessed. Drawing heated attention was James Franklin’s clock management at the end of the half, where Penn State causally went through the final moments of the half despite having three timeouts in its hand.

We’ll see how these opinions look at the end of the game.

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WATCH: Sean Clifford connects with Jahan Dotson for first score vs. Maryland

WATCH: Jahan Dotson gets open, Sean Clifford seizes the moment for 38-yard TD for early lead at Maryland

If Penn State is going to get back on the winning track, Sean Clifford and Jahan Dotson need to make some plays against Maryland. After a shaky start on offense for the Nittany Lions, Clifford and Dotson capped a scoring drive with a big touchdown pass against the Maryland defense.

Penn State’s offense went the wrong way on each of their first two offensive possessions of the game against Maryland, losing seven yards on the game’s opening drive and going back four more yards on their second possessions. But after the Penn State defense did its thing to keep Maryland from taking advantage of a slow start by the offense, Penn State struck on their third series as Clifford got more in rhythm.

Clifford connected for a 38-yard touchdown to Dotson on the fourth play o the third offensive series for Penn State. Dotson made a move to create plenty of open space for Clifford to capitalize on. Dotson had to turn back for the football but he was deep enough down the field where he could easily score the touchdown at the end of the play.

The score was the first of the game, giving Penn State an early lead to play with.

 

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Behind Enemy Lines: What to know about the Maryland Terrapins

Behind Enemy Lines: Baltimore Sun reporter Ryan McFadden enlightens us on Maryland’s football team

Penn State is once again on the search for a win. After suffering three consecutive losses in conference play, the Nittany Lions will begin the month of November on the road against Maryland. Maryland got the last laugh in last season’s meeting by handing Penn State a loss in Happy Valley, but the Nittany Lions are the favorite for this weekend’s matchup in Big Ten play.

To help enlighten us a bit on this week’s opponent, we reached out to Ryan McFadden, who covers Maryland sports for the Baltimore Sun. Ryan was kind enough to offer his insight on this weekend’s showdown from a Maryland point of view and share some keys to the game to keep an eye on.

Here’s what Ryan had to say about this weekend’s game between Penn State and Maryland.

Nittany Lions Wire: What are your initial thoughts of Penn State vs Maryland?

Ryan McFadden: Saturday’s matchup is quite interesting. The Terps have a chance to clinch a bowl game in front of a home crowd, while the Nittany Lions are in dire need of a bounceback game after dropping three straight games. This is a perfect opportunity for Maryland coach Mike Locksley to get a signature win and I think the Terps will come out with a ton of momentum. Penn State are 10.5-point favorites, but I do believe Maryland can make it close if they can avoid allowing big plays on defense and the Terps can get off to a fast start on offense.

NLW: Who on Maryand’s offense should Penn State be concerned with?

McFadden: I would say quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa. If Tagovailoa can remain consistent in the pocket and not try to force throws, Maryland offense will be fine. Despite injuries to Dontay Demus Jr. and Jeshaun Jones, the Terps still have Rakim Jarrett while senior Carlos Carriere and freshman Marcus Fleming are coming off impressive performances against Indiana.

Tagovailoa can make or break the game. If Tagovailoa gets into a position where he is trying to force plays that will lead to him generating turnovers and ultimately taking Maryland out of the game.

NLW: For those who don’t follow Maryland, what makes this matchup very interesting from a Maryland point of view?

McFadden: What makes this matchup interesting is what is at stake for Maryland. The Terps are one victory away from their first bowl appearance in five years. Maryland has a chance to do it at home against a ranked opponent. This is the type of signature victory the program needs.

Maryland has shown that it has a dynamic offense. In the victory against Indiana last week, Tagovailoa threw for over 400 yards and spread the ball around pretty well. However, the Terps seem to only do this against weaker teams. Penn State has held opponents to 17 points per game, so it will be interesting to see how the Terps handle the challenge.

NLW: What did you take away from last year’s encounter?

McFadden: Maryland was able to start the game off fast, jumping out to a 21-0 lead. Tagovailoa was efficient while Rakim Jarrett showcased the talent he has. The Terps were able to establish the run game with Jake Funk rushing for 80 of the team’s 123 yards. Defensively, I thought the Terps did a solid job at generating turnovers and holding Penn State to seven points through three quarters. Unlike last year, Maryland doesn’t have a consistent run game, which will require the Terps to rely on Tagovailoa a lot more.

NLW: What is one reason why Maryland defeats Penn State?

McFadden: Maryland can defeat Penn State if they can limit the big plays down the field. The Terps have struggled when facing elite receivers this season. If they can prevent big plays from Jahan Dotson, the Terps will be in good shape. The way for Maryland to do that is pressuring Sean Clifford. The Terps defensive line has to collapse the pocket and get Clifford out of rhythm. If the Terps can limit the big momentum-swinging plays, that will allow Tagovailoa to remain calm and not try to force plays like he did against Ohio State and Iowa.

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Our thanks to Ryan McFadden for taking some time to answer questions about the Maryland Terrapins for us this week. Follow Ryan on Twitter @ryanmcfadden_.

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