Maryland Wins FWAA National Team of the Week Honors

September 5, 2018 by Courtesy FWAA

After an emotional off-season, the Maryland Terrapins rallied through a fourth quarter deficit and a long weather delay by scoring the game’s final 10 points to upset Texas, 34-29, in Landover, Md. The win gave interim head coach Matt Canada his first victory as the Terrapins earned National Team of the Week honors from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) for the extended opening weekend of the 2018 season.

The award is sponsored this season by Reveal Suits.

It is the first time Maryland (1-0) has won the honor in the award’s 17-year history. The FWAA's All-America Committee selects the weekly winner and all Division I FBS and FCS schools are eligible to be selected.

Freshman wide receiver Jeshaun Jones ran for a score, threw another and caught a 65-yard touchdown pass – all in the first half of his first career game. No player in the last 20 years has accomplished that feat in his debut. After squandering a 24-7 lead, Maryland forced three turnovers in the final six minutes to secure the win. Quarterback Kasim Hill was 17-for-29 for 222 yards and led a go-ahead 79-yard scoring drive that put Maryland up 31-29 with 14:25 remaining. Lightning and a drencing rain then caused an 86-minute delay and, after the stoppage, the three turnovers halted any Texas comeback.

Maryland has dedicated its season to offensive lineman Jordan McNair. The Terrapins paid tribute to McNair, who passed away following a summer training session, by lining up with 10 players on their first offensive play. The team waited for a delay of game to be called, a penalty that Texas declined in a show of sportsmanship. Maryland players also wore a No. 79 sticker on their helmets.

"I just can't say enough about our players, everything they've been through and the way they stuck together," Canada said. "It was a great way to honor Jordan. This was a win for Jordan. We're certainly proud of our team, proud of our program."

The other National Team of the Week nominees for the weekend of Sept. 1 were:

Cincinnati (1-0): Running back Michael Warren II rushed for 142 yards and three touchdowns as the Bearcats spoiled the UCLA coaching debut of Chip Kelly with a 26-17 win in the Rose Bowl. Cincinnati’s Cortez Broughton forced a fumble that UCLA recovered in its end zone for a tie-breaking safety with 9:45 left, and Warren’s third touchdown run with 1:44 remaining sealed the game. The Bearcats’ had five sacks and eight tackles for loss.

LSU (1-0): The Tigers rolled to a 33-3 lead entering the fourth quarter and won a prime-time matchup between ranked opponents, 33-17 over Miami. Nick Brossette ran for 125 yards on 22 carries and broke the game open early with a 50-yard scoring run. Quarterback Joe Burrow led the Tigers to six scoring drives without a turnover in his first start and Cole Tracy made all four of his field goal attempts and tied a school record with a 54-yarder in his Division I debut.

Virginia Tech (1-0): The Hokies blocked a punt for a touchdown and forced five turnovers (3 INT's, 2 fumbles) as Virginia Tech got up 10-0 early and stuffed Florida State on the road, 24-3, for a key ACC win. It was the Hokies' first win in Tallahassee since 1974 after having lost 6 straight at Doak Campbell Stadium. Chris Cunningham blocked the punt and Eric Kumah caught the deflection and ran three yards for a touchdown and a 17-3 halftime lead. Tech's defense recorded 14 tackles for a loss, and Trevon Hill had three tackles for a loss and two sacks.