Hemby shines as Maryland beats Buffalo 31-10
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Roman Hemby ran for 114 yards and two touchdowns, including a 70-yard sprint in the first minute of the second half that helped Maryland pull away to a 31-10 victory over Buffalo on Saturday.
On an otherwise uneven day for the Maryland offense, Hemby breezed through a gaping hole and raced untouched to the end zone for the team's longest run since 2019. That gave the Terrapins a 24-7 advantage after 39 seconds in the third quarter.
"A lot of people can get to the second level, a lot of people can make big runs, explosive plays," Hemby said. "But who can ring the bell, who can take it home? ... Whenever the plays are there for me to make, I try to do my best to make them."
Antwaine Littleton also ran for two touchdowns for Maryland (1-0), and Taulia Tagovailoa threw for 290 yards. It was also a solid defensive showing for the Terrapins, who return a talented quarterback and an impressive group of receivers but still need to show they can stop top teams.
Buffalo (0-1) didn't give them much of a test. The Bulls were outgained 446-268. Cole Snyder threw for 160 yards but was sacked four times.
"I think the biggest thing is how we move forward from this point," Buffalo coach Maurice Linguist said. "Every opportunity you step on the football field, you have an opportunity to really examine yourself out of multiple lenses, see what mistakes are out there, whether from a schematic standpoint and look at yourself from a personnel standpoint and then make that jump."
Hemby, a redshirt freshman who had 17 rushing attempts last season, made the most of his seven carries in this year's opener. He scored on a 33-yard run in the first quarter, and then Littleton added a 2-yard touchdown in the second.
It was 17-0 when Buffalo scored its lone TD on a 19-yard run by Al-Jay Henderson. Then the Bulls stopped Maryland on fourth down in the final minute of the half to stay within 10 points.
That was one of a handful of moments when the Terrapins weren't quite clicking. Tagovailoa had an overthrown pass intercepted in Buffalo territory in the third, and later Rakim Jarrett dropped one of the Maryland's quarterback's nicest tosses of the day.
"Our goal is to try to get 80 plays," said Terrapins coach Michael Locksley, whose team had only 61 on Saturday. "The only way to get to that 80 is to be good on third down, and I think we were 4 of 13 today."
Still, the Terps never seemed like they were in much danger in this opener. Littleton's 1-yard touchdown early in the fourth made it 31-7.
THE TAKEAWAY
Buffalo: The Bulls played a turnover-free game and kept Maryland's receivers from making too many big plays, but Buffalo simply didn't move the ball well enough to threaten an upset.
Maryland: The passing game was a bit inconsistent, but the offensive line, which returns every starter, did a nice job. The Terrapins ultimately won this game about as comfortably as expected.
UP NEXT
Buffalo: The Bulls host Holy Cross next Saturday night.
Maryland: The Terps play at Charlotte on Saturday. Maryland hasn't played a nonconference road game since a loss to Temple in 2019.
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