Maryland uses 84-yard punt return by Logan to get past Duke 21-16

Big plays carry Maryland over Duke 21-16

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Tony Logan scored on an 84-yard punt return in the third quarter to give Maryland its first lead, and the Terrapins held on to beat Duke 21-16 Saturday night.

Maryland (4-1, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) trailed 9-0 midway in the second quarter and 9-7 at halftime before coming back. The Terrapins have already doubled their win total of last year, when they went 2-10 and finished with seven straight defeats.

Duke (1-4, 0-2) has lost four straight. Sophomore Sean Renfree completed 28 of 56 passes for 351 yards and a touchdown, but he was intercepted twice.

Down 21-16, the Blue Devils moved from their own 19 to the Maryland 39 with two minutes left. Facing a fourth-and-15, Renfree threw a pass to Austin Kelly that was tipped away.

Duke has been tormented this season by too many turnovers and big plays by the opposition, and those shortcomings contributed heavily to its latest defeat.

The Terrapins got their first touchdown late in the first half following an interception, and Logan provided Maryland its second score with his electrifying return.

Logan sidestepped a potential tackler immediately after catching the punt. He then headed upfield, juked to his left and then cut right at his own 25 before sprinting down the sideline to the end zone.

It was his second punt return for a touchdown in two weeks; the 5-foot-10 junior took one 85 yards against Florida International.

Maryland increased its lead to 21-9 when Da’Rel Scott scored on a 71-yard touchdown pass from Danny O’Brien to make it 21-9 with 13:48 left.

Playing in place of injured starter Jamarr Robinson for a second straight week, O’Brien went 9 for 26 for 170 yards.

A 2-yard touchdown pass from Renfree to Brandon King made it 21-16 with 7:20 to go, but the Blue Devils could not get closer.

Duke’s Donovan Varner had eight catches for 128 yards, and Conner Vernon gained 99 yards on six receptions.

Will Snyderwine kicked a field goal after each of Duke’s first three possessions — drives that covered 86, 59 and 39 yards.

Maryland, on the other hand, couldn’t budge a defense that came in yielding an average of 466.2 yards per game. The Terrapins managed only 67 yards on 22 plays punted four times in the opening 22½ minutes.

The momentum shifted when the Blue Devils suddenly reverted to form. After Renfree threw his eighth interception of the season — a costly misfire at the Maryland goal line — the Terrapins moved 80 yards in a drive culminated by a 3-yard run by Davin Meggett.

The march was extended by a roughing the passer penalty against Patrick Egboh on a third-and-11 incompletion.