Every Wednesday during his weekly news conference throughout the season, Maryland offensive coordinator Walt Bell stressed the importance of winning the turnover battle and creating more explosive plays than the opposition. As Bell told it, the best way to ensure a Terrapins victory each week was to win both categories.
Perhaps no game illustrated that better than Maryland's 31-13 win against Rutgers before an announced 30,220 fans at Maryland Stadium Nov. 26. The victory pushed the Terps to 6-6, securing a bowl berth in head coach DJ Durkin's first year at the helm and snapping a four-game losing streak.
The Terps didn't vastly outplay the Scarlet Knights -- Rutgers ran 80 plays to Maryland's 61 -- but big plays directly led to four Maryland touchdowns, and the Terps didn't turn the ball over. Senior quarterback Perry Hills, who was asked to throw just 15 passes in his return from a left shoulder injury, protected the ball and moved the chains enough for the Terps' rushing attack (318 yards) to control the game.
