College football: Maryland blasts previously unbeaten Minnesota

Freshman Anthony McFarland ran for 112 yards and two touchdowns, Tre Watson returned an interception for a score and Maryland breezed past previously undefeated Minnesota 42-13 on Saturday.

Ty Johnson had an 81-yard TD run for the Terrapins (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten), who looked nothing like the team that lost badly to Temple last week.

"The players played really good," interim coach Matt Canada said. "I got out of the way."

Minnesota (3-1, 0-1), without a doubt, hardly resembled the squad that had bullied three straight nonconference foes at home.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.

"I thought there was really a lot of good, and a lot of bad," coach P.J. Fleck said. "We were very inconsistent in a lot of areas, and when you're inconsistent on the road in the Big Ten, it's going to be very difficult for you to win."

Both teams were mourning fallen teammates. The Gophers wore helmet stickers to honor former offensive lineman Nick Connelly, who died of leukemia on Wednesday.

"It's been an emotional three days for our football team," Fleck said.

Maryland players wore helmet stickers to remember Connelly and Terps lineman Jordan McNair, who died of heatstroke in June after collapsing during a conditioning drill.

Maryland is also adjusting to a big change in the coaching staff. Head coach DJ Durkin is on administrative leave during an external investigation of the football program, so Canada has added the role of interim coach to his job as offensive coordinator.

After taking the blame for the loss to Temple — a 35-14 embarrassment — Canada deployed an offense against Minnesota that rolled up 432 yards.

Effectively mixing the pass and run, Maryland led 14-0 after 11 minutes, increased the margin to 18 points shortly after halftime and took a 35-13 lead into the fourth quarter.

Minnesota freshman Zach Annexstad completed 14 of 32 passes for 169 yards and was picked off twice.

"This is how failing is growth," Fleck said. "He's got to grow up. I know he'll respond in the right way."

Watson's 36-yard interception return made it 28-10, and a 64-yard touchdown run by McFarland later in the quarter essentially clinched it.

The Terrapins outgained the Gophers 288-109 in yardage and led 21-10 at halftime.

"When you're down 14-0 before you know it, everything changes," Fleck said.