Gus Edwards, Rutgers edge Maryland for third win in last four games

(AP) Gus Edwards ran for 109 yards and caught a go-ahead 23-yard touchdown pass with 7:30 remaining to rally Rutgers to a 31-24 victory over Maryland on Saturday.

Robert Martin scored on a 10-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter as the Scarlet Knights (4-5, 3-3 Big Ten) scored the final 14 points to come back from a seven-point deficit to post their third conference win in four games.

This one was not secure until Rutgers cornerback Isaiah Wharton broke up a fourth-down pass by fourth-string quarterback Ryan Brand to DJ Moore in the corner of the end zone.

Brand replaced Max Bortenschlager – the Terps' third quarterback this season – after Rutgers went ahead on Edwards' touchdown in the fourth. On the previous series, Bortenschlager took a big hit on a third-down run that came up short.

Gio Rescigno scored on a 9-yard run, Kiy Hester had a 52-yard interception return for a touchdown and Andrew Harte kicked a 50-yard field goal for Rutgers, which needs to win its final three games to become bowl eligible for the first time since joining the league in 2014.

Trailing 17-14 at the half, Maryland (4-5, 2-4) went ahead on the opening series of the second half on a 4-yard touchdown run by Ty Johnson. Henry Darmstadter added a short field goal to push the lead to 24-17 after a Rutgers' turnover on a punt return.

After falling behind 7-0 late in the first quarter, Rutgers, which ran for 239 yards, scored 17 straight points in the second to take a 17-7 lead.

Rescigno (8 of 17 for 107 yards) set up his 9-yard touchdown run in the second quarter with a 35-yard pass to tight end Jerome Washington. Harte kicked the first 50-yard field goal for Rutgers in five years on the next series to put the Scarlet Knights ahead. Hester added his second pick-six of the season on the Terrapins next series, stepping in front of an ill-advised pass by Bortenschlager and jogging into the end zone.

Bortenschlager (11 of 20 for 150 yards) drove Maryland 76 yards on the next series with Harrison scoring from 2 yards out with 1:13 left in the half.

PREGAME: The football game was part of a doubleheader. A little more than three hours before the kickoff, Rutgers defeated Maryland 27-9 in wrestling, winning seven of 10 matches.

UP NEXT:

Maryland returns home to play Michigan next Saturday.

Rutgers plays at No. 7 Penn State next Saturday.