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Bowl eligibility within reach for Terps Saturday

Posted at 2:39 PM, Oct 25, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-25 18:18:44-04

Back in the win column after a complete, team victory.  

 

“We executed at a high level. We got back to running the ball really well. We were effective in the pass game and protected the football for the most part,” said Terps head coach DJ Durkin.

 

A 28-17 victory over Michigan State has Terps football back to .500 in the Big Ten.  Quarterback Perry Hills, returning from injury, threw for 200 yards and a pair of touchdowns. 

 

“I think our players really responded to Perry being back and playing as well,” said Durkin.  “I think you can see a noticeable spark in the team and the offense in particular.”

 

“It’s always been my goal to be the leader of the team, to have a winning team,” said Hills.  “It just happened to be this year, having the most fun of my life.”

 

Follow Shawn Stepner on Twitter @StepnerABC2 and Facebook.

 

Next up for Maryland (5-2, 2-2) is a trip to Indiana (3-4, 1-3). The Hoosiers have lost three straight games.  With a win on Saturday the Terps will become bowl eligible again after missing out on the postseason last year. 

 

For Severna Park's Mike Minter, who grew up a die-hard Terps fan, he's looking for that this weekend and then some. 

 

“You always look forward to the next week and just try to be one win better,” said the offensive lineman.  “I don’t think our goal ends at six wins.  We don’t want to get just six wins to become bowl eligible.  We want to win every one of them.

 

“Getting the opportunity at Indiana to get that sixth win, it just feels really good especially being a senior and especially what we’ve been through last year,” said Hills.  “It’s just a huge turnaround for us.”

 

It would benefit Maryland to lock up bowl eligibility sooner rather than later.  Three of their final four opponents include the second (Michigan), sixth (Ohio State) and seventh-ranked (Nebraska) teams in the country.