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N O V E M B E R 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 3 passes for 121 yards. Brand, considered the more mobile of the two quarterbacks, also played in the second half but didn't have a passing attempt, as the dreadful field con- ditions forced both teams to rely on the ground game. When the weather cleared in the fourth quarter, Bortenschlager re- turned to the field and led the Terps on a seven-play, 59-yard touchdown drive for their only points. In 11 games this season, Bortenschlager has completed 51.3 percent of his throws for 1,128 yards, with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. There have been other absences that have impacted the Terps' season. Linebacker Jessie Aniebonam suffered an ankle frac- ture in the Texas game, depriving Maryland of a key pass rusher, and safety Josh Woods missed the Michigan State game and will also sit out Saturday's game against Penn State with a rib injury. Also, standout sen- ior linebacker Shane Cockerille was sus- pended for undisclosed reasons in early October and didn't return to action until last week's game against the Spartans. On a more positive note, the Terps have gotten great performances from several players. The most noteworthy has been wideout D.J. Moore, who leads the Big Ten with 72 catches for 933 yards and eight touchdowns. A 5-11, 215-pound junior, Moore has caught passes from eight quar- terbacks during his career, and his consis- tent productivity in the face of so much upheaval elsewhere "makes the numbers he's had even more eye-opening," Durkin said. "It usually doesn't happen that way for a receiver when you have the kind of injuries and situations that we've had at quarter- back. It's just a credit to him. … He's so consistent. He works. Nothing affects him. He doesn't say much, doesn't get up and down. Whether he's caught 10 passes in a game or caught one, he's the same guy. You know you can count on him." Maryland fared surprisingly well in Durkin's first season as head coach, win- ning six regular-season games to qualify for the Quick Lane Bowl. The Terps lost that game to Boston College, 36-30, but in turning what many thought would be a dif- ficult transitional year into a bowl-worthy season, they seemed to serve notice that their upward trajectory might be steeper than anticipated. And when they spoiled Tom Herman's debut at Texas this past September, the hopes that Durkin's second season would bring even bigger and better things seemed entirely justified. But the quarterback woes hindered their offense, and now the Penn State game will have to suffice as the Terps' bowl. Having a border rival on the opposite sideline probably helps in that regard. The Nittany Lions have been the measuring stick for other Eastern programs, and they're the team that Maryland must compete against for great high school prospects like Hill. "When you have that [bowl incentive] out there, it's something that you can point to, and obviously your players look at it," Durkin said. "So yeah, it's different. But I know our guys will be motivated. It's a big game and they'll be ready to go and excited to play. "There's familiarity in the rosters and guys who know each other, and that adds to any game. It's a conference, divisional opponent, so there's something there to it."

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