Week 8: Billy Edwards Jr., Maryland

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photo courtesy maryland athletics

University of Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., who starred at Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week after his career performance led the Terrapins to a thrilling 29-28 win over USC this past Saturday.

Edwards, in his first season as Maryland’s starter, completed 39 of 50 passes for a career-high 373 yards and two touchdowns. He also scampered three yards for the game-winning touchdown with 53 seconds left.

“Threw it a little more than I would expect or want him to, but really played at a high level today,” Maryland Coach Michael Locksley said.

With USC often playing man-to-man coverage, that prompted the Terrapins to rely on Edwards’ throwing arm to move the ball. Edwards delivered as Maryland rallied from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Roman Hemby’s 10-yard touchdown run and subsequent two-point conversion pass from Edwards to Kaden Prather pulled Maryland within 28-22 with 10 minutes left.

The Terrapins had their backs against the wall late in regulation, but Donnell Brown blocked a 41-yard field goal attempt with two minutes left, setting up Maryland at the USC 47-yard line with 1:48 remaining. Edwards was 4 of 4 passing on the winning drive; another passing attempt resulted in a 15-yard gain for a pass interference penalty.

On second-and-goal from the 3, Edwards faked a handoff, took a step to his left and then cut up the field and into the end zone.

“The biggest thing for me the final drive was to try to continue what I did the whole game, where I found success and getting the ball out to the playmakers … and let them do the hard work,” said Edwards, a redshirt junior who played one season at Wake Forest before transferring to Maryland.

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week honor roll:

  • Lafayette RB Jamar Curtis (St. John’s) rushed 27 times for 156 yards and two touchdowns and caught five passes for 42 yards as the Leopards beat Sacred Heart, 31-17.

  • Virginia Tech CB Mansoor Delane (Spalding) made nine tackles as the Hokies beat Boston College, 42-21.

  • Shepherd WR Cameron Dorner (Oakdale) caught eight passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns as the Rams beat Millersville, 35-21.

  • Indiana RB Justice Ellison (Flint Hill) rushed nine times for 105 yards and two first-half touchdowns as the Hoosiers improved to 7-0 for the first time since 1967 with a 56-7 win over Nebraska.

  • Catholic RB Daequan Harvin (Dunbar) rushed 32 times for 157 yards as the Cardinals beat Lycoming, 14-12.

  • Susquehanna WR Kyle Howes (Urbana) caught seven passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns and returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown as the River Hawks beat Juniata, 66-21.

  • Navy CB Dashaun Peele made three tackles with one sack and returned two interceptions for touchdowns as the Midshipmen improved to 6-0 for the first time since 1979 by beating Charlotte, 51-17.

  • Gallaudet QB Brandon Washington rushed 25 times for 151 yards and four first-half touchdowns as the Bison beat Anna Maria, 39-34.