Down 17-10 with less than five minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Maryland rallied for a dramatic 20-17 victory over Illinois to stay perfect at 3-0. The Terps scored twice in the final 2:13 to continue its best start to a season since 2016 when they started 4-0.

Joseph Petrino kicked his first-ever game-winning field goal as his 32-yard field goal gave the Terps the conference road win. It was Maryland's first walk-off win since Dan Ennis' game-winner against Clemson in 2006.

The Terps tied the game with 2:13 as quarterback TauliaTagovailoa found Tayon Fleet-Davis for a 10-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 17-17.

Greg Rose single-handedly derailed Illinois' ensuing drive with two sacks for losses of 11 and seven yards in the final 1:13. Intentional grounding on the Illini forced punt and the 38-yarder gave the Terps the ball at Illinois' 45-yard line with 47 seconds left, setting the stage for the winning play.

Tagovailoa threw for 350 yards on 32-of-43. DontayDemus Jr. had eight catches for 77 yards, extending his consecutive game streak with a reception to 25. Fleet-Davis carried the ball 11 times for 62 yards and two total touchdowns (1 rushing & 1 receiving).

Illinois took a 17-10 lead 47 seconds into the fourth quarter when Casey Washington scooped up a loose ball that Jordan Mosley punched out of Reggie Love's hands and rumbled 30 yards to give the Illini their first lead.

A penalty negated what appeared to be the tying play for the Terps. Tagovailoa's 41-yard scoring pass to Demus Jr. with 11:15 left was called back, putting the Terps in a 3-and-25 situation, where Illinois sacked Tagovailoa.

The Illini ran the clock, converting a pair of third downs, but eventually, the Terrapin defense held, giving Maryland the ball back with less than five minutes left in the fourth.

Not done yet, Tagovailoa led the offense down the field. He found Fleet-Davis in the flat. Fleet-Davis made two defenders miss before finding the endzone, tying the game.

Maryland came out in the third quarter with a purpose as Tagovailoa methodically moved his team down the field in just five plays, punctuating the drive with a rushing touchdown by Fleet-Davis. Now leading 10-3, Maryland's defense forced a quick three-and-out putting Tagovailoa and the offense quickly back on the field. The Terps again used chunk plays to move down into Illini territory, but a fumble on the goal line stalled the drive.

An Illinois touchdown on a 38-yard rush by Josh McCray tied the game at 10-10 with 6:15 left in the third quarter.

A second Terps fumble set the Illini up deep in Terps' territory, but safety Nick Cross intercepted the ball on the very next play to swing the momentum back towards Maryland. However, neither team could crack the end zone before the fourth quarter.

The first quarter was a defensive battle as neither offense could get into a rhythm. Illinois began marching late into the frame, but a goal-line stand led by freshman linebacker Branden Jennings forced the Illini to attempt a field goal. Defensive lineman Ami Finau didn't let the kick have a chance sticking his hand up and blocking it, keeping the game scoreless.

The second quarter started with a bang as Tagovailoa hit Rakim Jarrett for a 37-yard pass play on the first play of the quarter. The Maryland offense continued to move the ball down the field. Petrino capped the drive off with a 32-yard field goal.

Sacks by Sam Okauyinonu and Durrell Nchami kept Illinois at bay, but the Illini tied the game 3-3 heading into halftime.

Up Next

• The Terps will return home next weekend for a contest against Kent State at 3:30 p.m., on Big Ten Network and thr Maryland Sports Radio Network. 
• Next Saturday's matchup will mark Maryland's first-ever matchup against the Golden Flashes.