Knights record 12 tackles-for-loss, including five sacks, to hold Terrapins to 42 yards rushing.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (UCFKnights.com) – The UCF football team returned to the field on Saturday for its first road game of the year, a 38-10 win over Maryland.

The Terrapins (2-1) came into Saturday’s matchup ranked second in the nation in scoring at 57 points per game and averaged 508 yards of offense, including 315 yards rushing, but they had not gone up against a defense like the Knights (2-0). Swarming to the football, UCF constricted the Maryland offense to 197 yards of total offense and 42 on the ground.The secondary notched a pair of interceptions, including a pick-six for Mike Hughes in the fourth quarter, but third down was the bread and butter for the Black and Gold. Maryland converted just two third downs on the afternoon.

The offense fed off defensive stops all afternoon long, starting at end of the first quarter with a turnover on downs. Maryland backup quarterback Max Bortenschlager set up for a sneak on fourth-and-1 at the UCF 45-yard line, only for Shaquem Griffin and Titus Davis to stop him behind the line. The UCF offense charged into the end zone on a nine-play, 55-yard drive on the ground, capped by a one-yard touchdown run by Taj McGowan.

Up 14-3 coming out the break, the defense forced a quick Maryland three-and-out to give the ball back to the offense. Quarterback McKenzie Milton bolted out of the backfield on third-and-3 for a 55-yard run to keep the drive alive. Five plays later, Milton found Jordan Akins with a six-yard touchdown pass to make the lead untouchable.

The Knights return home to Spectrum Stadium next Saturday for their American Athletic Conference opener against Memphis at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.