PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Interstat) — Athan Kaliakmanis threw four touchdown passes and Antwan Raymond rushed for 240 yards and a score to power Rutgers to a 35-20 comeback victory over Maryland in a Big Ten Conference matchup on Saturday at SHI Stadium.

The Scarlet Knights, who trailed by two touchdowns early, erupted for 21 points in the second quarter to seize control and never looked back, improving to 5-5 on the season. Maryland, which started strong, fell to 4-5.

The game turned on a dominant second-quarter performance by Rutgers. After Maryland quarterback Malik Washington opened the scoring with a spectacular 73-yard touchdown run on the Terrapins’ second offensive play, the Scarlet Knights’ offense awoke. Kaliakmanis found D.T. Sheffield for a 9-yard touchdown to get Rutgers on the board.

Following a Maryland field goal, Kaliakmanis connected with Ian Strong on a 45-yard scoring strike to tie the game. After Washington answered with a 21-yard touchdown pass to Kaleb Webb, the Scarlet Knights engineered a masterful two-minute drill. Kaliakmanis capped the 75-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Strong with 34 seconds left in the half, giving Rutgers a 21-20 lead at the break.

The Rutgers defense, which had been gashed for several big plays in the first half, stiffened after halftime. The unit forced a turnover on downs on Maryland’s first possession of the third quarter, setting the stage for the offense to extend the lead. Kaliakmanis and Strong linked up for their third touchdown of the day, this time from 14 yards out, to push the advantage to 28-20.

Maryland managed only a 44-yard field goal from Sean O’Haire in the fourth quarter as its offense sputtered. The Terrapins’ final four possessions ended with a field goal, a punt and two turnovers on downs.

Rutgers put the game away with a methodical 11-play, 66-yard drive in the fourth quarter, chewing over five minutes off the clock before Raymond plunged in from 5 yards out for his lone touchdown, sealing the 35-20 final.

Raymond was the workhorse for the Scarlet Knights, carrying the ball 41 times for his 240 yards, consistently moving the chains and controlling the tempo. Kaliakmanis was efficient, completing 13 of 20 passes for 229 yards and the four scores, with Strong being his primary target, hauling in five catches for 88 yards and three touchdowns.

For Maryland, Washington was a dual-threat, rushing for 164 yards and a touchdown on eight carries, but he struggled through the air, completing 15 of 28 passes for just 98 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Nolan Ray added 77 rushing yards on just five carries for the Terrapins.

Defensively, Rutgers was led by Eric O’Neill, who recorded 10 tackles, including three quarterback hurries. Linebacker Daniel Wingate had a game-high 12 tackles for Maryland, while Lavain Scruggs added 10 tackles and a first-quarter interception in the end zone that temporarily stalled an early Rutgers drive.

The victory moves Rutgers within one win of bowl eligibility as it heads into a difficult closing stretch. The Scarlet Knights travel to face Ohio State on Nov. 22 before hosting Penn State on Nov. 29. Maryland will look to get back on track when it visits Illinois on Nov. 15.