Penn State football handled business defensively in the last regular season game of the year in its 44-7 blowout win over Maryland. However, it was the unit’s pressure that generated a great disruption to the Terrapins’ offensive scheme.

“Pressure breaks pipes,” defensive end Abdul Carter said postgame.

The former linebacker lived in the backfield, recording a team-high two sacks and two tackles for loss. Carter also registered a quarterback hurry.

“We strive ourselves as a defense to be disruptive, to cause turnovers, and create pressure,” Carter said.

Carter has grown into a near-unstoppable force in his first season as a defensive end for the Nittany Lions. The junior has 10 sacks and was third in the nation with 17.5 tackles for loss heading into the Maryland game.

“He’s consistent always. He’s always looking for ways to get better,” defensive tackle Zane Durant said. “We always push each other as hard as we can, and I’m glad he’s getting the opportunities to make plays.”

Carter recorded his ninth and 10th sacks of the season against Maryland, making him the first Penn State player since 2015 to eclipse double-digits.

“I’m still improving. I’m still finding ways to get better,” Carter said. “I haven’t played my best football yet. Just got to keep finding ways to get better.”

He wasn’t the only Nittany Lion creating havoc against the Terrapins as Dani Dennis-Sutton also made himself a threat. The junior defensive end registered a team-high three quarterback hurries and contributed to the team’s sack and tackle-for-loss totals.

But Carter wasn’t satisfied with the defense’s performance and will work to improve, even on a statistically impressive night.

“I don’t think we’re playing at the level we’re capable of as a unit,” Carter said. “I feel like there are definitely a lot of areas as a unit we can get better at. We haven’t played our best football yet.”

Nittany Lions have recorded three games with five or more sacks this season, and quarterback pressure has been the backbone of the defense’s success. That same pressure forced three turnovers against Maryland, all interceptions.

Getting to the quarterback and forcing quick and inaccurate throws into a hungry secondary boosted the offensive chances for Penn State — as it has all season. The Nittany Lions also had two fourth-down stops in the contest, both in enemy territory.

“We got to be critical of everything. We didn’t play a perfect game,” Durant said. “We know that even though we dominated the score, we got to look at every little detail, steps, assignments, and how we could have messed that up and just be critical of ourselves to get better.”

Last week, Penn State only recorded one sack against Minnesota. However, it tallied nine tackles for loss, Durant leading the way with 2.5. On the heels of a great performance, Penn State produced and then some against the Terrapins.

“We don’t look to replicate. We take it day-by-day, play-by-play,” Durant said. “Just dominate within the play, and everybody does their job — that’s how we look at it.”