Maryland football surrenders 24 unanswered second half points; falls 24-20 vs Washington

Photo by Mackenzie Miles/Maryland Terrapins. Photo courtesy of Maryland Athletics.

Coming into Saturday’s game against Washington, Maryland football’s defense had been lights out. 

The Terps boasted the nation’s seventh-best scoring defense, second-best red zone defense, and second-most interceptions in FBS. Opponents had only scored 43 points through four games – the program’s lowest mark since the 2013 season – and no opponent had scored a rushing touchdown. 

But Maryland’s defense has historically struggled following bye weeks, surrendering 23, 33 and 37 points over the last three years — all in losses. 

The Terps appeared to be on the way to bucking that trend. Maryland (4-1, 1-1 B1G) led Washington (4-1, 1-1 B1G) by 20 early in the third quarter. Then it completely fell apart, conceding 24 unanswered points while the offense stagnated on the way to a 24-20 loss. 

“What we learned today as a team is you gotta put people away, especially good teams like Washington,” head coach Mike Locksley said. 

Washington entered the contest with one of the best ground games in the Big Ten, but it was completely shut down in the opening half. Maryland consistently got a strong push up front from its defensive linemen, along with the linebackers crashing down and filling up any rushing lanes. The result was holding senior running back Jonah Coleman to just 17 first-half rushing yards.

Freshman linebacker Carlton Smith was all over the field. The Virginia native finished the game with 11 total tackles and played a significant role in Maryland’s effort in shutting down Coleman. 

Maryland’s secondary made an immediate impact on the game’s opening drive. Washington sophomore quarterback Demond Williams Jr. missed his target and hit Terps senior defensive back Jalen Huskey, who took the interception deep into Huskies territory. 

But Maryland’s drive stalled out there after incompletions from freshman quarterback Malik Washington on second and third down, and the Terps were forced to kick a field goal. In the second quarter, Maryland kicked another short field goal after the offense stalled deep in Husky territory. Both kicks were under 30 yards, which would end up costing the Terps. 

“We kicked way too many field goals in the first half, where we had opportunities,” Locksley said. “Kicking field goals, with advantageous field position, those are things that come back to bite us.” 

Up 13-0 at halftime, the Terps appeared to have put the game away in the third quarter. Maryland marched down the field, finishing a 75-yard, nine-play drive with a touchdown pass to junior tight end AJ Szymanski to take a 20-point lead. 

Then the Huskies started rolling. Washington put together a 16-play, 55-yard drive that lasted over seven minutes and finished with a field goal. After the Terps went three-and-out on their next offensive drive, momentum started to swing. 

Williams Jr. found his rhythm in the second half. He completed four straight passes to close out the third quarter, taking advantage of a fatiguing Terps defense. Five plays later, he connected with junior wide receiver Denzel Boston for a three-yard touchdown – the Huskies’ first of the game. 

Maryland’s offense in the closing quarter and a half was nonexistent. The Terps never had a drive lasting more than three minutes following their opening drive of the second half, with 52 total yards over their final four possessions, keeping their defense on the field. 

“They just took away some of the stuff that was working early in the game,” Washington said. “I’d have to watch the tape back to see exactly what they did.”

The Huskies put together three straight touchdown drives to close out the game, meeting little resistance. Maryland had one final drive in the closing minutes of the game with a chance to take the lead, but a beautiful throw from Washington on third down bounced off Jalil Farooq’s hands, and the fourth down try fell incomplete. 

Maryland will have an opportunity to bounce back against Nebraska next week.