Maryland football’s subpar showing results in 33-27 loss to Northwestern

Taulia Tagovailoa dropped back on third down and looked for Corey Dyches over the middle of the field to move the chains, trailing by six points with one last chance to snap a two game losing streak. 

His pass overshot Dyches, and Coco Azema intercepted Tagovailoa. The result was sealed.

Maryland football (5-3, 2-3 Big Ten) crumbled against Northwestern (4-4, 2-3 Big Ten), 33-27. 

“They played a good game, but I think the mistakes were made on our end, especially at the end there,” Jeshaun Jones said. “There were plays that could’ve been made and should’ve been made.” 

Maryland drove down the field on its opening possession with an efficient five-play, 66-yard scoring drive. Receiver Tai Felton scored from eight yards out to cap off the drive that lasted just over two minutes. 

The touchdown continued the Terps’ hot start to games this season. Their 35 points on opening drives ranks first in the Big Ten. But the opening drive was not indicative of the way the rest of the game would play out.

The Wildcats’ defense may have sealed the game, but it was the play of quarterback Brendan Sullivan that vaulted Northwestern over the Terps.

Sullivan averaged just 153.5 passing yards per game over the past two games while filling in for an injured Ben Bryant as the Wildcats’ signal caller. Northwestern’s offense used misdirection to make his job easier and test the eye discipline of Maryland’s secondary, and he routinely found his receivers open for big plays. 

Sullivan’s rushing ability also created problems for the Terps. The Wildcats have struggled to run the ball all season but the quarterback was able to extend drives and avoid sacks throughout the game with his legs. 

Sullivan finished his career day with 265 passing yards and two touchdown passes. He also rushed for 56 yards to lead Northwestern’s run game.

“We played Sullivan last year,” linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II said. “Same ability that he showed last year he showed this game. A little more so style of play. Like I say all the time it’s never scheme as far as where we have doubt.”

Bryce Kirtz was on the receiving end of Sullivan’s first touchdown pass to tie the game up at 14. The second touchdown to Cam Porter allowed the Wildcats to take the lead after the Terps’ offense failed to score on three separate plays on the 1-yard line. Northwestern forced a turnover on downs and marched 97 yards. 

Defensive penalties, tackling issues and struggles in the secondary plagued a Maryland defense that was among one of the best in the Big Ten. The Terps also failed to record a single turnover. 

“We talked to them prior to the game that this [officiating] team is going to officiate really close and really tight,” coach Michael Locksley said. “I think a couple of times, we made poor decisions, but after the play stuff is stuff that I don’t condone.”

Their pass rush had a valiant effort against a Wildcats offensive line that was allowing a conference-worst 4.3 sacks per game. But it was overshadowed by Northwestern’s pass rush which accumulated six sacks, as it had just one in four Big Ten games this season.  

One of those sacks was forced by linebacker Bryce Gallagher. He also recovered a Tagovailoa fumble as the ball slipped out of the quarterback’s hands. Porter took advantage of Tagovailoa’s turnover with a 1-yard rushing touchdown to knot the score at seven early in the first quarter. 

Maryland’s offense struggled on third down and scoring in the red zone. Its offensive issues continued in the second half, with the Terps punting three times and turning the ball over with the game on the line.

The Terps went on to score twice in the second half. A field goal in the third quarter briefly made it a one score game, but a Jones touchdown with five minutes remaining in the game didn’t change the result as Maryland could not complete the comeback. 

“A loss is a loss but what’s disappointing is that we didn’t do the things that we’re capable of,” Locksley said. “We missed opportunities … players have to play better, coaches have to coach better and going into this week we got to evaluate everything that we’re doing.”