Nebraska scores 34 unanswered as the Terps lose their third straight game, 48-23

Photo by Dylan Davies/Maryland Terrapins. Photo courtesy of Maryland Athletics.

After 200 first-quarter yards and 23 first-half points, Maryland football was witnessing one of its hottest starts of the season so far. 

Nebraska might’ve been late to the party, but as a team, they made their impact clear, outscoring the Terps 34 to zero in the final 36 minutes as they defeated Maryland 48-23 at home. 

Last week against UCLA, Maryland football faced one of its most embarrassing losses of the 2020s.

And to start the game against the Cornhuskers, it looked like that loss was put in the rearview mirror. The Terps got on the board four times — a touchdown pass from Malik Washington to Chris Durr Jr. and three field goals from Sean O’Haire. 

In the second quarter, Maryland led 23-14. Unfortunately, Dejuan Williams’ touchdown to get Maryland to 23 points would be the last time they scored all game. 

The Terps scored zero points in the second half. 

Everything was working for the Cornhuskers. Transfer quarterback Anthony Colandrea — whom the Terps have played against in the past during his stint with Virginia — threw for three passing touchdowns. 

On top of it, he tallied 346 all-purpose yards — 238 in the air and 108 on the ground. Nebraska on the ground averaged over five yards per carry, rushed for over 200 yards, and scored three more touchdowns. 

Defensively, the momentum was no different. The unit picked Washington off twice, one of which resulted in six points for the Cornhuskers. 

Even the special teams unit had a great day, and surprisingly, it’s the punting unit that really ignited the rest of the Nebraska team. 

After barely missing a blocked punt early in the game, the punt return unit was able to block Maryland’s punt the second time, resulting in a 17-yard rushing touchdown one play later to get Nebraska on the board in the first. 

Nebraska’s defense was really able to get to Malik Washington, especially on third down. When the time came, Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule never failed to trust his secondary, run man-to-man coverage, and try to get after the quarterback. 

Stating that this strategy worked would be an understatement. In the first half, the Terps were 0-for-7 on third down. In the second half, they were 1-for-7. 

When he was pressured, Washington really struggled to make reads. When the Terps were playing their best, Washington was getting the ball out fast, and head coach Mike Locksley was finding creative ways to get quick yards. 

Maryland welcomed back running back Dejuan Williams for the first time since week one, and he immediately made his impact felt by breaking a 56-yard run and scoring a touchdown in the first half. 

Because of him, different aspects of the run game began to work. Locksley relied on RPO’s, screen passes, jet sweeps, screens to the weak side- anything he possibly could to confuse the Nebraska front seven. 

Success, however, only lasted for so long, as Maryland went scoreless in the second half. 

A season ago, Maryland began their regular season with an astonishing 4-0 record. After that, they lost eight straight games. 

Locksley ensured that this was a different team, ensuring that after Maryland’s loss to Virginia Tech earlier in the season, a losing streak like last season’s wouldn’t happen again. 

Well, this loss now marks the third straight loss for Maryland, bringing their record to 2-3. 

It only gets harder from here, as Maryland is set to take on No. 5 Ohio State on Saturday, Oct. 10, in Columbus.