Last-second FG hands UCLA 20-17 win, extends Maryland football's losing streak ahead of bye week

jmcconn3
Oct 18
4 min read

For the third straight week, Maryland football can’t quite slay its dragon - the fourth quarter.

The losing skid continued after the Terps went into Pasadena and dropped a third straight, this time against the UCLA Bruins with a score of 20-17, dropping their record to 4-3. (1-3 Big Ten).

For the first time ever, Maryland football went across the country to play in the historic Rose Bowl. Despite the long trek, they could not take care of business, extending both their current season losing streak and their streak of six-straight losses while trailing going into halftime to seven.

Maryland knows their failures of the fourth quarter all too well this season, specifically in their last three outings. Head Coach Mike Locksley continues not to be discouraged by these losses, however takes a different approach on the situation.

"I'm not a victim," Locksley said. "I'm gonna ask what we need to do, what I need to do to get us to be able to finish these games and to me, that's a growth mindset that this team has, and I promise you, that's where we are."

Quarterback Malik Washington delivered a promising drive that gave Maryland hope in crunch time, a situation in which they have stressed numerous times recently. Washington after rushing for 28 yards threw an 8-yard touchdown to wide receiver Jalil Farooq, knotting up the game 17-17 with 40 seconds to play.

Despite the positive defensive production that kept Maryland in the game, it wasn't enough to close out the game. The Bruins drove down the field, putting themselves in prime position to run down the clock and kick a 23-yard field goal with time expiring.

"We scored, and the cards just weren't in our favor again today," Washington said. "But I'm super proud of the way the defense played with the energy and effort that they play with, no matter the circumstance."

While the offensive production was minuscule, which checks out when these two programs faced each other in 1954 and 1955, scoring a combined 26 points in those two games, the defense from both teams were the X-factors all game long with 15 combined punts.

"The defense played well enough for us to win," Locksley said. "They scored points, they got turnovers. I thought we tackled better this week. The fourth quarter, we missed some tackles there again, you know, our defense gave us a chance to win the game today."

Despite already being short-staffed on defense with the absence of defensive lineman Zahir Mathis, the Terps lost two key players on targeting calls from Trey Reddick III in the first half and safety Jalen Huskey in the second half, which is costly for the future, as he will miss the first half of their next game against Indiana per NCAA rules.

"It's hard, because these are our playmakers," defensive lineman Dillan Fontus said.

"These are our guys who make a play, but we definitely play with the next man up mentality. So we have guys who are trained exactly how they are, and they know where they're supposed to be and know what they're supposed to do."

One of the only Maryland touchdowns this game came from an 8-yard pick six. Redshirt junior cornerback Jamare Glasker snagged his first career pick-six in a crucial moment for the Terps, giving Maryland its first lead in a game desperate for any sort of swing that could go their way.

Huskey roped in his third interception of the season as well, continuing his defensive domination for the secondary in critical moments.

Maryland had a chance to come away with inside the five-yard line twice this game, yet failed to get a touchdown on both trips, having to settle for a field goal on the first and a failed fourth-and-goal conversion on the second.

Washington struggled all game with his throwing accuracy along with six three-and-outs throughout the game on the offensive side of the ball, although Washington continues to grow and gain experience each week.

"I mean, this was probably by far the best I saw him when he seen the coverage drop," Locksley said. "The toolbox he's built is starting to grow to where he's understanding it's two-man, it's cover two, find my check down or use my feet, and I really like to see that grow, just got to see it a little quicker."

One of the positives from the offense was running back DeJuan Williams, rallying in 133 combined yards rushing and receiving. Williams seemed to carry over some of the momentum from the ground game from Nebraska last week to California today. His longest run of the day came on a 4th and down that appeared to set the offense up with a scoring opportunity after a 23-yard run, but that was squandered when Williams fumbled after a catch on the very next play - a sequence that perfectly captured Maryland's efforts on the road.

Fast forward to the future, Maryland enters their second and final bye week of the season, looking to flip the script on their lackluster reputation coming off a week’s worth of rest against the current #3 team in the country, Indiana.

"Obviously we have a bye week coming up, and as always, I evaluate everything that we do, starting with me myself," Locksley said. "But we'll do whatever we have to do to put ourselves in a position to compete and find a way to get back on the right track for homecoming at home against a really strong Indiana."

Maryland will head into its second bye week of the season before hosting third-ranked Indiana for homecoming.

Related Links