Maryland football falls flat in new low during Mike Locksley era

1 hour ago

3 min read

Maryland football is no stranger to humiliating losses. The Terps dropped games to Indiana and Michigan by a combined 70 points last season, part of an eight-game skid, and lost decisively to Virginia Tech in its third game this year.

Saturday’s loss to UCLA may have marked a new low.

Looking to regroup after a deflating defeat to the Hokies, the Terps (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten) regressed even further in a 54-3 loss to the Bruins. UCLA outgained Maryland by 274 yards, including 227 more yards on the ground, and quarterback Malik Washington turned in the worst outing of his young career.

“Just wasn’t good enough, period … We didn’t play well enough in any of the three facets for us to win,” coach Michael Locksley said. “

UCLA entered Saturday sporting one of the nation’s most prolific run games. The Bruins ranked fifth nationally in rushing yards (286.7) and led FBS with 14 rushing touchdowns. That production didn’t slow down against the Terps.

Wayne Knight, who was tied for the most rushing scores in the country with eight, gashed Maryland in the first half. Knight totaled 116 scrimmage yards on nine touches in the first half and tacked on a 45-yard score early in the second quarter.

Less than three minutes later, Knight tacked on a 33-yard gain after he dashed up the left sideline. That gain set up UCLA’s second rushing touchdown, scored by Anthony Woods. Jaivian Thomas later punched in the Bruins’ third rushing touchdown of the second quarter — a stark contrast to Maryland’s offensive showing.

Knight single-handedly outgained the Terps, who totaled 88 yards, through the first two quarters. That was largely due to Maryland’s offense having few viable options.

The Terps’ run game already struggled in their previous two games, totaling 189 yards on 57 carries. DeJuan Williams missed those contests due to injury, largely sapping Maryland’s running back room of any explosiveness and leaving the unit looking for answers. Saturday didn’t provide any.

Williams, Harry Dalton III and four other running backs were inactive, leaving Maryland’s rushing attack extremely thin. Iverson Howard, Jianni Davis and Liam Willson were the only active running backs, a group lacking experience. Davis converted to a running back this offseason after being recruited as an edge rusher, and Willson joined Maryland football earlier this season, leaving Howard as the only truly viable running back option.

He totaled 12 carries for 34 yards, emblematic of Maryland’s inability to establish the run. The Terps occasionally turned to backup quarterback Cardell Williams to give life to the run game, but that didn’t work either.

One of Cardell Williams’ carries resulted in a five-yard loss, leaving his stat line at four carries for three yards. Struggles on the ground shifted the offense onto Washington’s shoulders. But even the usually solid Washington crumbled.

“He shouldn’t have to feel that he needs to carry the team,” Locksley said. “Today was one of those games for us on offense where nothing we called worked. Nothing that we did was right.”

The sophomore finished the day 18-of-38 for 142 yards and four interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns. Washington’s first pick-six came on a throw off his back foot while he was facing pressure. UCLA defensive back Ta’Shawn James crept up from behind tight end Dorian Fleming and easily intercepted Washington’s throw.

Blockers escorted James to the end zone to extend the Bruins’ lead to 27-3. His second pick-six encapsulated the Terps’ offensive woes on Saturday.

A miscommunication led to Washington throwing a quick pass to the flat with no pass-catchers in the area. Bruins defensive back Scooter Jackson caught the errant throw and returned it 65 yards, unimpeded, to the end zone.

“We were kind of pressing to make a play because we couldn’t really get into a rhythm,” Washington said. “We were just trying to find ourselves again within the offense.”

At times it seemed like wide receiver Chris Durr Jr. was the only offensive player capable of making an impact. Durr led the Terps with seven catches for 56 yards — all of his yards coming after the catch.

Na’eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding, Maryland’s second-leading receiver, failed to catch a pass and no other Maryland receiver surpassed 30 yards.

Locksley was determined to prevent Maryland’s defeat to the Hokies from spiraling into a losing streak. Saturday was a terrible sign of the Terps’ ability to accomplish that.

Related Links