Nebraska scores 34 unanswered, hands Maryland football a 48-23 defeat

13 hours ago

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Maryland football has developed a frustrating tendency in recent seasons. The Terps have often shown brilliant flashes and inspired hope before suffering late collapses. Saturday marked the latest instance.

After an expectedly great first half was marred by miscues, the Terps (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten) were thoroughly outclassed for the remainder of a 48-23 loss to Nebraska (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) in Lincoln.

Maryland put together one of its best offensive halves this season, but crushing, untimely mistakes prevented the Terps from taking hold of the game.

The Terps’ opening drive — possessions they’ve heavily struggled in this season — initially ended in a three-and-out, but the first of many Nebraska penalties cut the Terps a break. Huskers defensive back Jeremiah Charles partially blocked Maryland’s punt, but he collided with punter Bryce McFerson’s plant leg. The running-into-the-punter flag allowed Maryland a second chance, which it capitalized on.

Malik Washington lobbed a 36-yard pass to Chris Durr Jr., his top target this season, on the next play. Durr followed with a 20-yard jet sweep. The Terps were forced to settle for a field goal, but it marked the first time they scored on an opening drive this season.

Durr continued to carry the offense later in the first quarter. The junior wide receiver caught a four-yard slant, juked right and outraced the Huskers’ secondary for a 65-yard touchdown. After the score, Durr accounted for 121 of the Terps’ 155 yards.

But a crucial mistake before Durr’s highlight prevented Maryland from taking a two-possession lead.

Nebraska squarely blocked a second punt, this time avoiding a penalty and taking over at the Terps’ 19-yard line. Running back Mekhi Nelson punched in a touchdown on the following play for the Huskers’ first points of the day.

Maryland strung together long drives on its next two possessions, supported by a resurgent run game. Sophomore running back Iverson Howard earned tough yardage and caught a swing pass that he took 20 yards to the goal line. An illegal block in the back erased that play — another misstep that negated a potential Terps’ score.

Huskers quarterback Anthony Colandrea sailed a pass directly to cornerback Jamare Glasker on the next drive, but Maryland failed to score a touchdown on that drive as well. That marked the difference between the teams in Saturday’s game. Nebraska pounced on every Terps miscue.

Late in the first quarter, Maryland’s pass rush had quarterback Anthony Colandrea dead to rights. Colandrea went down for an 11-yard loss, but defensive lineman Nahsir Taylor dove at Colandrea and drew a late hit penalty that gave Nebraska an automatic first down.

The Huskers would have faced a 3rd-and-27, but scored a touchdown after the Terps gave them a fresh set of downs.

Maryland briefly recaptured a two-score lead in the second quarter after one of the Terps’ standouts announced his return. Running back DeJuan Williams sprinted 56 yards up the right sideline on the Terps’ first play of the possession, then plunged three yards into the end zone. Williams missed Maryland’s previous three games after undergoing minor knee surgery.

“I know for Malik, it’s good to have another playmaker back,” coach Michael Locksley said. “DeJuan showed up and made some plays for us today. As he gets himself into a little better conditioning, I think you’ll get to see him carry the load for us moving forward.”

The Terps led 23-14 after the score, but a critical mistake from Maryland’s signal caller came soon after. Quarterback Malik Washington threw a pass intended for Kaleb Webb, but Huskers cornerback Dwayne McDougle III undercut the route. McDougle returned the interception 81 yards to pull Nebraska within two.

That pick marked Washington’s sixth interception in six quarters — a puzzling stretch after the sophomore avoided turnovers in his first three starts this season.

Maryland largely outplayed Nebraska in the first half, save for back-breaking mistakes like Washington’s pick-six. The Terps outgained the Huskers 300-195 in total yardage, but Nebraska led 28-23 at halftime.

“We gave up basically 19 points with the blocked punt, we had the late hit, and the pick-six,” Locksley said. “That swing of events for three straight series where we had opportunities.”

Maryland looked like a completely different team in the second half.

The Terps’ offense sputtered, totaling 84 second-half yards and failing to respond to Nebraska. The Huskers racked up 34 unanswered points, taking the score from a 23-14 Maryland lead in the second quarter to a decisive 48-23 Nebraska win.

While Washington and the offense scrambled for answers, Nebraska found its own: Colandrea’s legs. The senior quarterback rushed for 108 yards on the day, fueling a Huskers offense that Maryland couldn’t slow in the second half.

Perhaps the defining stat of the night was Maryland’s third-down conversion rate, 1-for-14. The Terps simply couldn’t deliver when it mattered most — a microcosm of their season.

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