Maryland football slices through UConn in 38-14 victory
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After allowing only its second touchdown of the season, Maryland football needed to halt UConn’s momentum. The Terps led 24-14 with 5:29 remaining in the third quarter and looked for their offense to once again deliver.
On a 2nd-and-12 at the 23-yard line, Malik Washington stepped back and connected with Chris Durr Jr. for a 15-yard reception to move the chains. The sophomore quarterback wasn’t done just yet.
He completed a pair of passes to Durr and hit chunk passes to Na’eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding and Ryan Manning. Harry Dalton III punched in a touchdown two plays later, securing his first career multi-score game and extending Maryland’s lead back to 17 points.
That drive was part of Washington’s 18 consecutive completions, the program’s longest completion stretch since at least 1953. The sophomore threw for 347 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns to help flip the Terps’ early deficit into a commanding, 38-14 road victory.
“We learned a lot about ourselves with the first road test, and I thought we did a good job of taking care of business,” head coach Michael Locksley said. “Malik was really efficient today.”
A week after erupting for 365 yards on the ground — the program’s most in a game since 2018 — Maryland’s rush attack took a severe hit with DeJuan Williams sidelined Saturday. His absence propelled sophomore Iverson Howard into the starting role.
Howard, who had the bulk of Maryland’s carries against Hampton, only logged two rush attempts in the first quarter for six yards.
Offensive coordinator Clint Trickett opted to rely on quick passes to the receiving corps. Washington completed five passes for just 24 yards on the Terps’ opening drive, with Kaleb Webb’s eight-yard reception serving as the longest play.
But the possession stalled out in UConn territory — a sign of the struggles Maryland would endure early on.
While the Terps’ offense was forced to punt on their opening two drives, the defense couldn’t hold up late in the first quarter. Huskies quarterback Kalieb Osborne connected with an open JD Willoughby for a 36-yard touchdown.
Trailing for the first time this season and hurting from center Michael Hershey’s second false start of the drive, Maryland expanded its playbook. It paid off, as Washington delivered a dot in stride to Gladding. His 60-yard score tied the game at seven with three minutes remaining in the first quarter.
That success carried over to the Terps’ ensuing drive, but it came in a different manner. Dalton III received five carries, nearly matching his total from last week, and broke loose for 27 yards and a rushing touchdown.
After allowing UConn to score on its second drive, Maryland’s defense solidified throughout the remainder of the game. The Terps held Osborne and the Huskies’ offense to just 30 total yards in the second quarter.
Osborne, who accounted for 355 yards last week, struggled to find any success through the air and on the ground during Saturday’s game. He only gained 18 rushing yards off eight scrambles, and outside of his deep touchdown pass, he went 6-of-11 for 58 passing yards.
“Everyone who was in there was a force,” Sidney Stewart said. “Whether [it was] the pass or the run game, it’s kind of hard for them. They had to earn every inch of the run game.”
Maryland strung together a 15-play, 91-yard drive late in the second quarter that fell short of the endzone. Following a pair of four-yard rushes from Howard, his third-down effort from the one-yard line fell short. The Terps settled for a field goal to take a 17-7 lead into halftime.
Stewart failed to make an impact in the first six quarters of the 2026 season, but on UConn’s first drive after halftime, the freshman edge rusher got home. Stewart sacked Osborne deep in Husky territory, forcing them to punt for the fourth time.
Webb put together his best sequence of the season, hauling in a one-handed catch on the first play of the possession and later outleaping a UConn defender for a 30-yard reception. Those two plays alone exceeded his production from the first game — he had one catch for nine yards.
“We saw the talent level that we’ve increased at the receiver position with Chris Durr and [Na’eem],” Locksley said. “Both making plays and going over 100 yards together. Kaleb Webb had a couple of really big plays for us.”
That drive was capped with a one-yard touchdown run by Howard, but the back stayed down following the score and was helped off the field. He did not return for the remainder of the game, finishing with 64 total yards.
“[Howard] was available to play. We made the decision that we would put a knee brace on him. I think he’ll be fine,” Locksley said.
It didn’t matter, though, as Washington and the rest of Maryland’s offense remained in rhythm. The Terps put up 21 second-half points and iced the game with 17 minutes remaining.
Three things to know
1. Tight ends remain unimpactful. With practically an entirely new wide receiver room, Preston Howard and Dorian Fleming were expected to see a larger involvement in Maryland’s offense this season.
But the duo only garnered a 7.9% target share against Hampton. That number doubled to 16% against UConn, but it’s still less involvement for two potent pass-catchers than many would have expected entering the season.
2. Zion Elee shows flashes. While Elee’s first collegiate stat didn’t come until late in last week’s game, he made his presence felt in the first quarter. Elee broke free off the edge, giving Osborne no time to react and forcing a fumble. He finished with three tackles and a key sack.
3. Chunk plays carved open Maryland’s defense. The Terps held UConn silent for the majority of Saturday’s contest, but it had two costly lapses in the secondary. Boston College transfer Amari Jackson and All-Big Ten honorable mention Jamare Glasker, respectively, were left badly beaten on UConn’s 36 and 39-yard touchdowns.
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