Head coach Michael Locksley has repeatedly made it clear what Maryland football needs to do to take the next step: beat the Big Ten’s blue blood programs. Wisconsin was no exception. The Terps were 0-4 in its four matchups with the Badgers since joining the conference.
That changed Saturday. Maryland walked into Camp Randall Stadium and not only defeated the Badgers but dominated them in all three phases of the game, building up a three-score lead at halftime.
The second half was sluggish, but a 62-yard
touchdown bomb from Malik Washington to Shaleak Knotts in the final frame sealed Maryland’s statement 27-10 road victory to begin conference play.
27 points was the most the Terps have ever scored in a game against Wisconsin.
Anticipation for Wisconsin quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. taking on his former team was high. The redshirt senior missed two games and was listed as questionable entering the contest, but Badgers head coach Luke Fickell named Edwards the starter pregame.
But Edwards hobbled off the field on Wisconsin’s second drive and did not return. Backup Danny O’Neil was underwhelming in relief, completing 14 of 22 passes for 120 yards and an interception.
Much of that was due to a phenomenal showing by the Terps’ defense. Their front seven lived in the backfield, racking up new season-highs in sacks (six), quarterback hurries (six) and tackles for loss (10). O’Neill was visibly rattled by the fourth quarter.
Freshman Zahir Mathis began Maryland’s first-half onslaught on the first drive of the game, soaring above the line to send Wisconsin’s field goal attempt straight back into the ground.
Messiah Delhomme blocked a punt later in the quarter — his second straight week doing so — cementing a dominant quarter for Maryland’s special teams unit.
O’Neil’s first pass attempt after Edwards left the game was a deep ball that hung in the air and landed in the hands of Jalen Huskey, who returned it inside Wisconsin’s five-yard line.
Wisconsin didn’t make Maryland work hard for scoring opportunities in the first half. Both of the Terps’ touchdown drives began well inside Badgers’ territory from blocked kicks, and Sean O’Haire’s field goal in the second quarter’s final seconds was set up by a 48-yard bomb from Malik Washington to a wide-open Octavian Smith Jr.
And when Wisconsin created offensive momentum, sloppy mistakes stalled it before points were mustered. Outside of Mathis’ blocked kick, two bad snaps from redshirt freshman center Ryan Cory — filling in for injured starter Jake Renfro — prematurely ended promising Badger drives.
Wisconsin’s only offensive output came on its first possession in the second half — a field goal — and a touchdown pass with less than a minute left in the game.
Three things to know
1. Washington flashy but inconsistent. The freshman’s best moments Saturday were stellar. His 62-yard dagger to Knotts was perhaps his best throw of the year, and three long balls to Smith were placed perfectly and resulted in big gains.
But Washington also rushed quick and easy underneath throws at times, leading to bad misses. Multiple passes could have resulted in turnovers, including one on a slant pass that hit the Wisconsin cornerback in the hands. He did enough to win, but Washington would like to see the easy things become routine moving forward in conference play.
2. O’Neil did damage with his legs. The one area Maryland’s defense struggled was defending designed quarterback runs. O’Neill’s box score rushing stats are unimpressive due to the amount of sack yards he took, but he extended multiple drives with his legs. It’s not a tremendous concern, but it is an area Maryland needs to clean up against modern offenses.
3. Injuries galore, but nothing significant. A plethora of Terps suffered injuries of some extent Saturday, including Daniel Wingate, Zahir Mathis, Eyan Thomas, Nahsir Taylor and Octavian Smith Jr. Taylor was the only one who didn’t return to the game.
