In a potential ‘get right,’ Maryland did anything but that on Friday night as Northwestern dominated from beginning to end in a 37-10 loss.
Maryland suffered four takeaways, including three in the second quarter, and saw a pair of drives end on downs in the second-half despite head coach Mike Locksley taking over play-call duties.
Northwestern would open the game’s scoring thanks to a 40-yard pass to WR AJ Henning, one of three big plays in the opening 16 minutes, as the secondary struggled to adjust with the absence of veteran safety Dante Trader Jr., who headlined Friday’s inactive list. Northwestern would punch in a nine-yard rushing touchdown three plays before turning a 92-yard drive into an early two-possession lead.
Maryland would appear to show its first signs of success, taking the ensuing drive 99 yards before QB Billy Edwards Jr and RB Roman Hemby were stopped for negative yards on three consecutive plays to set Jack Howes up for his first of two made field goals and three attempts.
The offense, meanwhile, struggled to find much consistent success as QB Billy Edwards Jr finished 28-of-51 for 296 yards, yet tossed his third interception of the season on an ill-advised throw to the sidelines in the fourth quarter. It didn’t help that the run game averaged just 1.8 yards per carry, adding strain to a passing attack that WR Tai Felton led once again with nine catches for 77 yards on 19 targets. Maryland worked to get WR Kaden Prather more involved as he finished with a team-high 81 yards on eight catches and 14 targets, but the offense failed to maintain success. It appeared the Terps would turn the corner on the opening drive of the second half, taking the offense inside the Northwestern 40 before a fourth-down pass to Prather went through his hands, giving the Wildcats the ball right back.
Northwestern closed the game with three consecutive scoring drives to cement the game, pushing Maryland to 3-3 (0-3) and 0-5 in games coming out of the bye week since Mike Locksley took over as head coach.
Despite failing to capitalize on the bye week to prepare for Northwestern, Maryland will have to find a way to get back on track vs. USC next week at home with the program fending off a new all-time level of apathy in the Locksley era.