COLLEGE PARK — Maryland football might have hit rock bottom.
Facing a Northwestern team dwelling in the cellar of the Big Ten in several key categories, the Terps botched a prime-time appearance Friday night and sputtered to a 37-10 loss before an announced 39,371 at SECU Stadium.
Maryland (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten) trailed 17-0 before the midpoint of the second quarter, and a second-half comeback was about as half-hearted as the opening as the team dropped its first three conference games for the first time since 2015.
While Northwestern was playing on short rest after a loss last Saturday to Indiana, Maryland was coming off its bye week. But by failing to overcome a 17-7 deficit after the first two quarters, the program lost its 33rd straight game when falling behind by at least 10 points at halftime.
“It’s frustrating, especially when you had two weeks to prepare,” said fifth-year senior linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II, who finished with three tackles (one for loss) and one pass breakup for a defense playing without injured safety Dante Trader Jr. “Credit to Northwestern. They played hard. We played well on defense — well enough to win. We gave up a couple big plays, but it’s challenging losing like this in this fashion.”
Maryland will seek its first victory over a Big Ten opponent when USC (3-2, 1-2) visits on Oct. 19 at 4 p.m. But there wasn’t much to look forward to after the team’s latest missed opportunity.
“When I go back and watch the tape, there’s obviously a lot of things I could have done better,” redshirt junior quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. said. “Had some missed throws. So it’s tough, it’s frustrating, but we’re at the midpoint of the season, and we really only have one choice: to look inside and fix some things to come together as a team and push forward. That’s really all we know. So that’s all we’re going to do. We’re going to continue to take steps in the right direction and just continue to try to get better.”
For his part, Locksley remained defiant about the team’s dwindling prospects at reversing course and qualifying for a fourth consecutive bowl game.
“Nobody can be tougher on us than we will be on ourselves, than I will be on myself,” said Locksley, who took over play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Josh Gattis. “That’s just how I’m built. We’re here to build this team to compete to win championships. Nobody ever said that it would be linear. Today, we took a step back, and we’re going to find a way to turn this frustration into something positive and productive this week. It starts with the next game, which we will hopefully use some of this from today as some motivation.”
Entering the game ranked second in the country in turnover margin at plus-11, the Terps turned the ball over four times to a Wildcats team that entered with six takeaways. Redshirt freshman returner Ricardo Cooper Jr., Edwards and redshirt sophomore tight end Preston Howard each fumbled, and Edwards was intercepted midway through the fourth quarter.
The giveaways contradicted what appeared to be Maryland’s advantage on offense, which had 25 first downs to Northwestern’s nine and held the ball for more than 33 minutes. Edwards threw for 296 yards but completed just 28 of 51 attempts and did not finish with a touchdown pass for the first time this season.
The Wildcats (3-3, 1-2) were supposed to be the sacrificial lamb on a night when students and fans turned out in black as part of the team’s “Blackout” theme.
Northwestern’s offense was tied for 16th in the Big Ten in points per game (18.6), ranked 16th in yards per game (302.8) and red-zone touchdown rate (50%) and ranked 18th in third-down conversion rate (29.7%). Its defense was similarly overwhelmed, ranking 15th in yards per game (347.4) and 12th in points per game (20.8).
But someone forgot to give the script to the Wildcats, who opened the scoring on a 9-yard touchdown run by redshirt sophomore quarterback Jack Lausch with 8:03 left in the first quarter. The series included a 40-yard pass from Lausch to graduate student wide receiver A.J. Henning on second-and-6 at the offense’s 46-yard line.
After the Terps marched to the Wildcats’ 40 but were forced to punt, Northwestern scored another touchdown on a 3-yard carry by graduate student running back Cam Porter with 12:08 left in the second quarter. That possession was aided by another 40-yard strike from Lausch to graduate student wide receiver Bryce Kirtz on third-and-7 at the 50.
On the ensuing kickoff, graduate student linebacker Greyson Metz stripped Cooper, a Baltimore native and Calvert Hall graduate, and redshirt freshman defensive back Damon Walters pounced on the fumble at the Terps’ 23. Although the Wildcats lost 3 yards in three plays, redshirt junior kicker Luke Akers converted a 43-yard field goal for a 17-0 advantage with 10:50 remaining.
The 17 first-half points marked a season high for Northwestern.
“We talk about valuing the football,” Wildcats coach David Braun told reporters. “This has to be part of our formula — winning in the turnover margin. We did that in a big way tonight.”
Maryland finally responded with a methodical 16-play drive that chewed up 90 yards before Edwards plunged 1 yard for a touchdown with 3:22 left. But even that score was not easy as the offense needed four plays to pick up the final 2 yards.
The Terps had a chance to cut into the lead before halftime, but their series stalled at the Wildcats’ 36, and redshirt junior kicker Jack Howes’ 54-yard field goal attempt strayed wide right with six seconds left in the second quarter.
Maryland’s opening possession of the second half appeared promising as the offense moved the ball to Northwestern’s 37. But on fourth-and-4, senior wide receiver Kaden Prather dropped a pass on a slant route that would have gained at least 7 yards.
On their next series, the Terps faced first-and-goal at the Wildcats’ 1 but lost 12 yards courtesy of a 3-yard loss by redshirt junior running back Roman Hemby, a 0-yard gain by Edwards and a sack by redshirt junior defensive end Aidan Hubbard. They settled for a 31-yard field goal by Howes three seconds into the fourth quarter to make it 17-10.
Maryland forced Northwestern into a three-and-out, but on the offense’s second play, redshirt junior defensive tackle Carmine Bastone delivered a blindside sack on Edwards, who fumbled the ball. Hubbard recovered the ball in the end zone to give the Wildcats a 24-10 advantage with 13:17 remaining.
The Terps marched to Northwestern’s 19, but three straight incompletions led to a turnover on downs. Lausch found Kirtz for a 55-yard gain that led to a 38-yard field goal by Akers and a 27-10 lead with 8:55 left.
Maryland’s ensuing possession opened with Edwards finding Howard for an 8-yard gain, but the Arbutus native and McDonogh graduate lost the ball after getting hit by redshirt junior linebacker Mac Uihlein, and the fumble was recovered by redshirt sophomore defensive back Braden Turner at the Terps’ 33. Akers converted another 38-yard field goal to make the score to 30-10 with 6:23 remaining.
Edwards was then intercepted by Walters. Three plays later, graduate student running back Jake Arthurs carried the ball 9 yards into the end zone to give the Wildcats a 37-10 advantage with 4:30 to go.
Have a news tip? Contact Edward Lee at eklee@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/EdwardLeeSun.
Homecoming
USC at Maryland
Saturday, Oct. 19, 4 p.m.
TV: FS1
Radio: 105.7 FM