Maryland football suffered its fifth consecutive defeat on Saturday, Nov. 8, falling to Rutgers, 35-20.
Despite the loss, Maryland (4-5, 1-5 Big Ten) had its strongest offensive start since the losing streak began thanks to its most productive rushing performance of the season. The Terrapins racked up 305 rushing yards, including 238 in the first half. However, the Scarlet Knights piled up 485 yards of offense, with 256 coming on the ground.
“I’ll keep remaining positive and they’ll keep showing up,” head coach Michael Locksley said. “But with limited opportunities left, it’s important we do all we can for these older players who deserve it.”
Freshman quarterback Malik Washington set the tone early, breaking free for a 73-yard touchdown run on the second play of the game to give Maryland a quick 7-0 lead. He added another explosive 54-yard run and finished the first half with 141 rushing yards. Washington also threw a touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Kaleb Webb.
“As I said last week, it’s important for our quarterback to show he can pull the ball,” Locksley said. “Whether you want to throw against numbers or run to control the clock and help a defense missing key players, you lean on the ground game.”
Washington ended the day completing 15 of 28 passes for 98 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He posted a career-high 164 rushing yards.
“There were some plays we left out on the field,” Washington said. “It wasn’t so much being hindered, but the run game was working, so we stuck with it.”
While Maryland excelled on the ground, Rutgers delivered a balanced offensive performance. The Scarlet Knights tallied 119 rushing yards and 147 passing yards in the first half alone.
Sophomore running back Antwan Raymond led the charge with 108 rushing yards on 19 carries before halftime. Senior quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis threw three touchdown passes in the first half, one to sophomore receiver DT Sheffield and two to junior receiver Ian Strong.
Strong’s second touchdown came in the final moments of the first half, when Kaliakmanis found him in the back of the end zone to give Rutgers a 21-17 lead heading into the break.
The two continued their dominance in the second half. Kaliakmanis connected with Strong again for a 14-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 28-17. Kaliakmanis finished 13 of 20 for 229 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. Strong ended with five catches for 88 yards and three touchdowns.
Maryland’s offense stalled in the second half, managing only a field goal late in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 28-20. The Terrapins had a chance to shift momentum, but a potential interception slipped through the hands of defensive back Jamare Glasker, who had three picks in his last three games.
Rutgers capitalized, with Raymond continuing to dominate on the ground. He eventually scored a touchdown with 5:24 remaining, sealing the 35-20 victory. Raymond finished with 240 rushing yards and one touchdown on 41 carries.
Maryland’s final possession yielded just 8 yards, ending any hopes of a comeback.
The Terrapins will look to regroup and play for their veteran players when they travel to Illinois to take on the Fighting Illini at 3:30 p.m. EST on Nov. 15. They wrap up the regular season with home games against Michigan (Nov. 22) and Michigan State (Nov. 29).
Maryland needs to win two of those games to qualify for a bowl game.
“The young guys don’t understand it yet,” Locksley said. “We’re down to limited opportunities for some veteran players who’ve done great things here over the last four or five years. Now, it’s about playing for pride and giving those guys a chance to extend their careers.”
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Maryland Athletics