Maryland lost to UCLA, 20-17, on Oct. 18 after a late field goal sealed the win for the Bruins.
Maryland (4-3, 1-3 Big Ten) tied the game with 40 seconds remaining after freshman quarterback Malik Washington led a nine-play, 75-yard drive that ended in a touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Jalil Farooq in the corner of the end zone.
But there was too much time left for a UCLA team that still had two timeouts. The Bruins’ offense took over with 35 seconds left in regulation. UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava connected on two big plays to wideout Titus Mokiao-Atimalala. Then, running back Anthony Frias II broke off a 35-yard run to set up the game-winning 23-yard field goal.
“The defense played well enough for us to win,” Maryland head coach Michael Locksley said. “But the other two phases — we didn’t play complementary football. Our lack of offense in the first half and three quarters is disappointing because it’s an execution thing that we’ve got to get fixed.”
Iamaleava finished 21 of 35 for 221 yards and one touchdown but also threw two interceptions and fumbled once. Frias ran for 97 yards and a touchdown on just four carries. Mokiao-Atimalala added 102 yards on six receptions.
The fourth quarter once again haunted Maryland, marking the third straight game in which the Terrapins were outscored late. Maryland was outscored, 13-7, in the final frame and has now been outscored, 44-7, in the fourth quarter during its last three games.
“We’re not going to ask why,” Locksley said. “I’m going to ask what we need to do — what I need to do — to be able to finish these games. To me, that’s a growth mindset this team has, and I promise you that’s where we are. That’s how I’m coaching them, and that’s my job next week with the bye week coming up.”
Before the dramatic finish, both teams struggled offensively. Third-down conversions were hard to come by, with Maryland finishing 6 of 17 and UCLA 7 of 17.
“We had a couple of times where the receiver sat on [Washington], we threw it behind, or the receiver didn’t make the catch,” Locksley said of the offensive struggles. “It’s just out of sync and out of rhythm.”
The first half was a defensive battle. At one point, Maryland reached the UCLA 2-yard line but had to settle for a field goal and a 3-0 lead. That lead didn’t last long, as the Bruins responded with a four-play, 71-yard touchdown drive — with 55 of those yards coming on a scoring run by Frias to take a 7-3 lead into halftime.
The second half wasn’t much better for either team. Maryland didn’t convert a third down until seven minutes remained in the third quarter, when Washington found freshman running back Dejuan Williams for a 41-yard catch-and-run.
The Terrapins again got inside the Bruins’ 5-yard line but this time came away empty after a failed goal-to-go sequence.
Maryland’s first touchdown came courtesy of the defense. Junior defensive back Jamare Glasker intercepted Iamaleava and returned it 8 yards for a score, giving Maryland a 10-7 lead.
Glasker’s interception marked Maryland’s 14th interception of the year and fourth pick-six. But for every answer Maryland had, UCLA had a response.
The Terrapins will look to end their three-game losing streak after the bye week when they host Indiana on Nov. 1.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Maryland Athletics