COLLEGE PARK, Md. Maryland football had a 10-point halftime lead on homecoming Saturday and could not hold it. Rutgers scored 17 unanswered points in the second half and held on for a 37-30 win at SECU Stadium, sending the Terrapins to their fifth straight loss.
Maryland falls to 2-5 overall and 0-4 in the Big Ten. Rutgers improves to 2-4 and 1-2 in conference play. The Terps have not won a Big Ten game in more than a year.
A strong first half slips away
Maryland controlled the first 30 minutes. Quarterback Malik Washington threw for 263 yards and two touchdowns, and wide receiver Chris Durr Jr. caught six passes for 104 yards while adding his first career rushing touchdown on a 16-yard reverse. The defense chipped in, too. Trey Reddick blocked a Rutgers extra point, and Jamare Glasker returned it for two points, giving Maryland a 16-13 lead in the second quarter. The Terps took a 23-13 edge into the locker room.
The momentum turned early in the third quarter. Kicker Sean O’Haire missed a 34-yard field goal, and Rutgers quarterback Dylan Lonergan answered with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Clay. Thevenin to tie the game at 23. Thevenin later scored on a 7-yard run that put the Scarlet Knights ahead for good. He finished with a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown.
Lonergan threw for 291 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver KJ Duff caught nine passes for 113 yards and two scores, including a 15-yard touchdown on which he held the ball with his right hand while getting his feet down inbounds.
One last chance
Washington found DeJuan Williams for a 10-yard touchdown that cut the lead to seven late. Maryland got the ball back, but Williams dropped a pass that would have moved the chains, and Washington’s fourth-down throw to Dorian Fleming was ruled incomplete with 16 seconds left.
Linebacker Zion Elee forced a fumble with a strip sack, and Glasker added his second interception of the season.
Wide receiver Na’eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding did not play, according to Yahoo Sports. No reason was given.
Locksley’s future
The loss lands at a sensitive time for head coach Mike Locksley. The Associated Press described both Locksley and Rutgers coach Greg Schiano as embattled heading into the game and noted that Maryland’s open date next week could be a natural point for a midseason change. The school has made no announcement about Locksley’s status.
Locksley’s contract runs through the 2028 season. According to The Banner, Maryland would owe him 65 percent of his remaining salary if he is let go early.
Earlier in the week, Locksley did not hide his frustration with the 2-4 start. “You look at the first half of our year, 2-4; it isn’t good enough. I’m super frustrated,” he said, according to Reuters. He added that his players “are super frustrated because we know we’re better.”
Up next
Maryland has a bye next week and returns to SECU Stadium to host Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 31. The kickoff time and TV network will be announced Monday.
