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University of Maryland Athletics

FOOTBALL TOWSON
17
Towson TOW 2-1 , 0-0
44
Winner Maryland UMD 3-0 , 0-0
Towson TOW
2-1 , 0-0
17
Final
44
Maryland UMD
3-0 , 0-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
TOW Towson 0 0 7 10 17
UMD Maryland 17 17 7 3 44

Game Recap: Football |

Maryland Rolls to 3-0 With 44-17 Win Over Towson

Malik Washington joined exclusive company while the Terps defense continued its best start since 2001.

COLLEGE PARK, MD - Maryland (3-0) extended its winning streak over non-conference opponents to a nation-leading 18 games as the Terps defeated the Towson Tigers (2-1) 44-17 at SECU Stadium on Saturday. 

Malik Washington brought his career passing yard sum to 773 — the most for a true-freshman quarterback through his first three career games in a Power Conference since 2018 — while the defense put together another stout performance that included its first 100-yard pick-six since 1962. The defense's 33 points allowed through three games are its fewest since allowing 30 to start the 2001 season. 

Maryland scored on its first six drives of the game. Sean O'Haire hit a 37-yard field goal on the Terps' opening possession and DeJuan Williams scored a two-yard rushing touchdown to cap off Maryland's second scoring drive in the game's first seven minutes. 

Washington finished off a seven-play 78-yard drive with his first-career rushing touchdown to put Maryland ahead 17-0 in the first quarter. On the following drive, he hit Shaleak Knotts in stride for a 32-yard touchdown to punctuate a six-play, 73-yard scoring drive to extend the lead.  Eyan Thomas forced the game's first turnover, punching the ball out from Towson's Kahseim Phillips. It was picked up by Messiah Delhomme, setting the offense up on the Tigers' 25-yard line. Four plays later, Maryland was in the endzone again as Nolan Ray powered forward for a five-yard score. The Terps scored 31 points in the game's first 19 minutes. 

La'khi Roland picked off Towson quarterback Andrew Indorf early in the third quarter in the Maryland end zone and returned it 100 yards for the Terps' second pick-six of the season and their first 100-yard pick-six since 1962. Maryland blocked a punt early in the fourth — its first since 2018 — setting the offense up on the Tigers' 15-yard line and prompting a 28-yard field goal from O'Haire to extend the lead to 44-7. The Terps were able to flex their depth and utilize a number of bench options as the clock wound down on Maryland's fourth 3-0 start in the past five seasons. 

How it Happened:
1st Quarter:
  • Maryland won the toss and deferred, giving the ball to the Tigers to start, who promptly went 3-and-out. 
  • The Terps started their first drive on the Towson 33-yard line and Sean O'Haire nailed a 37-yard field goal to put Maryland ahead 3-0.
  • Washington's first pass went to Jalil Farooq for 10 yards and a quick 1st down.
  • Williams scored a two-yard rushing touchdown on the Terps' second drive to put them ahead 10-0.
  • Towson went 3-and-out on each of its first three drives.
  • The Terps held the Tigers to 15 yards in the first quarter while scoring 17 points. 
2nd Quarter:
  • Washington hit Knotts for a 32-yard touchdown to push the lead to 24-0.
  • Thomas forces the game's first turnover, setting the offense up on the Tigers' 25-yard line.
  • Ray scored his first rushing touchdown of the season to put Maryland up 31-0. 
  • Maryland turned Towson over on downs in the red zone with 6:28 remaining in the half. 
  • Washington scrambled to pick up a 10-yard rush and extend the Terps' sixth drive. 
  • O'Haire drilled a 39-yard field goal in the half's final minute as Maryland took a 34-0 lead into the break.
3rd Quarter:
  • Roland snagged a 100-yard pick-six early in the third quarter to score Maryland's second defensive touchdown of the season. 
  • Towson scored late in the third quarter on a 37-yard touchdown connection to get on the board. 
  • Washington's day ended midway through the third quarter after orchestrating six scoring drives and tallying a career-high 261 passing yards.
  • Maryland took a 41-7 lead into the fourth quarter. 
4th Quarter:
  • Maryland blocked its first punt since 2018.
  • O'Haire hit a 28-yard field goal to extend the lead. 
  • Towson broke off an 80-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter. 
  • The Tigers hit a 29-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 44-17. 
Washington's Duality:
  • Washington threw for a career-high 261 yards and a touchdown on 16/22 passing.
  • He also rushed for 29 yards and a score on his shortened Saturday.
Stat-Setting Saturday:
  • Knotts had a career-high 79 yards in the win.
  • Farooq broke the 100-reception threshold and now sits at 103.
  • Octavian Smith Jr. recorded a career-high 103 receiving yards. 
  • Maryland rushed for a season-high 152 rushing yards in the win.
Numbers to Know:
  • 3: The Terps are 3-0 for the fourth time in the past five seasons. 
  • 3: Maryland forced a Tigers 3-and-out on each of Towson's first three drives.
  • 4: The Terps improve to 4-0 all-time against Towson.
  • 5: The Terps moved their turnover differential to +5 (7-2) on Saturday.
  • 6: Maryland scored on its first six drives of the game. 
  • 13: The Terps have won their last 13 games when taking a lead into the half. The streak dates back to 2022.  
  • 30: Maryland's 30 total points allowed are its fewest through three games since also allowing 30 in the first three games of the 2001 season.
  • 17: The Terps scored 17 points in both the first and second quarters. 
  • 18: Maryland pushes its winning streak over non-conference opponents to a nation-leading 18 games. 
  • 23: Maryland improves to 23-0 all-time against FCS opponents. The Terps' 22 wins over FCS opponents since 1980 are the most for a Big Ten team in the time frame. 
  • 30: Maryland scored 30+ points in the first half twice this season (34 on Saturday and 33 against Florida Atlantic) for the first time since 2019 (56 and 42 against Howard and Syracuse, respectively).
  • 34: Maryland's 34 first-half points were its most since 2022 when the Terps tallied 35 against Charlotte. 
  • 79: Knotts tallied a career-high 79 yards on Saturday. 
  • 96: Washington attempted 96 passes before throwing his first-career interception, tying Danny O'Brien's streak in  2010.
  • 100: Maryland was 6-6 (100%) on redzone scoring opportunities. 
  • 103: Smith Jr. had a career-high 103 yards in the win.
  • 103: With his five catches on Saturday Farooq moved to 103 career receptions.
  • 773: Washington's 773 passing yards on the season are the most for a Power Conference quarterback since USC's JT Daniels had 819 in 2018 and the fourth most since that season. They're also the most for a true freshman quarterback in a Power Conference through his first three starts during that time. 
  • 1962: Roland's 100-yard pick-six is Maryland's first since 1962.
  • 2018: Maryland blocked a punt for the first time since a game against Temple in 2018.
Locksley's Message:
  • "Strong finish to our non-conference schedule. Really proud of the fellas and the way they took care of business for this part of our schedule."
  • "On offense, what we were looking to be able to do was start fast. We scored points on our first six drives. Washington was really efficient for us. He did a good job getting the offense rolling early on and gaining some momentum."
  • "I thought the run game showed up. We had three rushing touchdowns and the way that the backs finished downfield was not always (easy)."
  • "Probably the best thing that comes out of a game like this is we got to play a lot of players and we got to put some good and bad on the tape."
  • "Pep Hamilton and the offensive staff has done a really good job of force-feeding Washington things and getting him into rhythm, and I thought he did a really good job today early getting the offense going."
  • "We're going to always be plugging and fixing problems with this young and inexperienced team. Today, we fixed some of the 3rd down issues we had a week ago. So, what I'm learning really quickly about this group is we're going to achieve what we emphasize."
  • "We will learn a lot about who we are as a team on the road against Wisconsin, a really good team that's been a blue blood in the Big Ten for a long time."
Washington's Words of Wisdom:
  • "I feel good. The guys up front were doing their jobs moving the line of scrimmage, staying on their double-teams, getting up to the second level and everybody showcased their abilities."
  • "It's been amazing the trust and the confidence that the team gives me and the coaches. I couldn't have asked for anything but for them to just allow me to go out there and play freely."
  • "I have full and complete confidence and trust in (the offensive line) up front and they allow me to just sit back there and play and not worry about it as much because I know they can hold it down."
  • "It's all complimentary football. The offense plays for the defense, who plays for the special teams, who goes right back to the offense. It's all one big cycle." 
  • "We have a bunch of playmakers, and we only have one football. So just trying  to get everybody a touch and allow them to show the play-making ability that they have is something that we emphasize."
Roland's Pick-Six:
  • "I just saw the green grass. My amazing teammate, Dontay Joyner, helped me out with a block and it was a touchdown from there."
  • "We're just sticking to the standard and going hard every practice and then going out there and executing."
  • "Our job as the secondary is to plaster. Be on our man and just plaster. That's what I did. Right place, right time. I caught the ball and it was a touchdown from there."
Up Next:
  • Maryland takes to the road for the first time in 2025 to open Big Ten play against Wisconsin on Sept. 20. The game is set for a 12 PM kickoff and will air on NBC and the Maryland Sports Radio Network.
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