College Park got the kind of Saturday that can flip a season’s mood in a hurry. Maryland, an 8.5-point underdog, stunned Wisconsin 24-21 at SECU Stadium, and it did so after losing starting quarterback Malik Washington before kickoff when he was ruled out after warming up in a brace on his left knee.
That’s where Cardell Williams took over and turned the afternoon into a record book performance. The redshirt senior transfer made his first start in a Maryland uniform and looked completely in control, completing 21 of 23 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown.
That 91 completion percentage set a school record, and so did his stretch of 19 straight completions. Williams also ran for two touchdowns on goal-line keepers, giving him three total scores in a game Maryland needed every bit of.
Wisconsin came out sharp and built the first real cushion. Darrion Dupree finished the Badgers’ opening drive with a 4-yard touchdown run at the 11:01 mark of the first quarter, capping a 5-play, 57-yard march. Early in the second quarter, Gavin Lahm added a 37-yard field goal to push the lead to 10-0.
Maryland finally answered before halftime. The Terrapins put together a 9-play, 75-yard drive, and Williams finished it himself with a 1-yard touchdown run with 3:16 left in the half. That trimmed the margin to 10-7 and gave Maryland a foothold heading into the break.
The third quarter belonged to Maryland for a stretch. After a Wisconsin turnover, Williams punched in his second rushing touchdown from 3 yards out at the 8:24 mark to put the Terps ahead 14-10.
Lahm responded with a 42-yard field goal to make it 14-13, but Wisconsin grabbed the lead back early in the fourth. Dupree scored again on a 1-yard run at the 14:04 mark, and Ryan Hopkins hit Eugene Hilton Jr. on the two-point conversion to make it 21-14.
Maryland still had one more answer. With 2:11 left, Williams uncorked a 39-yard touchdown pass to tight end Preston Howard on a one-play, 39-yard drive.
S. O’Haire’s extra point tied it at 21-21.
Then came the finish. After Maryland’s defense forced a fumble, the Terrapins took over at the Wisconsin 20-yard line.
Williams moved the offense 21 yards in six plays, setting up O’Haire for a 30-yard field goal with 29 seconds remaining. He drilled it, and Maryland walked off with the 24-21 win.
The numbers backed up the result. Maryland outgained Wisconsin 290-179 and controlled the clock 33:40 to 26:01. DeJuan Williams led the ground game with 22 carries for 72 yards, while Howard was the top receiver with four catches for 77 yards and the go-ahead fourth-quarter touchdown.
On defense, Maryland forced three Wisconsin turnovers. Daniel Wingate led the way with seven tackles, including three solo stops, and Lavon Johnson added a sack. Wisconsin’s Mason Posa finished with 13 tackles, seven solo, and a sack, while Dupree’s two touchdowns came on 14 carries for 57 yards.
Maryland also had to survive a messy stat line of its own, finishing with 11 penalties for 111 yards. It didn’t matter in the end. The Terrapins made the stops they needed late and closed out a win that gives them back-to-back Big Ten Conference victories for the first time since the 2023 season.
In Other News...
Marylands Coaching Search Just Became Far More Ambitious
Marylands coaching search has taken a notable turn, with Brian Kelly recently interviewing for the Terrapins vacant job. The former Notre Dame and LSU coach has been out of the dugout since LSU fired him last fall, spending this season as a CBS analyst and SiriusXM co-host while the school moved on from Mike Locksley earlier in October.
Kellys name immediately raises the level of the search, which already has included other familiar candidates such as Chip Kelly, Dan Mullen and Biff Poggi. For Maryland, the next hire will shape not just the programs direction but also how aggressively it tries to position itself in a crowded Big Ten coaching market. [Read more 🡒]
Maryland Let A Statement Win Slip Away When It Mattered Most
Maryland had a chance to turn a strong start into a signature win, building an 11-point lead against Virginia before the game slipped away in the second half. The Terps looked in control early, but the Cavaliers kept hanging around and eventually flipped the momentum with a blistering finish that left Maryland searching for answers after a loss it could have used.
Virginias offense was relentless down the stretch, shooting better than 62% from the field and hitting nine of its final 10 shots. Maryland, meanwhile, ran into trouble with its own shot-making and ball security after halftime, and Buzz Williams along with several players pointed to the same broad takeaway afterward: the Terps have work to do if they want to close out games like this one. [Read more 🡒]
DeMatha Is One Win From A Statement Maryland Fans Will Notice
DeMatha Catholic kept rolling in the WCAC Capital Division semifinals, beating Gonzaga College High School 31-13 to move within one win of another league crown. The Stags have leaned on defense all season, and that formula has them back in the championship game with a chance to add to a run that has already become familiar under interim head coach Bryce Bevill.
St. Johns College now stands in the way after its win over Good Counsel, setting up a title game with plenty of local interest for Maryland fans who follow the area talent pipeline closely. DeMatha is chasing its third straight WCAC title, and the matchup gives the program a chance to make another statement in one of the regions toughest high school football leagues. [Read more 🡒]