Maryland heads to UConn on Saturday afternoon with both teams coming off Week 1 wins, and the early numbers point to a game that could turn on a few key battles up front and in the red zone.
The Terrapins and Huskies have met three times before, with Maryland holding a 2-1 edge after last year’s 50-7 rout in College Park. This time around, both sides arrive after convincing openers in which their opponents combined to score just seven points.
For Mike Locksley’s team, the opener was built on the ground, on defense and on special teams. Maryland rolled to a 62-point win and shut out Hampton. Locksley also pointed out that sophomore quarterback Malik Washington started by trying to force things, which threw off his mechanics and showed up in rushed decisions and inaccurate throws.
That puts even more attention on the running game and the line play behind it. Maryland got big production from DeJuan Williams, who ran for 116 yards and a score, Iverson Howard, who added 66 rushing yards and a touchdown, and Harry Dalton III, who finished with 39 yards and two scores. Backup quarterback Cardell Williams also showed his legs, piling up 49 rushing yards on five carries.
UConn’s ground game was just as layered in its opener. The Huskies had five running backs gain at least 30 yards on the ground, each doing it on at least four carries. The bigger question Saturday is which offense can create more push at the line of scrimmage, stay on schedule and break off the explosive runs that change a game.
Maryland also has a specific assignment on the outside. UConn receiver Skyler Bell Brown, a 6-foot-4 transfer from Toledo who followed head coach Jason Candle to UConn, made an immediate impact in his debut with six catches for 92 receiving yards and a touchdown. Glasker will be tasked with slowing him down and keeping Brown from becoming a major problem in the passing game.
Scoring in the red zone should matter just as much. Maryland went 10 times inside Hampton’s 20-yard line and came away with nine scores, seven of them touchdowns. UConn was even cleaner against Lafayette, turning all five of its red zone trips into touchdowns.
That kind of efficiency could decide things if this one stays tight. Maryland also comes in with a chance to keep its streak alive in non-conference play, and the Terps will need another sharp finish if they want to make it 20 straight. One more wrinkle to watch: UConn showed in its opener that it isn’t afraid to gamble, going 2-for-3 on fourth down.
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