COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Maryland football continued its impressive start to the 2025 season with a commanding 44-17 victory over Towson at SECU Stadium on Saturday, extending the nation’s longest non-conference winning streak to 18 games and improving to 3-0 for the fourth time in five seasons.
Washington’s Record-Setting Performance
True freshman quarterback Malik Washington delivered another stellar performance, completing 16 of 22 passes for a career-high 261 yards and one touchdown while adding 29 rushing yards and his first career rushing touchdown. Washington’s 773 passing yards through three games represent the most for a true freshman Power Conference quarterback since 2018 and fourth-most since that year.
“Those guys have been putting in a lot of work the whole offseason and throughout the preseason,” Washington said. “I have full and complete confidence and trust in them up front, and they allow me to just sit back there and play.”
Head coach Michael Locksley praised Washington’s development: “He just understands where, and the type of accuracy that we need to make some of these throws. As I’ve said before, he’s still working, kind of still in that training camp mode. … But I’m really pleased with how he’s protected the football and the decision making.”
Washington’s 96 pass attempts before his first interception tied the Maryland true freshman record set by Danny O’Brien in 2010, showcasing his decision-making and ball security.
Explosive Start Sets Tone
Maryland’s fast start overwhelmed Towson from the opening possessions. The Terrapins scored on their first six drives, building a commanding 34-0 halftime lead that effectively sealed the game’s outcome before the break. This aggressive approach demonstrated Maryland’s offensive firepower and depth, allowing them to rotate players and give valuable experience to younger team members.
“We came out with a lot of energy and executed our game plan,” Washington said about the team’s early dominance. “Being able to establish control early gives us confidence and allows us to play our style of football.”
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Defensive Dominance and Historic Pick-Six
Maryland’s defense delivered a dominant performance, allowing just 33 points through three games – the fewest since 2001. The highlight came courtesy of La’khi Roland, who returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown, marking Maryland’s first pick-six since 1962.
“I just seen grass,” Roland said with excitement. “I just seen the green grass. Amazing teammate Dontay Joyner No. 6 helped me out with a block, and it was a touchdown from there.”
Defensive Highlights:
- La’khi Roland: 100-yard pick-six (first since 1962)
- Messiah Delhomme: Fumble recovery
- Three total turnovers forced
- Blocked punt (first since 2018)
Offensive Explosion
The Terrapins scored on their first six drives, building a commanding 34-0 halftime lead with 428 total yards of offense (276 passing, 152 rushing).
Key Offensive Contributors:
- Octavian Smith Jr.: Career-high 103 receiving yards
- Shaleak Knotts: Career-high 79 yards and 1 touchdown
- Jalil Farooq: Reached 103 career receptions milestone
- Perfect 6-for-6 in red zone efficiency
Second Half Adjustments
While Towson managed 17 second-half points, including an 84-yard touchdown pass from Nathan Kent to Jaceon Doss, Maryland’s lead was never threatened. The Terps demonstrated their depth and ability to manage a comfortable lead.
Depth and Development
Locksley emphasized the importance of playing younger players in the victory: “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. With a team that’s inexperienced like the one we have, we’ll be better because of the depth that we’ve been able to create by playing some of these young guys in situations today and getting it on tape.”
Historical Context
The victory improved Maryland to:
- 23-0 all-time against FCS opponents
- 4-0 all-time against Towson
- 13 straight wins when leading at halftime (dating to 2022)
- Nation-leading 18-game non-conference winning streak
Looking Ahead
Maryland opens Big Ten play at Wisconsin on September 20 (Noon, NBC), carrying significant momentum into conference competition.
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