NCAAF
COLLEGE PARK, MD — Friday night lights usually bring fireworks. Maryland and Northern Illinois brought trench warfare. In a game that felt more Big Ten November than early September, the Terps slogged their way to a 20-9 win that was equal parts grit, guts, and a glimpse into the future of freshman quarterback Malik Washington.
It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t dominant. But it was win No. 2 for a Maryland team still figuring out who they are — and who they want to be.
And if Friday was any indication, they're a team that knows how to take a punch and throw one back.
This one had "trap game" energy from the jump.
After a flashy Week 1 beatdown of Florida Atlantic, Maryland looked like they were still trying to wipe the glitter off. Drives sputtered. The run game looked allergic to first downs. But when the offense stalled, it was the defense — and tight end Dorian Fleming — that kept the train on the tracks.
Washington connected with Fleming on a slick 13-yard touchdown off a play-action bootleg in the second quarter to cap a drive built off grit and YAC (yards after catch) magic. It was Fleming’s second huge play of the night after a 48-yard jailbreak earlier in the quarter.
A Sean O’Haire field goal and another traded kick made it 13-3 Maryland in the third quarter. The Terps looked to be putting the game to sleep.
But then came Telly Johnson Jr. And oh boy, did he wake things up.
The Huskies’ back ripped off a 74-yard touchdown run that silenced SECU Stadium like a sudden power outage. A one-score game. All the momentum swinging toward the team that looked hungrier.
The Terps’ response? Go for the jugular.
Facing a fourth-and-five from the Northern Illinois 42-yard line in the fourth quarter — a situation where many teams would punt and pray — Mike Locksley left the offense on the field.
Washington stepped up. With ice in his veins and Huskies in his face, he dropped a dime to Shaleak Knotts down the sideline for a 42-yard touchdown that put the game on ice and the fans on their feet.
Ballgame. 20-9. Still undefeated.
Let’s get this out of the way: Malik Washington wasn’t perfect. But what freshman QB is in his second start under Friday night pressure?
He made mistakes — including a baffling fumble where he forgot the whole “ball security” part of the quarterback gig while bracing himself with the hand holding the rock. His footwork? Shaky at times. His timing? Off on a few reads.
But when it mattered, he cooked.
Washington finished 19-of-35 for 254 yards and two touchdowns, and both were dimes — one on a designed rollout, the other on a fourth-down bomb that felt like a Madden “screw it” button press.
"In these tough games, these gritty games, you just got to stay with it," Washington said postgame. “No matter how many possessions you get, you got to make the best of them.”
What’s more promising than the stat line is the poise. When the game got tight, Washington didn’t shrink. He adapted. He executed. And he showed exactly why Maryland fans — and coaches — are so high on the freshman.
Remember the name Dorian Fleming.
The Georgia State transfer didn’t just show up — he showed out, especially in the first half. The 6-foot-4 tight end racked up 70 yards on 4 catches, including a violent 48-yard catch-and-run that featured broken tackles, broken ankles, and one very hyped sideline.
His touchdown on the play-action boot was a textbook example of how to make your QB look good. But it’s what Fleming does after the catch that makes him such a weapon. He’s not just a safety valve — he’s a gas pedal.
The second half saw fewer opportunities as Maryland leaned into perimeter looks, but make no mistake: Fleming is already becoming Washington’s favorite security blanket.
On paper, this shouldn’t have looked good.
And yet, the Terps’ defense made all the plays that mattered.
Linebacker Daniel Wingate was a menace, racking up a career-high 14 tackles and cleaning up just about everything between the hashes. Trey Reddick added 11 more, and Maryland finished with four sacks and nine tackles for loss.
While Johnson’s 74-yard lightning bolt will haunt some stat sheets, outside of that? Maryland’s defensive front stuffed the run, held their gaps, and brought pressure when it counted.
Cam Rice and Zahir Mathis especially flashed as disruptors, forcing the Huskies to abandon long-developing pass plays and lean into short throws that went nowhere.
Let’s not overthink it: This game was gross.
The offense stalled for long stretches. The defense gave up chunk plays. The Terps got outgained on the ground and lost the possession battle.
And they still won by two scores.
That’s the kind of game good teams win. That’s the kind of game young quarterbacks grow up in. That’s the kind of game that tests the soul of a locker room.
Maryland didn’t dominate. But they endured. And come November, that’s what gets you bowl invites and upset potential against the big boys.
Next up: Towson. A chance to clean up the mess, get the run game rolling, and give Washington some easy throws before the conference gauntlet begins.
Week 1 was sunshine and slants. Week 2? Mud and migraines.
But Washington answered. Fleming broke out. Wingate balled. And Locksley coached like a guy who trusts his team on fourth-and-five.
This wasn’t just a win. It was a test. And the Terps passed.
Ugly? Absolutely.
But 2-0 looks beautiful on a Saturday morning.
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