Nebraska Defeats Maryland 48-23 for 5-0 Start
The University of Nebraska football team defeated Maryland 48-23 on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska, improving its record to 5-0. The Huskers erased an early deficit by scoring 34 unanswered points to secure the Homecoming victory in front of 85,033 fans.
Nebraska Overcomes Slow Start Against Maryland
Maryland established control early in the contest, building a 23-14 lead late in the second quarter. Terrapins quarterback Malik Washington completed 11-of-18 passes for 177 yards in the opening period alone. Chris Durr Jr. caught a 65-yard touchdown pass during the first quarter, finishing the day with seven receptions for 149 yards for Maryland. DeJuan Williams added a 59-yard two-carry drive that culminated in a rushing touchdown, giving the visitors their nine-point advantage with 8:54 remaining in the half.
Nebraska struggled initially, with quarterback Anthony Colandrea managing just four completions on eight attempts for 20 yards and an interception in the first quarter. Yet the home team completely altered the trajectory of the game before intermission. With Maryland driving inside the Nebraska 30-yard line, Dwayne McDougle III intercepted a Washington pass and returned it 81 yards for a touchdown. That defensive score narrowed the deficit to 23-21.
Following a quick defensive stop, Colandrea directed an 80-yard drive in eight plays. He connected with tight end Luke Lindenmeyer for a one-yard touchdown pass before halftime, giving Nebraska a 28-23 lead that it would not relinquish.
Nebraska Defense Shuts Down Maryland Attack After Halftime
After halftime, the Nebraska defense completely shut down the up-tempo Maryland attack. The Blackshirts surrendered 300 total yards in the first half but limited the Terrapins to just 95 total yards after the break, including a mere 18 yards on the ground.
Colandrea finished the game completing 26-of-39 passes for 238 yards and three touchdowns. He also established a career milestone by rushing for 108 yards on 10 carries, which included a 51-yard scamper in the second half. Kwazi Gilmer hauled in a career-high 11 receptions for 147 yards, catching two five-yard touchdown passes in the fourth quarter.
Owen Chambliss and Donovan Jones anchored the Nebraska defense with eight tackles apiece. Vincent Shavers Jr. contributed five tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble, while Kade Pietrzak added an interception in the first half.
Both Teams Commit High Number of Penalties
Both teams encountered significant discipline issues during the contest, which lasted nearly four hours. Nebraska accumulated a season-high 16 penalties for 132 yards, eclipsing its previous high of 65 yards against Ohio. Maryland was penalized 12 times for 115 yards.
Despite the high penalty count, the Huskers maintained offensive balance for the fourth consecutive home game by recording 200 yards rushing and 200 yards passing, totaling 447 yards of offense.
Upcoming Big Ten Conference Schedule
Nebraska returns to Memorial Stadium next Saturday to host defending national champion Indiana in a Big Ten Conference matchup scheduled for an 11 a.m. CT kickoff with television coverage on FOX.