EAST HARTFORD — The UConn football team faced its first challenge of the season Saturday, when it hosted Maryland as the first Power Four opponent of the year.
The Terrapins handed Coach Jason Candle, Head Coach of the Huskies, his first loss at UConn, beating the Huskies 38-14.
The last time the Huskies hosted a power four school was last season, when they took-down Duke in stellar fashion, 37-34.
This time, their opponent walked in with the nation’s longest non-conference winning streak. The Terrapins, already 1-0 on the year, were looking for their 20th straight win out of conference under Mike Locksley.
UConn had their own streak with nine consecutive home wins looking to punch in a 10th in front of roughly 35,000 fans.
Candle was 0-2 all-time against Big Ten opponents during his tenure at Toledo.
The two programs were coming off hot starts to the season, blowing their first-week opponents out of the water.
The game started with the Huskies winning the toss and deferring to the second half; Maryland started off on their own 25-yard line. Chris Durr Jr. was targeted by quarterback Malik Washington early in game on a pass that was ruled a catch and then a fumble by UConn. The play was then ruled incomplete before a third-and-5, where Washington found Na’eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding for a first down.
The Huskies responded with a stop on third-and-4 after an incomplete pass and start their first drive at their own 20-yard line. Kaleb Osborne threw a wild pass, which was tipped and caught by Javon Brown. After review, the play was called back as Brown had stepped out-of-bounds before catching the ball.
On third-and-10, Osborne connected with Xaview Watson to extend the drive before a sack by Maryland’s Derrick LeBlanc forced the Huskies to punt.
The second drive for Maryland ended with a three-and-out after defensive back Saxton Suchanic broke up an attempted pass. The following play, K’Von Sherman added to the defense with a crucial tackle, causing a fourth down and forcing Maryland’s second punt of the game.
The Huskies started their next drive in Maryland’s territory at their 47 helping to get on the scoreboard quickly.
It started with a nine-yard run by Osborne followed by Kenji Christian with a two-yard run before the first touchdown of the game. Osborne connected with JD Willoughby for a 36-yard pass to open the scoring.
Maryland responded immediately with a 1:15-minute drive, with Washington finding Gladding for a 60-yard score. Just four plays for 75 yards and Maryland evened the score.
A strip sack on UConn’s third drive turned the ball over after Maryland’s Zion Elee pressured Osborne, and his teammate DD Holmes recovered.
The UConn defense would stand strong once again on a fourth down when Washington scrambled right but was met with Zion Paret and Avery Dunn forcing a turnover on downs. It would be the only turnover of the game on Maryland.
The Huskies failed to thrive on the offensive end, punting on three straight drives and never managed a single snap in Maryland’s redzone throughout the game.
“I think we took them on and definitely got hit in the mouth a couple of times but definitely got to go harder and learn from my mistakes,” said wide receiver Shamar Porter.
The Terps, on the other hand, produced a spark and a rhythm scoring on their next four straight drives, including a score right before the half. Washington would complete 18 straight consecutive passes in this run for the Maryland side.
The first drive they put together was assisted by two pass interference calls on the Huskies defense matched with a miraculous grab by Chris Durr Jr. The drive ended with a four-yard rushing touchdown by Harry Dalton III to give Maryland their first lead of the game, and they would not trail again.
The penalties continued to hurt UConn as their following drive consisted of a holding penalty in the Huskies backfield, causing big time plays in order to gain first downs. This, mixed with some drops, made the offense struggle for yards and punt on three consecutive drives.
Maryland put together one final drive in the half, going 91 yards in 15 plays in just under four minutes. Thanks to a huge third-and-goal tackle made by Luke Murphy, the Terps settled for a field goal going into the half, up 17-7.
The second half started poorly for the Huskies after a strip sack that was recovered by the offense during a three-and-out, forcing punter Tommy Warner to send the ball 52 yards into Maryland territory.
This wouldn’t stop the Terrapins as they put together a 10-play drive going 71 yards including a one-handed beauty by Kaleb Webb, matched with another 30-yard catch for the Redshirt Senior.
“They made some really tough catches at really critical times, pivotal times throughout the course of the game,” Candle said in his postgame press conference. “You’re going to have some of those things where they’re fifty-fifty balls and credit to their quarterback and their kids for making some plays on the football.”
The Huskies responded on their seventh drive with a 39-yard touchdown pass to Porter to cut Maryland’s lead to 10, but that would be the closest UConn got for the rest of the game.
Porter led the Huskies in receiving yards with 62, including his one touchdown.
Gladding led the Terps with 130 receiving yards. Dalton III rushed for 57 yards and two touchdowns, including one late in the third quarter to put Maryland up 31-14.
Two late turnovers on downs in last-ditch efforts for the Huskies led to another touchdown for Maryland to finish the game with 475 offensive yards.
Washington threw for 347 yards going 34 for 41 and added one touchdown pass to secure the victory.
The Huskies look to rebound on their first road game of the year against Southern Mississippi on Sept. 19.
The game is set to kick off at 7 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.