Image courtesy of @UConnFootball
By Aman Kidwai
NEFJ Correspondent
COLLEGE PARK, MD – UConn football opened its season with a devastating loss to Maryland, 50-7, at SECU Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Huskies were dominated in all three phases, allowing 629 total yards including 249 YAC for Terrapin pass-catchers and 248 rushing yards on 5.4 YPC. They didn’t score until the third quarter, by which point the game was well out of reach, and their starting quarterback left the game after a hit to the head.
“That wasn’t the start that we wanted, certainly,” Mora said. “I was disappointed in some things that I hadn’t seen out of this football team… in terms of body language and effort, and that’s my responsibility.”
The Terps were up 14-0 after the game’s first three possessions. Billy Edwards hit Tai Felton in the end zone for the first touchdown of the game on a drive where Maryland converted a fourth down and also had a fumble recovery overturned. After a UConn four-and-out, UMD running back Nolan Ray busted a 49-yard touchdown run to give the hosts all the points they would need after the first nine minutes of the game.
“I’m not sure that as a program we responded well to getting knocked back a little early,” Mora said.
The UConn defense started making some stops but the offense continued to struggle. The Huskies got into plus territory for the first time in the second quarter, but that drive ended with a missed field goal. UConn also had a botched snap on a 3rd and short play, dropped a number of passes, and had a couple of drive-killing penalties, among many other mistakes.
After a Maryland field goal with 40 seconds left in the first half, new starting quarterback Nick Evers was trying to make something happen on UConn’s ensuing possession but threw a pick on the very first play, leading to another Terrapin field goal to make it 23-0 at halftime. Maryland scored on their first possession of the second half to make it 30-0.
Evers left the game in the third quarter after taking a hit to the head. Joe Fagnano entered in his place, finishing with 149 passing yards, a pick, and a touchdown to TJ Sheffield, a Purdue transfer. Another transfer receiver, Skyler Bell from Wisconsin, was the bright spot for the Huskies, finishing with five receptions for 141 yards.
“That’s what I came here to do, to be explosive, be dynamic, and add a different element to the offnese. I’m glad I was able to put that on display today,” Bell said.
Mora did not offer a prognosis for Evers, but did say that he will play next week if healthy. There is no competition for the starting duties. The Huskies are also dealing with injuries to two upperclassmen defenders: Pryce Yates and Malik Dixon-Williams, neither played on Saturday.
Yates had a concussion so the team has been cautious with him, and Dixon-Williams broke his hand and had surgery. The plan is for him to play “clubbed up” in the near future if he’s to return to the field, Mora said.
UConn hosts FCS Merrimack next week in the home opener at Rentschler Field. Kick-off will be at noon and the game will be televised on WFSB/WAAX/UConn+.