Photo for Sol Tucker for TalkTerrapins
In his debut game, Malik Washington broke a Maryland Terrapins freshman record today against Florida Atlantic. He set a school record for a true freshman quarterback with 27 completions, 258 yards, and three touchdown passes which were all Maryland records, and he led his team to a 39-7 with with that final score. Washington had no interceptions, and as the game turned into a blowout, he was pulled near the end of the third quarter.
Washington’s 27 completions also set the most by a true freshman in a power conference debut since Jaxson Dart had 30 for USC in 2021. Additionally, he became the first Power Conference freshman quarterback to throw three touchdown passes in a season-opening debut since Trevor Lawrence in 2018.
Shaleak Knotts was Washington’s favorite target in this game. The senior led the team with 59 yards on five receptions and averaging 11.8 yards per catch while Dorian Fleming led the Terps with six catches.
Maryland’s defense scored twice in the first half at SECU Stadium on this Saturday afternoon. The Terps defense also came up huge in the turnover battle against the Florida Atlantic Owls as the Terrapins’ defense recorded six interceptions. The players credited with the interceptions were:
- Daniel Wingate (1 interception, returned for a touchdown, a pick-6)
- Dontay Joyner (1 interception)
- Lavain Scruggs (1 interception)
- La’khi Roland (1 interception)
- Braydon Lee (1 interception)
- Ricardo Cooper Jr. (1 interception)
This performance tied the Maryland program record for the most interceptions in a single game, matching the six interceptions recorded against Wake Forest in 1998. It was noted as the most interceptions by the Terrapins’ defense in a game since that 1998 season.
New Maryland kicker, and Richmond portal transfer, Sean O’Haire, was a perfect 3-for-3 in field goals including a key 49 yarder at the beginning of the second quarter to put Maryland up for good in this game. In fact, Florida Atlantic wouldn’t score again after their lone touchdown in the first quarter.
“I think we are all starting to see the making of what could be a very good quarterback. Malik is a little older than his years in the way he handles things and the best part about it is he’s only going to get better.”
— head coach Mike Locksley said after the victory
“We started off a little slow on offense, so it was great for our defense to be able to make a few plays to jump-start us.”
“To see the young players that we brought in to do the things that they started to show today was really encouraging for us.”
The victory marked Maryland’s 14th consecutive season-opening win over a non-conference opponent and its nation-leading win streak over non-conference opponents to 16 games. The Terps recorded six interceptions (the program’s most since 1998) as the defense smothered the Owls’ offense from start to finish.
A great first win for the Maryland Terps in this 2025/2026 season.
