Maryland football’s final nonconference game on Saturday carries more meaning for head coach Michael Locksley — for him, it’s a chance to take a trip down memory lane.
Locksley has rich ties to Towson University. It is not only his alma mater, but also where he began his coaching career. Locksley played four seasons as a defensive back for the Tigers and one as a defensive back and special teams coach — back when the school was known as Towson State. Locksley also spent one season on the men’s basketball team at Towson.
“Towson on deck is my alma mater, a place I have an affinity for,” Locksley said at his Tuesday press conference. “It’s because of Towson I’m able to stand here before you guys.”
Despite Saturday’s game having an extra meaning for Locksley, it is Maryland’s final tune-up before heading into Big Ten play.
After a shaky win over Northern Illinois, the Terps must fix some issues that plagued them the first two weeks.
One issue is Maryland’s start to games, as Maryland’s offense struggled to move down the field in both of its game-opening drives.
“It’s obvious that we haven’t started out as fast. Had a couple three-and-outs when we start with a young quarterback,” Locksley said. “Two weeks in a row, there were drops on third down… just those little plays give this kid confidence. The thing I like is that when it doesn’t go the way we want it to go or expect it to go, his body language and the way he responds.”
Will Towson give the Terps a tough fight?
Towson has started its season with two road wins against Norfolk State and Morgan State, but will face a different level of opponent in Maryland.
Head coach Pete Shinnick is in his third season with the Tigers and has built a respectable FCS program with a 14-11 overall record. The Tigers come into Saturday having won each of their last five games dating back to last season.
“Coach Shinnick is a winning guy, a guy that’s won national championships at the Division II level,” Locksley said. “He’s built programs, and you can tell that he’s got this program going in the right direction.”
Like Maryland, Towson is also starting a freshman quarterback this season in Andrew Indorf. He was a two-star recruit from Florida and was sharp during his first two outings.
Indorf has combined to complete 32-of-49 pass attempts for 373 yards and four touchdowns without throwing an interception.
“Really talented kid out of St. Thomas Aquinas. We’ve got Travares Daniels II, who’s our linebacker, came from the same high school. So we know a little bit about the kid,” Locksley said of Indorf. “Athletic, he seems to be the guy that makes it go. He’s been doing a good job of protecting the football for the most part, talented RPO system. He’s a young guy, so we do have to check his oil.”
Towson’s starting running back is Kemarrion Battles, another freshman who has rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries.
Towson’s top receiver, John Dunmore, is a graduate student originally from Oregon State. He has already caught two touchdowns this season, nearly half of his total of five from last season.
Towson’s defense allowed a combined 29 points through the first two games, snagged one interception, and recorded four sacks.
Graduate linebacker CJ McClendon has been strong, recording 15 total tackles. Sophomore defensive back Jasin Shiggs has also totalled 15 total tackles and will likely guard Maryland’s top receivers.
Can Maryland clean things up?
It’s no secret that this is Maryland’s final tune-up game before heading into Big Ten play. Towson is Maryland’s lone FCS opponent on its schedule, and it’s a chance for the Terps to course-correct some mistakes.
Maryland’s offense struggled heavily against Northern Illinois and showed signs of concern. Washington is still a freshman, and growing pains are expected, but the Terps need to rely on other facets of the game, along with quarterback play, to succeed. Locksley was intentional about trying to make the running game work on Friday.
“But for the most part, it’s just a matter of our backs. They’re going to have one guy that they have to make miss, and I saw us start to do that in the second half,” Locksley said. “We really were intentional to continue to try to run the football, because to win in the Big Ten, we know we can throw the ball. We have good athletes. We have a quarterback.”
DeJuan Williams and Nolan Ray are important players to watch on Saturday as they try to establish the ground game. Both have rushed for exactly 77 yards through the first two games.
On the receiving end, Dorian Fleming and Shaleak Knotts have stood out above the rest to start the season. Washington may look to target Jahlil Farooq, Kaleb Webb, and Octavian Smith Jr. on Saturday to create a more balanced passing attack.
Maryland’s defense has emphasized strong man-coverage under new defensive coordinator Ted Monachino, relying on defensive backs like Jalen Huskey, Jamare Glasker, and Dontay Joyner.
“I think the big thing is we brought in the kind of guys that allow us to play man coverage. We had a couple of coverage sacks that showed up,” Locksley said. “To have those kind of guys that are winning the one-on-ones allows us to have a little more coverage. And to me, that’s what really helps.”
Maryland football aims to extend its nonconference win streak to 18 on Saturday as it takes on Towson at SECU Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon. You can listen live here at WMUC Sports.
