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Maryland scored on each of its six drives in the first half en route to a comfortable, 44-17, win over Towson on Saturday in its final tune-up before Big Ten play.

Maryland coach Mike Locksley has often emphasized his "developmental program" and the required patience as players learn the ways of the college game. This year, however, Maryland's freshmen have thrown the prerequisites to play out the window.

It's once again a homecoming week of sorts for Maryland coach Mike Locksley, who welcomes his alma mater, Towson, to College Park this Saturday as the Terrapins round out their nonconference schedule.

Northern Illinois and its run-heavy, possession-based offense ground Maryland nearly to a halt Friday night. But a late fourth-down touchdown helped the Terrapins hold on to a 20-9 win.

Mike Locksley, admittedly, doesn't like to make comparisons. But he couldn't avoid making one this week between the star currently at the center of his Maryland defense and one of the program's legends.

The freshman quarterback's 27-of-43, 258 yard and three touchdown performance last Saturday against Florida Atlantic earned him Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors ahead of a short turnaround to a Friday night home game with Northern Illinois.

The first true freshman to start a season opener for the Terrapins since Perry Hills in 2012, QB Malik Washington finished 27-of-43 with 258 yards passing and three touchdowns in a 39-7 win over Florida Atlantic Saturday.

The first true freshman to start a season opener for the Terrapins since Perry Hills in 2012, QB Malik Washington finished 27-of-43 with 358 yards passing and three touchdowns in a 39-7 win over Florida Atlantic Saturday.

Year seven of the Mike Locksley era at Maryland will likely prove to be the most pivotal of the District native's tenure, with a young, untested roster that returns few starters and the coach and his staff having to constantly keep up with the ever ...