Billy Edwards Jr. leaves early as Wisconsin falters in loss to Maryland

Billy Edwards Jr.'s return to action against his former team, Maryland, lasted just seven plays as his replacement, Malik Washington, ushered the Terrapins to a 27-10 victory over Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin, in both teams' Big Ten opener.

Washington paced Maryland's (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) scoring attack in his first career road game, accounting for all three Terps touchdowns. The true freshman finished his day going 18-for-34 with 265 yards and two passing touchdowns, as well as one on the ground.

He delivered the game-ending strike on a 62-yard bomb to Shaleak Knotts, who dusted the entire Badgers defense with 9:03 left in the fourth quarter.

Edwards Jr., who appeared in 26 games for the Terrapins, helped lead Wisconsin (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten) on a promising opening drive that went all the way to the Maryland 21-yard line.

It all went downhill for the Badgers afterward. The Terps blocked Wisconsin's 38-yard field-goal attempt, then Edwards Jr., who missed the previous two games due to injury, would get injured once again on Wisconsin's very next play. He did not return.

The Badgers followed this up with an interception, five punts and a turnover on downs to end the half scoreless.

Terps defensive back Jalen Huskey returned the Wisconsin interception all the way to the Badgers' 4-yard line. Washington then punched it in from the 1-yard line with 6:22 left in the first quarter to open the scoring for the day.

Badgers backup Danny O'Neil finished the game 14-for-22 with 120 yards and an interception. The Terps sacked him six times and held the Badgers to under 300 total yards.

After blocking a Badgers punt, Washington and Knotts connected for the first time on the day for a 9-yard score to go up 14-0 with 13:47 left in the half.

The Terps ended the half with a pair of field goals from Sean O'Haire, a 49-yarder and a 26-yarder, to go up 20-0.

Wisconsin moved the ball better in the second half. O'Neil led the Badgers to a field goal on their opening drive of the half, a 33-yarder by Nathanial Vakos to make it 20-3.

Maryland started the second half with three straight three-and-outs before Washington capped a 99-yard drive with the deep shot to Knotts.

Wisconsin finally got in the end zone late as Hunter Simmons came in for O'Neil and found Lance Mason from 13 yards out with 28 seconds left in the game.

This was Maryland's first-ever victory over Wisconsin.

--Field Level Media