The Mike Locksley era began with a bang as his Maryland Terrapins ran over Howard 79-0 on Saturday afternoon at Maryland Stadium in College Park.

The Terrapins jumped out to a 28-0 first quarter lead behind two touchdown passes from new quarterback Josh Jackson. Maryland (1-0) led 56-0 at intermission, a school record for scoring in a half.

Jackson finished 15-of-24 for 245 yards and four touchdowns in his Maryland debut after transferring this summer from Virginia Tech as a graduate.

The Bison (0-1), from nearby Washington, D.C. -- Locksley's hometown -- were often their own worst enemy, particularly in the kicking game.

A 14-yard punt set up Maryland's first score, a 26-yard Jackson to Dontay Demus touchdown pass at 11:06. The next score -- an Anthony McFarland 2-yard run at 6:53 -- was set up when Howard's punter was tackled at his own 13 after a bad snap.

Later in the second quarter, Maryland's D.J. Turner took a punt back 40 yards for another score and a 42-0 lead. The Terrapins also blocked a punt for a safety in the third quarter.

Caylin Newton, the 2019 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Player of the Year (and the younger brother of Cam Newton) was held to 3-of-11 passing for 23 yards, and Bison quarterbacks were sacked eight times. The Howard offense mustered just 68 yards of total offense and four first downs. The Bison rushed 38 times for 1 yard.

Demus had a big day receiving for Maryland with three catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns, including a 62-yard score from backup quarterback Tyrrell Pigrome. Maryland amassed 623 yards total offense, including 306 through the air.

Locksley was an interim coach at Maryland in 2015 before coaching at Alabama the last three seasons. He returned for his third tour of duty with the Terrapins in the spring. This was also the first game at Howard for coach Ron Prince.

The Bison play at Youngstown State next Saturday, while the Terrapins host Syracuse.

Maryland's highest scoring game ever was an 80-0 victory over Washington College in 1927.

--Field Level Media