COLLEGE PARK, Md. — — Defensive finish Aidan Hubbard returned a fumble restoration for a landing within the fourth quarter, and Northwestern pulled away from Maryland 37-10 on Friday evening for its first Large Ten victory this season.
Jack Lausch and Cam Porter rushed for first-half touchdowns for the Wildcats (3-3, 1-2), which gained regardless of being outgained 355-283 whole yards.
Billy Edwards Jr. rushed for a landing for Maryland (3-3, 0-3), which dedicated a season-high 4 turnovers. The Terrapins dropped their tenth consecutive sport after an open date, a streak that dates to 2017 and features a pair of defeats after pandemic cancellations in 2020.
Maryland trailed 17-10 early within the fourth quarter when Edwards was blind-sided by defensive sort out Carmine Bastone and misplaced possession. Hubbard collected the ball on the Maryland 2 and took a step into the tip zone.
“All people was simply juicy and was excited,” stated Bastone, a senior and former walk-on who missed the Wildcats’ first 5 video games due to damage. “I used to be attempting to get everyone excited, so I’m glad I received that response. All people was simply completely satisfied to see me again on the market.”
It was the primary of three turnovers within the fourth quarter for the Terps. Northwestern outscored Maryland 20-3 within the last quarter-hour, with 17 of the factors coming off takeaways.
“We speak about valuing the soccer,” Northwestern coach David Braun stated. “This must be a part of our formulation — profitable within the turnover margin. We did that in an enormous approach tonight.”
The Wildcats opened the scoring on Lausch’s 9-yard scramble within the first quarter. After Maryland’s punt on the subsequent possession pinned Northwestern at its 8, Lausch led a 16-play drive capped by Porter’s 3-yard landing run with 12:08 left within the half.
The Terps’ Ricardo Cooper Jr. fumbled the following kickoff, establishing Luke Akers’ 43-yard discipline purpose 4 performs later to place Northwestern up 17-0.
Maryland couldn’t produce factors practically that effectively. Edwards scored on a 1-yard plunge on fourth-and-goal with 3:22 earlier than the break to finish a 16-play drive. Jack Howes made a 31-yard discipline purpose on the primary play of the fourth quarter to complete an 18-play possession.
Turnovers short-circuited the Terps the remainder of the best way. They’d solely three giveaways of their first 5 video games, and their plus-11 turnover margin getting into Friday ranked second nationally.
“We’re right here to construct this staff to compete to win championships,” stated Maryland coach Mike Locksley, who took over playcalling duties from offensive coordinator Josh Gattis after the open date. “No person ever stated it will be linear. Immediately, we took a step again. We’re going to discover a strategy to flip this frustration into one thing constructive and productive.”
Lausch accomplished 10 of 18 for 203 yards.
Edwards was 28 of 51 for 296 yards and an interception.
Maryland’s Tai Felton, who leads the Large Ten in receiving yards, returned after leaving the Terps’ Sept. 28 loss at Indiana with an undisclosed damage. He had 9 catches for 77 yards.
The takeaway
Northwestern: The Wildcats took care of the ball, exploited Maryland’s turnovers and restricted the Terps to 59 speeding yards. It was a profitable formulation Friday, and Northwestern will undoubtedly attempt to replicate it within the second half of its season.
Maryland: The Terps slid again to .500 whereas shedding at residence for the second time this season. With a second-half schedule that features Southern California, Minnesota, Oregon, Rutgers, Iowa and Penn State — which entered the week with a mixed document of 23-8 — Maryland’s possibilities of incomes a fourth consecutive bowl berth proceed to slender.
Akers get his kicks
Akers, a redshirt junior, usually handles Northwestern’s punting and kickoff duties. However the son of former Professional Bowl kicker David Akers added placekicking duties and was good, making three discipline targets of a minimum of 38 yards plus all 4 further factors.
“I’ve by no means seen a man kick off and do it on the stage he did, scoring factors the best way he did,” Braun stated. “That further level is the primary level he scored in his school profession. And to have the effectivity he did from completely different ranges in discipline targets and the best way that he punted the ball tonight, I’m so excited for that younger man.”
Up subsequent
Northwestern performs host to Wisconsin on Oct. 19.
Maryland stays at residence to face new Large Ten foe Southern California on Oct. 19.
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