Northwestern takes advantage of Maryland's turnovers and earns its first Big Ten victory

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Defensive end Aidan Hubbard recovered a fumble for a fourth-quarter touchdown and Northwestern beat Maryland 37-10 on Friday night to secure its first Big Ten win of the season.

Jack Lausch and Cam Porter rushed for touchdowns in the first half for the Wildcats (3-3, 1-2), who won despite being outgained by a total of 355-283 yards.

Billy Edwards Jr. rushed for a touchdown for Maryland (3-3, 0-3), which had its season-high four turnovers. The Terrapins lost their 10th straight game after an open date, a streak that dates back to 2017 and includes two losses following pandemic-related cancellations in 2020.

Maryland was trailing 17-10 early in the fourth quarter when Edwards was caught off guard by defensive tackle Carmine Bastone and lost the ball. Hubbard collected the ball at the Maryland 2 and took a step into the end zone.

It was the first of three turnovers in the fourth quarter for the Terps. Northwestern outscored Maryland 20-3 in the final 15 minutes, with 17 of the points coming on takeaways.

The Wildcats opened the scoring in the first quarter with Lausch's 9-yard scramble. After Maryland's punt pinned Northwestern at its 8 on the next possession, Lausch led a 16-play drive capped by Porter's 3-yard touchdown run with 12:08 left in the half.

The Terps' Ricardo Cooper Jr. fumbled on the ensuing kickoff, setting up Akers' 43-yard field goal four plays later that gave Northwestern a 17-0 lead.

Maryland couldn't score points nearly as efficiently. Edwards scored on a 1-yard plunge on fourth-and-goal with 3:22 to play before halftime, completing a 16-play drive. Jack Howes hit a 31-yard field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter, ending an 18-game streak of possession.

Lausch completed 10 of 18 for 203 yards.

Edwards was 28 of 51 for 296 yards and one interception.

Maryland's Tai Felton, who leads the Big Ten in receiving yards, returned after leaving the Terps' Sept. 28 loss at Indiana with an undisclosed injury. He had nine catches for 77 yards.

The takeaway food

Northwestern: The Wildcats took care of the ball, taking advantage of Maryland's turnovers and limiting the Terps to 59 rushing yards. It was a winning formula on Friday, and Northwestern will no doubt look to repeat it in the second half of the season.

Maryland: The Terps fell to .500 while losing at home for the second time this season. With a second-half schedule that includes Southern California, Minnesota, Oregon, Rutgers, Iowa and Penn State – which entered the week with a combined record of 23-8 – Maryland's chances of earning a fourth straight bowl berth are slim secure, continue to be tight.

Next

Northwestern hosts Wisconsin on October 19th.

Maryland stays at home and faces new Big Ten opponent Southern California on October 19th.