Hemby’s 75-yard TD lifts Maryland over Northwestern

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Even with out Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland can nonetheless strike shortly.

Roman Hemby ran for 179 yards and three touchdowns, together with a sensational 75-yard dash with 3:22 remaining that gave the Terrapins a 31-24 victory over Northwestern on Saturday.

The Terps (6-2, 3-2 Large Ten) overcame the absence of Tagovailoa, the standout quarterback who aggravated a knee sprain final weekend. That is the earliest they’ve change into bowl eligible since 2001, once they did it on Oct. 11.

It wasn’t simple. Northwestern tied it at 24 with 3:34 remaining on a 9-yard scoring run by Andrew Clair. On the primary play of Maryland’s subsequent drive, Hemby slipped by means of a gap on the left aspect and outran everybody, eluding three defensive gamers who dove at his ankles for the landing that put the Terps again in entrance.

“We noticed the entrance that we needed, and I simply got here by means of the mesh, and the linemen acquired their blocks, the vast receivers labored to the secondary to get their blocks,” Hemby mentioned. “I simply needed to run and beat two folks, and I used to be capable of outrun their angles.”

Brendan Sullivan’s deep move was intercepted by Maryland’s Beau Brade with 3:02 to play.

Billy Edwards Jr. — who helped Maryland win at Indiana final weekend after Tagovailoa was carted off — threw for 166 yards and a TD towards Northwestern.

The Wildcats (1-6, 1-3) led 17-7 late within the second quarter, however they dropped their sixth straight sport since successful the opener towards Nebraska in Eire.

Evan Hull ran for 119 yards and caught a landing move for Northwestern.

Edwards was below fixed stress within the first half and needed to scramble out of bother fairly a bit. The Terps have been unable to show first-and-goal from the two right into a landing close to the top of the primary half. They settled for a subject objective and trailed 17-10.

An interception by Dante Dealer Jr. early within the third quarter set Maryland up close to midfield, and Hemby’s 18-yard scoring run finally tied the sport. The Terps took a 24-17 lead later within the quarter on a 30-yard landing strike from Edwards to Rakim Jarrett.

Maryland had an opportunity to take a two-score lead within the fourth, however a drive that took 6:15 off the clock produced no factors when Chad Ryland missed a 46-yard subject objective. The Terps had second-and-1 from the 5, however a fumbled snap resulted in an 8-yard loss, after which Edwards took a sack for a lack of 15 that made the sector objective for much longer.

Northwestern then drove the opposite method to tie it at 24.

Maryland had scored on its first possession in each sport this season — the one FBS crew that would nonetheless make that declare. That streak ended Saturday, and Northwestern took a 7-0 lead on a 1-yard run by Sullivan.

The Terps tied it on Hemby’s 14-yard landing, however the Wildcats scored the subsequent 10 factors and went up 17-7 on a 10-yard scoring move from Sullivan to Hull with 4:50 left within the half.

THE TAKEAWAY

Northwestern: It was a good effort by the protection, even accounting for the truth that Maryland’s backup quarterback was taking part in. However the Wildcats finally gave up the large play on the bottom.

“Defensively, I assumed we performed properly aside from a handful of performs,” coach Pat Fitzgerald mentioned.

Maryland: Edwards performed high-quality, making performs together with his legs and avoiding any turnovers, and Hemby picked up the slack offensively with Tagovailoa out.

“We noticed a bunch of younger guys step up and play huge, and it begins with our quarterback,” coach Michael Locksley mentioned. “Billy got here in and actually did an incredible job of main us and doing the issues he’s been coached to do.”

QB MATCHUP

It was the primary begin for each Edwards and Sullivan. Each have been threats to run the ball once they weren’t capable of finding open receivers.

Sullivan handed for 143 yards.

“Simply being comfy within the pocket was enormous at this time. Utilizing my legs once I wanted to as an alternative of simply counting on them and scrambling round once I didn’t need to,” he mentioned. “That was the most important factor I improved upon. It was enjoyable being on the market. We clearly didn’t get the consequence we needed to but it surely was enjoyable taking part in soccer and getting my first begin.”

UP NEXT

Northwestern: The Wildcats play at Iowa subsequent Saturday.

Maryland: The Terps are off subsequent weekend earlier than taking part in at Wisconsin on Nov. 5.