Maryland football falls short against Northwestern due to multiple turnovers
Maryland Football vs. Northwestern at SECU Stadium in College Park, MD on Friday Oct 11, 2024. (Courtesy of University of Maryland Athletics Department)
Northwestern University Wildcats (3-3) quarterback Jack Lausch threw for 203 yards, leading his team to a 37-10 victory over the University of Maryland Terrapins (3-3) Friday night in a game that saw the Northwestern defense force four turnovers.
Northwestern defensive lineman Carmine Bastone forced a fumble from Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. on the 2-yard line in the fourth quarter. Then Aidan Hubbard recovered the fumble and ran for a touchdown, putting Northwestern up 24-10 with just over 13 minutes left in the game.
The Wildcats effectively sealed the game on their drives after the fumble. Northwestern kicker Luke Akers converted a field goal to make it 27-10 with just under nine minutes left in the game after a 55-yard completion by Lausch.
The Wildcats forced another fumble on Maryland's next drive. Akers converted another field goal, making it 30-10 with just over 6 minutes left in the game, sealing the victory.
Edwards believed the Terrapins were just off the mark in the first half.
“We were very small things away from having success on some plays, especially early in the first half,” said Edwards. “Just a bad read by me or a drop or whatever when we go back and look at it. We weren’t far off having successful plays in that first half.”
However, the Wildcats dominated much of the first half. They forced a Maryland fumble off a kickoff and Akers converted a 43-yard field goal to put them up 17-0 with just under 11 minutes remaining in the first half.
Lausch especially started the game hot. He rushed for a 9-yard touchdown with just over eight and a half minutes left in the first quarter. That drive included a 40-yard completion to receiver A.J. Henning on second-and-15, landing them on the 10-yard line.
He threw another 40-yard completion to receiver Bryce Kirtz early in the second quarter, putting them at the 10-yard line again. Wildcats running back Cam Porter rushed into the endzone from the 3-yard line and Akers converted the extra point, putting them up 14-0 with just over 12 minutes left in the second quarter.
Edwards and receiver Tai Felton began to heat up on the next drive, combining for three receptions and 33 yards.
Edwards rushed into the endzone from the one, after 17 plays, totaling 90 yards. Maryland kicker Jack Howes converted the extra point, ending the half 17-7 in favor of Northwestern.
Maryland could not convert another touchdown after another lengthy drive of 18 plays for 86 yards at the end of the third quarter. Edwards Jr. rushed for 23 yards and passed for 50, but they settled for a field goal, cutting the deficit to seven points, the closest they would get all game.
A night of turnovers would not let the Terrapins gain momentum. They ended the game with ten points, a season-low for the offense. Northwestern now leads the all-time series 4-1.
Despite the loss, Maryland head coach Mike Locksley remains optimistic about the season.
“We're here to build this team to compete, to win championships. Nobody ever said that it would be linear,” Locksley said. “Today, we took a step back, and we're going to find a way to turn this frustration into a positive this week. It starts with the next game.”
Maryland will look to get their first conference win next Saturday in their Homecoming game against USC, a new addition to the Big Ten Conference.