Wildcats Come Up Short at Maryland, 31-24

Saturday, October 22

College Park, Md.

2:30pm CT

Northwestern

1-6 , 1-3

Maryland

6-2 , 3-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Northwestern

Maryland

Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics

Wildcats Come Up Short at Maryland, 31-24

10/22/2022 6:23:00 PM | Football

Box Score Postgame Notes Photo Gallery

COLLEGE PARK, Md. –– Roman Hemby's 75-yard rushing touchdown from with 3:22 left in the ballgame gave Maryland the lead for good, as Northwestern lost 31-24 to the Terps on Saturday afternoon at SECU Stadium.

The Terrapins improved to 6-2 on the year and 3-2 in Big Ten Conference play, while the Wildcats fell to 1-6 overall and 1-3 in conference matchups.

Evan Hull led all Northwestern rushers with 119 yards in the contest, picking up 6 yards per carry. Hull also added 31 receiving yards and one touchdown. Brendan Sullivan also added 53 yards and one touchdown on the ground, averaging 4.1 yards per carry.

Malik Washington hauled in six catches for 72 yards.

Adetomiwa Adebawore showed out for the Northwestern defense, collecting three tackles, 2.0 TFL, two sacks, and one forced fumble. Bryce Gallagher added 16 tackles, 2.5 TFL, and 1.5 sacks in the loss.

The Wildcats put together a solid outing on the ground, gaining 215 rushing yards while averaging 4.7 yards per carry. The Northwestern offense did a good job extending drives, converting on 64.3 percent of third-down attempts.

Defensively, Northwestern held up fairly well against the Maryland passing attack, holding UMD to 166 yards through the air. The Wildcat defense took up residence in Maryland's backfield all game, racking up four sacks and eight total tackles for loss.

How It Happened

Northwestern grabbed a 7-0 lead over Maryland after scoring the game's first points with 2:54 left in the first quarter.Maryland then tied it up at 7-7 before the 'Cats responded with a 24-yard field goal from to jump back in front 10-7.

Northwestern continued to build its lead, scoring again with 4:50 left in the second quarter to go up 17-7. Maryland scored to take a 24-17 lead, but NU got on the scoreboard again to even the game at 24-24. The Terps responded immediately with a 75-yard rushing Touchdown on the next play from scrimmage to take the lead for good.

Game Notes

» Maryland outgained Northwestern 423-358 in the contest.
» Northwestern had their highest scoring quarter in the second period, when they put up 10 points.
» The Wildcats converted 9 of 14 third downs while Maryland was successful on 8 of 16.
» NU had four players with more than eight tackles in the ballgame led by Gallagher, who had 16.
» The 'Cats collected eight tackles for loss and added four sacks.
» Sullivan completed 75% of his passes on the day, going 18-for-24.
» Northwestern's defense forced Maryland into a three-and-out on its first possession. It's the first time the Terrapins did not score on their first possession of a game this season.
» QB Brendan Sullivan's rushing TD in the first quarter was NU's first rushing score in three games (last on 9/24 vs. Miami (OH)).
» The 'Cats held Maryland scoreless in the first quarter, marking the first time the Terrapins haven't scored in the opening frame and the third time they haven't scored in any quarter this season.
» Northwestern scored 10 or more points in the first half on the road for the first time since Nov. 14, 2020, at Purdue (17 points).
» The Wildcat defense held Maryland to 1-of-4 passing with a sack in the red zone in the first half.
» NU rushed for a season-high 215 yards.
» The Wildcats had three different players record 10+ tackles (Bryce Gallagher, Rod Heard II, Xander Mueller) for the second time this season, previously doing so against Penn State.
» LB Bryce Gallagher finished with career highs in tackles (16) and sacks (1.5) while tying his career-high 2.5 tackles for loss.
» He is the first Northwestern player with 15+ tackles and 2.5+ tackles for loss in a game since current NU linebackers coach Tim McGarigle did so against Wisconsin on Oct. 8, 2005. Those two performances are the only two of their kind in the 21st Century.
» QB Brendan Sullivan made his first-career start at quarterback.
» Sullivan is the first player to pass for a touchdown in each of his first two appearances with Northwestern since Trevor Siemian in 2011.
» He is the first Wildcat with 100+ passing yards, 50+ rushing yards, 1+ passing TD and 1+ rushing TD in the same game since Peyton Ramsey against Auburn in the 2021 Citrus Bowl.
» Sullivan completed 18-of-24 pass attempts for a 75% completion percentage, the best completion percentage (min. 20 pass attempts) by a Northwestern quarterback since Peyton Ramsey completed 76.7% of his passes against Maryland on Oct. 24, 2020.
» The Wildcat defense recorded a season-high 4.0 sacks, the most since Oct. 16, 2021, vs. Purdue (4.0 sacks).