Terrapins Rally Past Northern Illinois, 30-6
COLLEGE PARK, Md.-- Defensive lineman Delbert Cowsette's 49-yard fumble return for a touchdown helped
Maryland rally and the Terrapins pulled away for a 30-6 victory over
Northern Illinois.
The Terrapins' offense sputtered for nearly
three quarters, but the defense provided enough big plays to
help Maryland avoid an upset.
Northern Illinois held a 6-3 lead and was in possession of
the ball at the Maryland 44 early in the third quarter. The
Terrapins' Brett White jarred the ball loose from
quarterback Brandon Barker. Cowsette recovered the
fumble and ran down the right sideline for the touchdown.
After a Northern Illinois punt, the Terrapins used a
70-yard drive to go up 15-6. Brian Cummings got Maryland's
first offensive touchdown of the season on an 8-yard run
with nine seconds left in the third quarter.
Kendall Ogle's 1-yard run capped an 88-yard drive in the
fourth quarter, whch started with Chad Scott's interception.
Freshman Harold Westley got Maryland's final touchdown on a
7-yard run with 3:47 remaining.
Charles Talley, who averaged 146.5 rushing yards per game
last season, gained 55 on 22 carries for Northern Illinois.
It was the first time in seven games he failed to reach
100-yard mark.
Maryland managed only five first downs while being outgained
158-97 in the first half.
The Huskies took a 6-3 lead with a 15-play, 81-yard drive
that consumed more than seven minutes of the second quarter.
Only two plays gained more than nine yards on the drive.
Talley ended the drive with a 1-yard run.
Game Statistics
At: Byrd Stadium
Date: Aug 31, 1996
Att: 32,517
Northern Ill 0 - 6 - 0 - 0 -- 6
Maryland 3 - 0 - 12 - 15 --30
First Quarter
MD -- FG, Odonnell 27
Second Quarter
NILL -- TD, Talley, 1 run (kick failed)
Third Quarter
MD -- TD, Cowsette, 49 fumble return (kick failed)
MD -- TD, Cummings, 8 run (kick failed)
Fourth Quarter
MD -- Ogle, 1 run (Simon reception for two-point conversion)
MD -- Westley, 7 run (Odonnell kick)
NILL MD
First downs 20 18
Rushed-yards 55-157 45-274
Passing yards 152 120
Sacked-yards lost 1-12 4-21
Return yards 68 45
Passes 10-17-1 8-16-1
Punts 4-33.8 4-37.3
Fumbles-lost 3-2 0-0
Penalties-yards 3-20 6-55
Time of possession 33:46 26:14
RUSHING
Northern Ill-Florence 13-58, Talley 22-55, Barker
15-46, Stokes 1-10, Williams 4-minus 12.
Maryland-Underwood
8-74, Westley 16-57, Rodgers 6-55, Crosby 4-46, Simon 1-27,
Cummings 7-10, Rogers 1-3, Ogle 2-2.
PASSING
Northern Ill-Barker 8-13-1-124, Williams 2-4-0-28.
Maryland-Cummings 8-16-1-120.
RECEIVING
Northern Ill-Mitchell 7-122, Moody 2-21, Jacoby 1-9.
Maryland-Westley 2-52, Simon 2-17, Rodgers 1-19, Williams 1-19,
James 1-9, Fitzgerald 1-4.
