Skip navigation
Site powered by
Latest news:
msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines: Adele is big winner, Houston honored at Grammys

Scott rallies Maryland past Nevada late

Back bounces back from benching to run for 174 yards, two TDs in 4th

Humanitarian Bowl FootballAP
Maryland quarterback Chris Turner (10) throws a pass against Nevada during the first half of the Humanitarian Bowl.

BOISE, Idaho - Ralph Friedgen’s initial reaction was to put Da’Rel Scott and the six other Maryland players who broke curfew leading up to the Humanitarian Bowl on a bus with a one-way ticket back to College Park, Md.

Instead of being run out of town, Scott stuck around and ran over Nevada.

Benched for 2½ quarters for his curfew violation, an inspired Scott became an unstoppable running force for the final 20 minutes. He carried 14 times for 174 yards and scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns as Maryland held off the Wolf Pack 42-35 on Tuesday.

“I just felt as though I had to run with a purpose,” Scott said.

And run Scott did, blowing through a worn down Nevada defense in the final quarter. He sprinted 49 yards nearly untouched to snap a 28-all tie early in the fourth, then added a 2-yard TD gallop to put the Terps up 14 points with 7:44 left.

But until he got his first carry midway through the third quarter, doubt lingered in Scott’s mind as to if his transgression would keep him off the field. He was one of seven Terps caught by Friedgen, who declined to specify what the players did, but indicated the players had sneaked out a couple of nights before the game.

“Five percent of guys thought they didn’t need to listen to me, that they could get bed checked and sneak out,” Friedgen said. “This isn’t my first rodeo.”

Scott’s first carry came with 5:55 left in the third quarter and Maryland needed all of his 174 yards to hold off quarterback Colin Kaepernick and Nevada’s potent “pistol” offense. Kaepernick, who played the second half with a sprained right ankle, misfired in the first half, but found his throwing rhythm after briefly being benched in the third quarter.

Kaepernick finished 24-for-47 for a bowl-record 370 yards and three touchdowns, and added a 15-yard scoring run with 2:19 left. But Maryland recovered the onside kick and walked away with its fourth bowl victory since 2002.

“I was proud of the way we stepped up and got back into it, but we came up short,” Kaepernick said.

Scott was one of four starters to become statues on the Maryland sideline as Friedgen handed down his punishment. Scott initially starting stretching and running after the first quarter ended believing he’d get a shot in the second. The warmup was for naught as he and starting wide receiver Danny Oquendo continued to watch until the second half began.

Slideshow
Image: Snee, 8, son of New York Giants player Chris Snee and head coach Coughlin's grandson plays in the confetti after the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game in Indianapolis
  The Week in Sports Pictures
The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more.

more photos

Once Scott got the ball in his hands, he couldn’t be stopped.

His first run was for 14 yards and he went for 11 on the next play. His 49-yard touchdown dash with 12:21 left put Maryland up 35-28 and vaulted Scott over 1,000 yards for the season — the seventh back in Maryland history to top 1,000 yards.

On Maryland’s next drive, Scott accounted for all 66 yards with runs of 11, 23 and 30 yards, and finally his 2-yard score with 7:44 left that proved to be the winning points.

“He just ran through us like we weren’t there,” Nevada coach Chris Ault said.

Kaepernick, the WAC offensive player of the year, was injured while being sacked late in the first half and moved the rest of the game with a noticeable limp. But he was able to capitalize on a pair of mistakes by Maryland quarterback Chris Turner to help the Wolf Pack pull even.

Nevada’s Jonathon Amaya intercepted Turner’s pass near midfield midway through the third quarter and returned it to the Maryland

22. Three plays later, Kaepernick hit Vai Taua behind the Maryland secondary for a 17-yard TD score to get the Wolf Pack to 28-21.

Click for related content

Late in the third, Turner was hit as he attempted to throw a screen at the Nevada 20. The throw went backward and Nate Agaiava recovered for the Wolf Pack. Kaepernick needed only five plays and less than two minutes to draw even, hitting Marko Mitchell on a 21-yard TD.

The tie lasted only a couple of minutes. Turner hit Torrey Smith for 26 yards on third down, and two plays later Scott ran for his seventh touchdown of the season to give the Terps the lead for good.


advertisement
More news
Image: Boston College v Miami
Getty Images
'I'm taking that program down'

Miami coach Al Golden says the worst is behind him, but his headaches figure to continue now that former booster Nevin Shapiro, now in jail, says his involvement with the Hurricanes program will result in stiff penalties.

Image: LSU quarterback Jefferson is stripped of the ball by Alabama's Hightower during the second half of the NCAA BCS National Championship college football game in New Orleans
Reuters
CFT: Jefferson says 'Alabama was more prepared'

CFT: Jordan Jefferson makes it clear he wasn't happy with LSU's game plan in the Tigers' BCS Championship Game loss to Alabama.

Slideshow
Tim Tebow
  BCS Championship
Take a look at the impact players and coaches that will decide whether Florida or Oklahoma will be the national champion.

more photos

Video: Football from NBC Sports
Memphis fulfills BCS dream
Tigers officials thrilled to announce that school has been accepted to join the Big East Conference in 2013.

Slideshow
Image: Joe Paterno
  Joe Paterno (1926-2012)
A look at the career of legendary Penn State coach Joe Paterno

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Image:
  BCS title game
Check out photos of Crimson Tide's victory over Tigers.

more photos

Slideshow
Image: Kansas State running back Pease is tackled by Arkansas defensive tackle Jones during the Cotton Bowl Classic football game in Arlington, Texas
  Bowled over
Check out the action from the postseason games.

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Kansas vs Oklahoma State
  All-American team
Check out which players were best of the best at each position.

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Image: Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio - Wisconsin v Oregon
  College cheer
Check out some of the college football cheerleaders from across the country.

NBCSports.com

Special feature
California Golden Bears v USC Trojans
School spirit
Check out some of the wild and crazy college football fans from around the nation.

NBCSports.com