LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Ryker Fyfe’s second career start sure went a lot better than his first.

Fyfe passed for 220 yards and a touchdown while filling in for injured starter Tommy Armstrong Jr., leading No. 18 Nebraska to a 28-7 win over Maryland on Saturday.

The Cornhuskers (9-2, 6-2 Big Ten; No. 19 AP) stayed alive in the West Division. They must win at Iowa on Friday and Wisconsin must lose to Minnesota on Saturday for Nebraska to go to the conference championship game.

Fyfe, who walked on in 2012 and earned a scholarship two years ago, created a lifetime memory on senior day in what will be his only start at Memorial Stadium. He said he was motivated by the opportunity to redeem himself for his five-turnover performance in his previous start, a 55-45 loss at Purdue last year.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself,” he said. “You want to come out and play well and get a win and not lose to teams like Purdue. That was a tough one last year. For sure I came out playing hard.”

Terrell Newby ran for a career-high three touchdowns and Nebraska limited the Terrapins to 207 yards, including 11 rushing. Maryland (5-6, 2-6) lost for the sixth time in seven games and has been outscored 149-13 over three weeks.

Fyfe prevailed over Max Bortenschlager in a battle of backup quarterbacks.

Armstrong injured his hamstring against Minnesota and was not in uniform Saturday. Perry Hills was dressed but didn’t play for the Terrapins because of shoulder problems.

Fyfe was effective if not always pretty. He was 24 of 37, often dropping back deep and angling toward the sideline before throwing downfield, sometimes sidearm, sometimes off his back foot. He also hurt the Terps with a couple runs.

“I’ve always had a special spot for Ryker,” Nebraska coach Mike Riley said. “He’s a guy who could have gone to a smaller school and thrown for 3,000 yards one year. He stuck it out here with teammates and friends and won a big game for us to get our ninth win.”

Bortenschlager, a freshman who entered the game having thrown four passes in one previous appearance, was 14 of 29 for 191 yards. He was sacked five times.

“Throughout the year, we’ve been able to run the ball in just about every game,” Terps coach DJ Durkin said. “We weren’t able to do that today. That affected Max as well. If you can’t run the ball, that’s hard on any quarterback.”

Maryland ended an 11-quarter stretch with no touchdowns when D.J. Moore caught a screen pass and took it 92 yards to the end zone early in the fourth quarter.

“I would say that’s one of the best touchdowns I’ve had,” Moore said.

THE TAKEAWAY

Maryland: The Terrapins missed Hills but weren’t likely to win this game even if he played. The week off might help him get ready for a winnable home game against Rutgers.

Nebraska: Fyfe was good in the first half and OK in the second against an overmatched opponent. The Huskers definitely want Armstrong ready for Iowa next week.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Nebraska could move up in the Top 25 depending on what teams ahead of it do, but a win over the scuffling Terps doesn’t merit a promotion on its own.

KEY NUMBERS

Maryland was the first Nebraska opponent held scoreless in the first half. The Terps have been outscored 101-3 in the first halves over three games. … Jordan Westerkamp had a season-high eight catches for 85 yards and has caught at least one pass in 35 straight games. … Newby, playing his 50th consecutive game, ran 22 times for 98 yards and scored from 8, 5 and 1 yard. … The Huskers have gone two straight games without a turnover for the first time since 2003.

SPECIAL SENIOR DAY

Nebraska honored Sam Foltz during its senior day ceremony. Each senior greeted and hugged Foltz’s parents before placing a red rose on the 27-yard line. No. 27 was Foltz’s uniform number.

Foltz, who would have been the Huskers’ senior punter , and former Michigan State punter Mike Sadler were killed in a single-car accident in Wisconsin in July. Both were in Wisconsin to work at a kicking camp.

“We miss Sam like crazy and we love him so much, and he’s still out there with us,” Westerkamp said.

UP NEXT

Maryland: The Terrapins will try to break their four-game losing streak and achieve bowl eligibility when they host the Scarlet Knights on Saturday.

Nebraska: The Huskers visit Iowa on Friday hoping to avenge last year’s loss to the Hawkeyes in Lincoln.

— Associated Press —