Hull’s big day helps Cats end skid at 7
Freshman rushes for 220 yards, 4 scores in rout of feeble UMass
After waiting his turn for nearly three months, Evan Hull made the most of his opportunity Saturday.
The freshman ran for 220 yards and four touchdowns, helping Northwestern snap a seven-game losing streak with a 45-6 victory against UMass at Ryan Field in Evanston.
Hull averaged 9.2 yards on 24 carries and became the first Wildcats player with at least 200 yards and four touchdowns in a game since Tyrell Sutton against Northern Illinois in 2005.
Hull had 15 yards and eight carries this season before moving into the starting lineup because of injuries.
“I put a lot of work into this, so to have this happen for me was a very good feeling,” he said.
Northwestern (2-8) last won on Sept. 14 with a 30-14 victory over UNLV.
“A great team win,” coach Pat Fitzgerald said. “I’m really happy for our guys. It’s been a long time in the making for a win.”
Quarterback Randall West was 19 of 36 for 175 yards, and Bilal Ally had 66 yards on 16 carries for UMass (1-10), which has dropped five straight.
UMass led 3-0 after one quarter and had a chance to expand the lead on the first play of the second. But Joe Gaziano blocked Cooper Garcia’s 30-yard field-goal attempt, and Chris Bergin picked up the ball at the 15 and returned it 85 yards for the game-turning touchdown.
“The protection was good,” UMass coach Walt Bell said. “The field goal just got hit low, and they turned it back for a touchdown. It had a chance to be a really close game at halftime, the majority of that being because of the way our defense played.”
After Garcia connected on a 23-yard field goal, Hull had a 6-yard touchdown run for a 14-6 lead with 7 minutes, 59 seconds left in the first half. Less than three minutes later, Hull had a 38-yard scoring run to cap a 95-yard drive that made it 21-6. Hull had three rushes for 90 yards on the series.
Charlie Kuhbander hit a 31-yard field goal in the third — after a Blake Gallagher interception — to make it 24-6.
Hull ran for a 46-yard touchdown early in the fourth for a 31-6 advantage and added a 31-yard scoring run a few minutes later to make it 38-6.
“I’m ecstatic for him,” Fitzgerald said of Hull. “He’s a great young man. He’s got a bright future.”
Raymond Niro scored Northwestern’s final touchdown on an 11-yard run after Hull left the game. Hull was asked which touchdown was his favorite.
“All of them,” he said. “This is still pretty new for me. Just being out there today and having the success that I did, the whole day is my favorite.”
The Minutemen had 227 passing yards, but West and backup Andrew Brito missed a slew of open receivers.
Aside from Hull’s rushing, the Northwestern offense continued to sputter. Quarterback Aidan Smith was less than impressive, going 7 of 13 for 76 yards with two interceptions.
The Wildcats played three quarterbacks, but not openingday starter Hunter Johnson.
“He was banged up last week, so we were resting him,” Fitzgerald said.