Malik Washington threw a 42-yard touchdown pass to Shaleak Knotts on fourth down, and Maryland held off Northern Illinois 20-9 on Friday night. Telly Johnson scored on a 74-yard run in the third, but Northern Illinois offered little on offense besides that. Maryland led 13-9 late in the third and had the ball inside the Northern Illinois 10 before Washington lost a fumble. Aggressive moveAfter Johnson's long touchdown made it 13-9 in the third quarter, Northern Illinois decided to go for 2. Northern Illinois is off before taking another shot at a power conference opponent at Mississippi State on Sept. 20.