The Iowa Hawkeyes appeared to be walking into a trap game on Friday night in College Park, Maryland. With a blackout, the support of the Maryland administration, and the Terrapins hot start, Maryland thought they were going to upset the #5 Hawkeyes, but Iowa had much different ideas.
Iowa struck first following a Taulia Tagovailoa interception, with a Caleb Shudak field goal to put the Hawkeyes up 3-0. Tagovailo would answer with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Chigoziem Okonkwo to put Maryland up 7-3. The 2nd quarter, belonged solely to Iowa, as the offense drove a shortened field behind a Charlie Jones kick return, and was capped off by a Spencer Petras QB sneak, to put Iowa up 10-7. The Terrapins would fumble the ensuing kickoff, and Iowa scored 2 plays later on a pass from Petras to Arland Bruce to put Iowa up 17-7. The next Maryland drive, Taulia Tagovailoa was picked off again by Jack Koerner. Five plays later Spencer Petras snuck in his 2nd rushing touchdown of the night to put Iowa up 24-7.
Maryland would again turn it over off a Taulia Tagovailoa interception, as Dane Belton got in on the pick party. Iowa would then punch in a 2-yard touchdown by fullback Monte Pottebaum to put Iowa up 31-7. A Caleb Shudak field goal before halftime put Iowa up 34-7. Iowa would score on the opening possession of the 2nd half on a 67-ayrd touchdown pass from Petras to Tyler Goodson to put Iowa up 41-7. Following Caleb Shudak’s 3rd field goal of the night, Maryland finally got back in the endzone on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Taulia Tagovailoa to Rakim Jarrett, to cut the score to 44-14. Iowa would score the final touchdown of the night, as Spencer Petras hit Tyrone Tracy for a 7-yard touchdown, to give the final score of 51-14.
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz: “Bottom line is I thought we were tough, we competed for the ball. Did just so many good things, don’t know if I’d call it a dominant performance, but we were playing at a high level out there.”
Iowa moved up to #3 in the new AP Rankings, and will host #4 Penn State in a clash of titans on Saturday in Kinnick Stadium, with kickoff at 3 PM.