COLLEGE PARK, Md. – A smothering defense – one that forced five first-half turnovers and seven for the game – and an efficient offense – one that scored on nine consecutive possessions — led the fifth-ranked University of Iowa football team to a 51-14 romp of Maryland in a battle of unbeatens on Friday night at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium.
The Terrapins led 7-3 through the first 15 minutes. Fifteen minutes and 31 unanswered points later, the Hawkeyes took a 34-7 advantage into the locker room.
Iowa scored 21 points in the span of 4:04 in the second quarter, forced four Terrapin turnovers and limited Maryland to just nine plays and 28 yards. The Hawkeyes then went on to out-score the Terps, 17-7, in the second half.
Offensively, Iowa piled up 428 yards of total offense with 145 coming on the ground and 283 through the air. Junior Spencer Petras had his best game as a Hawkeye, completing 21-of-30 passes for 259 yards and three touchdowns. He also scored twice on the ground.
Junior Tyler Goodson finished with 151 yards of total offense – with 66 yards coming on 19 attempts on the ground and 85 yards coming on two receptions, including a 67-yard touchdown reception. Freshman Arland Bruce IV caught a career-high six balls for 43 yards and a touchdown and Sam LaPorta had five catches for 49 yards.
Defensively, six different Hawkeyes tallied interceptions – Riley Moss, Kaevon Merriweather, Terry Roberts, Jack Koerner, Dane Belton and Quinn Schulte — and Iowa had seven takeaways. They are the most in a single game since 1987 against Northwestern (8).
The Hawkeyes limited the Terps to 271 yards in the game. Moss also had a team-high five tackles – all solo.
The Hawkeyes host Penn State on Saturday, Oct. 9, at Kinnick Stadium. Kickoff is at 3 p.m.
