Game Report: Iowa 31, Maryland 15

OPENING SALVO

They call themselves the Four Deadly Horsemen, at least that's how Jordan Canzeri refers to he and his fellow Iowa running backs.

That's a heck of a nickname and worthy of past accomplishments, especially on Halloween. But in reality, that spooky moniker should have been kept under wraps.

Three different Iowa running backs scored touchdowns Saturday in Iowa's 31-15 win against Maryland, but the injured Canzeri was not one of them. Akrum Wadley rushed for 67 yards, a finally healthy LeShun Daniels ran for 60 and Derrick Mitchell gained 2 and all three scored. But it hardly represented the dominance of games against Northwestern and Illinois.

Iowa rushed for 63 yards on its first 11 carries over the game's first 10 minutes. Then with sacks figured in, Iowa ran for just 47 yards on its final 33 carries.

'They were honestly running really the same play over and over again just to different sides,' Maryland defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson said. 'You know what's coming, just hit your gap and stop it. We came out and did that in the second half. But if we would have did that in the first half, it would have been a totally different ballgame.'

Daniels played in his first game since the Big Ten opener at Wisconsin.

'You've got to give Maryland plenty of credit,' Daniels said. 'They came back in the second half and made plenty of adjustments to help stop us. Offensively, we didn't execute as well as we wanted to.'

BY THE NUMBERS

3 — Iowa running backs who scored touchdowns

7 — Interceptions by Iowa CB Desmond King, 1 shy of school record

9 — Wins by Iowa starting QB C.J. Beathard with nary a defeat

35 — Iowa points off turnovers in 2014

71 — Iowa points off turnovers in 2015

REPORT CARD

B — It's time to do some Big Ten West Division championship long division math for the Hawkeyes.

— Marc Morehouse

B — I underthrew a question at the postgame press conference, and Desmond King picked it off.

— Mike Hlas

B — The Alabama papa and his two Auburn minions might need to make another video this week.

— Scott Dochterman

GAME BALL

Onside kick specialists. With too many worthy candidates, King Solomon slices the game ball and hands half to true freshman Adrian Falconer and the other to fifth-year senior Jacob Hillyer, both of whom recovered onside kicks in the fourth quarter.

After scoring with 7:41 left in the game, Maryland kicker Brad Craddock kicked toward Falconer, who corralled the ball to Craddock's far right at the Maryland 45. Following another Terrapins' touchdown, Craddock pooched a kick in the same direction toward Hillyer. The ball traveled a little deeper, but Hillyer hauled it in at Iowa's 46.

LIKELY STORY

Maryland cornerback/returner William Likely has given Hawkeye fans grief in both of the teams' meetings.

Last year, Likely picked off Iowa quarterback Jake Rudock and returned the pass for a touchdown in the Terrapins' 38-31 win. This year, he brought back a kickoff 100 yards to counter an interception return by Iowa's Desmond King.

Likely also broke the Big Ten's 76-year-old record for punt return yardage in a game with 233 against Richmond. The previous record holder? Iowa legend Nile Kinnick.

When asked if he's aware that he's leaving a mark against Iowa, Likely said, 'I wouldn't say that. I'm just out here trying to make plays and doing what's best for the team trying to get a 'W.''

ON THE MENDS

With 1:07 left in the first half and Iowa leading 14-0, Iowa linebacker Aaron Mends raced virtually untouched up the middle to block punter Nicolas Pritchard's punt.

'Coach said it's time for us to make a play, and we went out there and we executed,' said Mends, a red-shirt freshman. 'I just watched the ball real hard. As soon as the ball moved, I went upfield and made a play.'

Iowa took over at the 19-yard line. Five plays later, the Hawkeyes scored a touchdown with nine seconds left in the half.

CRAZY THIRD-DOWN CONVERSION

Maryland faced third and 3 at its 38 when quarterback Perry Hills' pass attempt was tipped by Iowa defensive end Nate Meier. The ball caromed to Iowa safety Miles Taylor, who intercepted it. Taylor then was drilled by Maryland running back Wes Brown near the 32 and Terrapins' tight end Avery Edwards recovered at the 30. Maryland kept the ball with a first down at its 30.

FERENTZ MARK

Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz has 122 wins as a member of the Big Ten Conference, ranking eighth in conference history. Ferentz has 72 Big Ten wins, tying former Michigan State Coach Duffy Daugherty for eighth all-time.

Ferentz needs four Big Ten wins to tie former Illinois Coach Robert Zuppke for seventh with 76.

UP NEXT

Iowa (8-0, 4-0) plays at Indiana (4-4, 0-4) next Saturday in the teams' 76th meeting (Iowa leads 43-28-4). Maryland (2-6, 0-4) plays host to Wisconsin. Iowa and Maryland next meet Oct. 20, 2018 in Iowa City (series tied 1-1).

l Comments: (319) 339-3169; scott.dochterman@thegazette.com