Game Report: Iowa Hawkeyes 51, Maryland Terrapins 14

You score 31 points in any quarter, you’re crushing somebody. Iowa crushed Maryland, 51-14.

Turning point

It was a moment that was gruesome. Football can be gruesome.

Dontay Demus Jr., the Big Ten’s leader in receptions and receiving yardage, had already riddled Iowa with four first-quarter catches for 61 yards and was a big reason Maryland had a 7-3 lead at the quarter’s end.

Demus received the kickoff after Iowa had gone ahead 10-7 on the first play of the second quarter. Reserve defensive back Sebastian Castro made a low, hard, clean tackle on Demus, who fumbled the ball away at the Maryland 10.

Demus had to be carted off the field because of the right leg injury he suffered. Maryland’s spirit was mangled by the play, and all three of Iowa’s units were heavily involved in the mangling.

It took two plays for the Hawkeyes to score after Demus’ fumble, and it was 17-7. Then Maryland’s Taulia Tagovailoa overthrew a receiver on the Terps’ first play of their next drive. Jack Koerner got the interception. Iowa drove 26 yards for another touchdown.

Then Tagovailoa threw a pick to Dane Belton, and the Hawkeyes drove 45 yards on their subsequent possession to make it 31-7.

Iowa’s Caleb Shudak added a field goal late in the quarter, and Terry Roberts ended the half with — what else? — an interception, the first of his career.

Your second-quarter totals: Four Maryland turnovers, 31 Iowa points, and a game that was decided before halftime.

By the numbers

.846 — Spencer Petras has tied Brad Banks for first in winning percentage (11-2, .846) all-time among Iowa quarterbacks.

1 — Hawkeye fullback Monte Pottebaum scored his first career touchdown on a 2-yard run in the second quarter.

6 — Iowa picked off six passes. The last time it had five was against Iowa State in 2009. It tied Maryland’s record for interceptions thrown, set against Penn in 1941.

11 — Iowa has 11 straight victories, its longest win streak since it won its first 12 games in 2015.

12 — Iowa leads the nation in interceptions with 12 entering Saturday’s games. Kent State, Notre Dame and Oregon had nine before Saturday.

31 — The Hawkeyes’ 31-point second quarter was their highest-scoring quarter since they got 37 in the first frame against Akron in a 57-21 victory in 2002. It’s their highest-scoring quarter in a Big Ten game since they had 35 against Illinois in 1985.

75 — Iowa scored 24 points off turnovers Friday, giving it 75 this season.

106 — Tagovailoa passed for 106 first-quarter yards, the most allowed by Iowa in an opening frame since David Blough of Purdue had 141 in 2018. Tagovailoa had just 51 more passing yards the rest of the night.

Notebook

Two career-longs on one play

Hawkeye quarterback Spencer Petras had a career-long pass play, and running Tyler Goodson had a career-long reception on Iowa’s fifth play of the second half.

It was 67 yards on a 10-yard pass-and-catch. Goodson momentarily shifted to the right, went the other direction, left Terrapin safety Nick Cross flailing, and dashed downfield untouched for a third-quarter touchdown to bump Iowa’s lead to 41-7.

Kyler Schott’s first start of the season

Iowa senior Kyler Schott was the starter at left guard Friday. It was his first start of 2021 after starting eight games over the previous two seasons. Schott replaced Cody Ince in the starting lineup.

Green ribbons

This was a Mental Health Awareness Game. Both teams wore a green ribbon on their helmets. Maryland had the first of such games here in 2019.

A green ribbon is the international symbol for mental health awareness.

A $25 pretzel?

Among the food items for sale at Maryland Stadium is the “Chessie,” a giant soft pretzel with crab dip and cheese. It sells for $25.

A kale and quinoa salad went for a mere $6.

Injury report

It didn’t look like Iowa endured any injuries of note. Right guard Justin Britt didn’t play the week before against Colorado State, but was used Friday and started the second half.

First-year freshman Connor Colby of Cedar Rapids got his second straight start at that position.

Up next

No. 4 Penn State (4-0 entering its home game against Indiana Saturday night) plays at No. 5 Iowa (5-0) next Saturday at 3 p.m. on Fox.

You may be hearing about it in the week to come.

Comments: (319) 398-8440; mike.hlas@thegazette.com