Iowa at Maryland Game Report: Numbers and notes from the Hawkeyes’ 29-13 road win

A closer look at Iowa’s 29-13 win over Maryland Saturday at SECU Stadium:

Turning Point: Hawkeyes turn back Maryland rally, Kamari Moulton gets redemption and a long TD run

After trailing 16-0 in the third quarter, Maryland had a pair of touchdown drives to pull within 19-13 with 11:05 left in the game.

Less than two minutes later, Iowa had the ball at its 32 on the fourth play of its subsequent possession. Backup running back Kamari Moulton ran a career-long 68 yards for a touchdown to give the Hawkeyes a 26-13 cushion.

Things could have seemed ominous for Iowa much earlier in the game when it drove from its 25 to the Maryland 13 on its first possession, then surrendered the ball on a lost fumble by Moulton at the Maryland 10-yard line.

The Hawkeyes quickly got the ball back and drove for a field goal, then went 77 yards for a touchdown on their next possession for a 10-0 lead.

Moulton had carries on both scoring drives, and finished with 12 rushes for 114 yards. There have been Hawkeye running backs who didn’t get another chance to get the ball after such turnovers.

By the Numbers: Iowa at Maryland

6 — Maryland ran just six offensive plays in the first quarter, for a total of 8 yards.

8 — Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson had 35 carries for 164 yards, his eighth 100-yard rushing game of the season.

12 — Iowa improved to 7-4, clinching its 12th-consecutive winning season and seventh-straight Big Ten winning record.

16 — The Hawkeyes have allowed 16 first-quarter points this season, an average of 1.5 per game.

21 — Johnson broke the Iowa single-season record for rushing touchdowns with his 21st, which came in the second quarter.

Iowa football notebook

* Running the ball has been Iowa’s primary offense this season, and it was a predictable and effective Hawkeyes’ strategy Saturday. That’s because Jackson Stratton was making his first start at quarterback and the Terrapins’ rushing defense isn’t great.

Iowa had 58 rushes to just 14 passes. Johnson ran 35 times. His previous career-high had been 25 carries.

It was the Hawkeyes’ first game with two 100-yard rushers since LeShun Daniels and Akrum Wadley had 158 and 105, respectively, against Nebraska in 2016.

* Walk-on Stratton did what his team needed him to do. He completed 10 of 14 passes for 76 yards and no turnovers.

* Iowa’s Drew Stevens tied a Hawkeyes record with five field goals (in five tries), of 27, 54, 50, 49 and 26 yards. The 54-yarder matched his career-long. He set a program-record with his seventh career field goal of 50-plus yards.

Stevens is the second Hawkeye to kick two field goals of 50-plus yards in a game. Tim Douglas had a pair of 51-yarders against Illinois in 1998.

* Iowa tight end Addison Ostrenga played for the first time since the Oct. 5 game at Ohio State and had a 14-yard catch on the Hawkeyes’ 77-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter.

* Hawkeye cornerback TJ Hall, starting in place of injured Jermari Harris, had his first career interception in the fourth quarter.

On the Terps’ next possession, Iowa defensive lineman Max Llewelyn hit quarterback MJ Morris, and his pass was picked off by Hawkeye linebacker Jay Higgins. It was Higgins’ team-high fourth interception after he had just one in his career before this season.

* Maryland senior wide receiver Tai Felton came into the game with Big Ten-highs of 86 catches and 1,040 receiving yards. He had six catches for 57 yards, including touchdown receptions of 8 and 12 yards to give him nine TD catches this season.

* The Iowa women’s soccer team plays Virginia Tech Sunday night in Los Angeles in an NCAA tournament Sweet 16 game.

Virginia Tech upset host UCLA 2-1 Friday night, hours after Iowa defeated Georgetown, 1-0.

Iowa football injury report

Iowa’s six players listed as “out” before the game included starters Harris and offensive tackle Gennings Dunker, quarterback Cade McNamara, and again, receiver Reece Vander Zee.

Hall replaced Harris and sixth-year senior Nick DeJong started in place of Dunker.

Maryland starting quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. wore a glove on his throwing hand because of a thumb injury. He played the first quarter, then left the game. He returned at the start of the second half, but was injured after a 13-yard keeper and exited for good.

Iowa’s next game

The Hawkeyes conclude their regular season at Kinnick Stadium Friday against Nebraska at 6:30 p.m. on NBC.

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