**Hawkeyes Secure Victory Over Terrapins with Strong Ground Game**

College Park, Md. - It’s a significant challenge for a backup quarterback to manage the pressure of a first career start, especially with two weeks of anticipation. That was the situation for walk-on Jackson Stratton on Saturday as he led the Iowa Hawkeyes in their football game against Maryland.

Stratton found himself the new focus of Iowa football fans after a tumultuous week within the team's quarterback lineup. The Hawkeyes, however, devised an unbeatable plan to ease their quarterback’s nerves: a formidable offensive line, heavy reliance on Kaleb Johnson, and an improved defensive effort on the road.

“Doesn't take Knute Rockne to figure this one out,” Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz remarked after Iowa’s 29-13 victory over the Terrapins, marking his 203rd career win. “Our aim was to run the football, something we excel in.”

The game saw some tense moments in the fourth quarter, but Kamari Moulton’s career-long 68-yard touchdown run with just over nine minutes left sealed Iowa’s win. This victory improved the Hawkeyes to a 7-4 overall record, with a 5-3 mark in the Big Ten Conference, leaving only their season finale against Nebraska.

Iowa's first three drives were clock-consuming behemoths, effectively setting the tone for the game. They resulted in a series of long marches, ending in scores that helped establish a 10-0 lead by the second quarter. This performance was particularly dominant, as Iowa managed to run 38 plays for 186 yards and 14 first downs, compared to Maryland's meager eight plays for 16 yards and a single first down at that point.

Stratton, managing his nerves effectively and capitalizing on his team’s ground game, completed 10 of 14 passes for 76 yards without any interceptions. This was after a week of significant changes that started with Cade McNamara listed as the starting quarterback and ended with McNamara not even traveling due to concussion symptoms.

Kaleb Johnson recorded a career-high 35 carries for 164 yards and a touchdown, rebounding from a disappointing performance against UCLA. Moulton also made a significant contribution with 114 yards on 12 attempts. This combined rushing effort mirrored Iowa's earlier dominant display against Wisconsin three weeks prior.

On defense, TJ Hall stepped up in place of the injured Jermari Harris to make his fifth start of the season. Hall and Deshaun Lee worked diligently to contain Maryland’s Tai Felton, who managed only six receptions for 57 yards and two touchdowns. Hall claimed his first career interception in the fourth quarter, and linebacker Jay Higgins added another, helping to hold Maryland to under 200 passing yards for the first time this season.

Special teams also played a critical role, with Drew Stevens tying his career-long with a 54-yard field goal just before halftime, and later connecting from 50 yards to set a new program record. Stevens was perfect on five attempts, including a 49-yarder toward the end of the third quarter, showcasing his reliability under pressure.

Left tackle Mason Richman celebrated a milestone by making his 50th career start, breaking a record for Iowa offensive linemen. Richman’s leadership was instrumental in the team’s robust ground attack, vital for the Hawkeyes' win.

Stratton is expected to start again in the upcoming game against Nebraska, with the Hawkeyes looking to build on this momentum. Ferentz praised his team's resilience and focus, emphasizing the collective effort in overcoming the challenges they faced this week.