FINAL: Hawkeyes lose to Maryland, 38-31

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- The Iowa football team lost to Maryland, 38-31 today.

The Hawkeyes looked dominant for the game's first few minutes. Iowa defensive end Drew Ott intercepted a Maryland pass on the game's first play from scrimmage. The Hawkeyes scored on a Mark Weisman four-yard touchdown run five plays later. On Iowa's next possession a 52-yard catch-and-run by Damon Bullock set up another touchdown, this time a two-yard pass from Jake Rudock to tight end Henry Krieger-Coble.

That 14-0 lead quickly crumbled, as Iowa couldn't keep up with Maryland from there.

Maryland's offense got a jolt as Terrapins quarterback C.J. Brown started picking up yards on the zone read. A 19-yard pickup by Brown set up a 23-yard touchdown dash by Jacquille Veii. The Terrapins knocked the ball loose from tight end Jake Duzey in the second quarter, forcing a turnover and earning a field goal.

Iowa followed that up with a three-and-out and a short punt of 30 yards by Dillon Kidd. The Terrapins capitalized with a one-yard touchdown plunge by Wes Brown, giving them a 17-14 lead at halftime.

The elusive Brown gave Iowa trouble, running for 88 yards on 14 carries in the first half.

Brown suffered an apparent neck injury on a hit by Desmond King in the third quarter. That didn't stop Maryland from continuing to pour it on. His replacement, Perry Hills, hit star receiver Stefon Diggs on a screen pass and Diggs took it 53 yards for another Terrapin touchdown.

Trailing 24-14, Iowa's offense found some traction on the ground. Weisman rumbled for 38 yards, and then punched it in on a two-yard dive for his second touchdown of the game. But later in the quarter, Iowa gave momentum right back to Maryland when Rudock telegraphed a throw to Bullock near the sidelines. Terrapin cornerback William Likely jumped the route, intercepting Rudock's pass and taking it 45 yards for a touchdown.

A nine-play, 54 yard drive and another Wes Brown touchdown plunge gave Maryland a 38-21 lead with less than five minutes to play, which was too much for Iowa's last-gasp rally to overcome.

Rudock hit Hillyer for a four-yard touchdown, and Iowa recovered an onside kick to pull within seven on a field goal. The Hawkeyes even forced a punt to take the ball back, trailing by a touchdown, with a minute to play. But Iowa's drive never showed a sense of urgency, as Rudock never threw the ball downfield and the Hawkeyes turned it over on downs.

Rudock threw 56 passes on the game, completing 32 of them for 317 yards. Bullock caught eight passes for a career-high 100 receiving yards. Weisman carried the ball 10 times for 78 yards and two touchdowns.

C.J. Brown, who returned from his injury early in the fourth quarter, gained 99 yards on the ground and passed for 120. Diggs had 130 receiving yards and a touchdown for Maryland.

Iowa fell to 5-2, 2-1 in Big Ten play. The Hawkeyes have a bye next weekend.