IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Nate Stanley threw for 86 yards and a touchdown and 19th-ranked Iowa pummeled Maryland 23-0 on Saturday for its third straight victory. Anthony Nelson added a TD on a fumble recovery for the Hawkeyes (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten Conference), whose defense held the Terrapins to just 115 yards and seven first downs on a day when wind gusts topped 40 mph.

After settling for a pair of short field goals, Iowa went into halftime ahead 13-0 after Stanley found Brandon Smith for a 10-yard TD grab — which Smith made with one hand — with eight seconds left in the second quarter. Nelson, a defensive end, made it 23-0 Hawkeyes late in the third quarter by falling on a botched handoff from backup quarterback Tyrrell Pigrome in the end zone.

Ivory Kelly-Martin ran for 98 yards for Iowa, which had its first shutout since a 28-0 victory at Illinois two years ago. Kasim Hill was 6 of 15 passing for 47 yards and a pick for the Terps (4-3, 2-2), who ran for just 68 yards after entering play averaging 245 a game on the ground.
All three of Maryland’s losses have come by at least 21 points.

The Hawkeyes are really starting to round into form. They didn’t let the miserably windy conditions get to them — in fact, they used it to their advantage by running the ball as well as they have all season. If Iowa can upset Penn State next week in State College, talk of the Hawkeyes crashing the playoff party will only gain steam because they should be favored to win their last four games.

POLL IMPLICATIONS
Iowa might make another big jump — the Hawkeyes went from unranked to 19th last week — after an utterly dominant performance. The Hawkeyes have won their last three games by 17, 26 and 23 points.
UP NEXT
Iowa plays at No. 18 Penn State next week in what looks to be the Hawkeyes’ toughest road challenge yet.