Started off aggressive, but then I just had no idea where I was, figured I was beat so I folded the river...what would have been a better play?

http://www.pokerhand.org/?354828

Your turn bet was too weak, you should either check it or bet more. This way he could put you on a missed AK, and value bet with something like TT, or even another AK. I would rather check turn call river. Or even bet turn 3/4 pot, and checked river to induce bluff.

It is a raised pot, so on this flop you should worry only about a cunny dude who raises suited connectors or AA, KK. I suspect that AA or KK would have raised you on flop so, you are likely ahead here, and he has an overpair lower than your QQ. The rest is how to extract the most money, and this is opponent dependent.

I was hesitant to put my whole stack at risk with just an overpair, and in hindsight, I think this is what cost me the pot....I should have just had the balls to fire another shot at the pot. If I had raised to about $1.50 preflop and he had called that, then it would probably be different right? In that case, I should just check/fold on the turn, or even on the flop, or should I still lead out aggressively on the flop?

This is a pretty safe board in a raised pot, imo. If he was getting crazy with SCs then that didn't get there, AK didn't get there, but of course you have to worry about the dreaded slowplay with KK or AA. Like others have said, I would expect a RR on PF but maybe not.

A likely hand here is 88 and I think that's the only hand you have to worry about. If he flopped top set, more power to him. It happens. Bet bigger on the turn and check/call the river. That's the line I'd take.