2010 Maryland Terrapins Football: Maryland vs Florida International

It was zany, it was unsettling for long stretches, and it was a rollercoaster ride filled with big plays, but the Maryland Terrapins got the job done.

Maryland survived a closer-than-expected scare from the improving Florida International Golden Panthers. FIU is the same team that nearly upset Texas A&M last week but finally succumbed 27-20 to the Aggies after leading for much of the second half, including a 20-6 lead in the fourth quarter. Maryland, coming off a loss to West Virginia, was actually outgained by the Panthers, 472-419. The Panthers torched Maryland’s pass defense with 355 yards on a whopping 58 attempts and 35 completions from quarterback Wesley Carroll, who had moments of brilliance but fell victim to a few crippling mistakes that turned the tide at Byrd Stadium in College Park.

Maryland took the opening kickoff but started slow on offense, generating little production in the first quarter. The Terps' opening drive saw them earn one first down, but punt on the second set of downs. The two offenses then traded three-and-outs before the Panthers marched down the field on a 64-yard touchdown drive in which not one play went for more than nine yards. Jeremiah Harden ended the drive with a 2-yard scoring run.

Eventually, however, things began to open up near the Atlantic Seaboard. Maryland’s offense woke up just as the first quarter ended. Quarterback Danny O’Brien - playing in place of Jamarr Robinson in what has been an uneven shuffle for head coach Ralph Friedgen - hit receiver Torrey Smith on consecutive passes of 11 and 32 yards, and then hit LaQuan Williams for a tying touchdown. O’Brien went 4-of-4 on the drive for 52 yards.

The Terps were just getting started.

The first real lightning bolt of this battle emerged when Maryland speed merchant Tony Logan returned an FIU punt 85 yards for a touchdown, giving Maryland a 14-7 edge. Then the haymakers and roundhouse punches kept on coming from both sides. FIU then tied the game on Carroll's 43-yard touchdown pass to Greg Ellingson on a beautiful ball that was fit into a tight window, beating the Maryland safety who was late to help out on a wheel route down the right sideline.

Maryland was unimpressed and punched right back in this deliriously entertaining contest. The Terps struck more big-play gold with a 56-yard touchdown run by Da’Rel Scott, a portrait of home-run power that enabled the home team to end the half with a 21-14 lead.

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In the third quarter, the teams traded unsuccessful drives before FIU tied it at 21 on a 7-play, 66-yard drive ending on a Carroll-to-Jonathan Faucher 5-yard scoring toss. Maryland quickly re-took the lead, this time for good, when O’Brien threw a long touchdown pass to the ever-dynamic Smith, who caught the pass despite getting mugged. The 68-yard play - which came just one play after a dubious pass-interference call kept the Terps' drive alive - allowed Maryland to snatch a 28-21 edge.

Then the dam broke for FIU. Carroll tossed an interception to UM's Adrian Moten at the FIU 39. The play started innocently enough; it looked as though the Golden Panthers were going to gain five yards on a simple out route, but the FIU receiver bobbled the ball in the air near the sideline, and the alert Moten was able to pluck the ball while also tapping his toes down in bounds. Maryland took advantage of the resulting short field, with O’Brien going 3-of-3 for 20 yards, and Da’Rel Scott scoring on a 9-yard touchdown rush.

Carroll threw another INT on FIU’s next possession at the Maryland 2 yard line, blowing great field position off a 59 yard T.Y. Hilton kickoff return. This was the first of two consecutive possessions where the Panthers were inside the Maryland 15 and couldn’t convert. On the second of those two possessions, Carroll drove the Golden Panthers all the way inside the Maryland 10. FIU had a first-and-goal from the 7. Two short runs put the ball at the Maryland 4, but Carroll threw two consecutive incomplete passes, and FIU had squandered two critical scoring opportunities late in the game in a close contest.

Ultimately, FIU again blew a chance to beat a major-conference opponent, though the game was never too much in doubt for Maryland. FIU kept it close, but it never felt like Maryland was in danger of losing, despite being outgained. O’Brien finished 18-of-27 for 250 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. Scott had 103 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 15 carries, and Smith had 159 receiving yards on 8 catches, including a score

For FIU, Carroll was 35-of-58 for 355 yards and two scores, but he also threw two picks. Other than the big kickoff return, Maryland held the athletic Hilton completely in check, allowing only 72 yards on 7 receptions, none longer than 14 yards. Ellingson, benefiting from the attention Maryland provided to Hilton, led the Golden Panthers with 93 receiving yards, including a touchdown.

Maryland Terrapins vs FIU Panthers Football Recap