The Maryland Terrapins pulverized the Florida International Golden Panthers 41-14 before a drenched and disappointed crowd at Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium.
The Terps (2-0) used the same formula that brought them a 52-13 home-opening victory over Howard to Miami…a fast start and a turnover.
The defense, which had three fourth down stops, got their first one early and the Terps immediately went down the field and Adam Greene kicked a 23-yard field goal, giving Maryland a 3-0.
The spark last week was a blocked punt scoop and score and this time it was an interception taken back for a 14-yard touchdown by Jermaine Carter Jr. that gave Maryland a 10-0 lead with 2:33 to go in the first quarter and set the tone for the game.
To make matters worse for FIU, their starting quarterback Alex McGough, who took a hard tackle on their first series, was injured trying to make a play on the interception return and was never a factor in the game. He ended the night five for 10 for 39 yards and one interception. He was replaced by freshman quarterback Maurice Alexander.
The Golden Panthers never recovered.
Meanwhile, Maryland kept their foot on the gas and a 40-yard touchdown scamper by freshman running back Lorenzo Harrison gave them a 17-0 lead with 12:27 to play in the second quarter.
The Golden Panthers responded with a nifty 55-yard burst up the middle by running back Alex Gardner, who scored on a four-yard run on the next play giving the home crowd something to cheer about while cutting the Terp’s lead to 17-7.
But just like Howard, FIU was overmatched and the Terp’s responded with a 45-yard bomb from quarterback Perry Hills to wideout D. J. Moore giving Maryland a 24-7 lead and they never trailed again.
Hills would later hit Derrick Hayward with a nine-yard touchdown toss making the score 31-7 at the break.
Greene added a 28-yard field goal giving Maryland a 34-7 lead with 11:10 to play in the third quarter and the rout was on.
Hills and Moore were a dynamic one-two punch for the Terps all night.
Hills went 13 for 18 for 210 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 52 yards on eight carries and even caught his first ever pass on a 21-yard trick play, from who else, Moore which set up a field goal.
Moore caught six passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns including a dazzling 40-yard touchdown run that gave the Terps a 41-7 third quarter lead.
As the heavy, sometimes sideways, rain came down in the third quarter, freshman Tyrrell Pigrome, just like last week, replaced Hills over center. He was contained by the FIU defense and went one for two passing for seven yards and ended the game with negative rushing yards.
FIU scored a touchdown against the Terps reserves in the fourth quarter making the final score 41-14.
Maryland had 477 yards of total offense, including 239 yards on the ground. They were led by running back Trey Edmunds who gained 78 yards on eight carries. Harrison added 64 yards on eight carries and one touchdown.
The Golden Panthers were led in passing by Alexander who went nine for 18 for 131 yards and one touchdown. He also ran nine times for 30 yards. Gardner led the rushing attack with 109 yards on 16 carries and one touchdown.
FIU was led in receiving by Austin Maloney who caught six passes for 49 yards and one touchdown. Jonnu Smith snagged five catches for 70 yards in a losing effort for the (0-2) Golden Panthers.
