College Park, MD (Sports Network) - Danny O'Brien threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns in his first collegiate start to lead the Maryland Terrapins to a 42-28 non-conference win over the FIU Golden Panthers at Byrd Stadium.
O'Brien, a redshirt freshman, was 18-of-27 through the air for the Terrapins (3-1) and did not toss an interception. Torrey Smith caught eight balls for 159 yards and a score, while Da'Rel Scott ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns.
Wes Carroll was 35-of-58 through the air for the Golden Panthers (0-3) for 355 yards and two touchdowns, but he was also picked off twice. Greg Ellingson caught six passes for 93 yards and a touchdown.
The Golden Panthers took a 7-0 lead when Jeremiah Harden scored from two yards out with just over four minutes left in the opening period.
The Terps drew even when O'Brien found LaQuan Williams on a nine-yard touchdown hookup on the first play of the second stanza, then took the lead with just under 12 minutes left in the half on Tony Logan's 85-yard punt return.
The Golden Panthers tied the game with just over five minutes left until halftime when Carroll hit Ellingson with a 43-yard scoring strike.
Maryland regained the lead on Scott's 56-yard dash late in the quarter, giving the Terps a 21-14 advantage.
Carroll evened the score at 21 apiece when he hit Jon Faucher on a five- yard touchdown pass with just over five minutes left in the third frame.
It took the Terrapins just three plays to regain the lead, as O'Brien connected with Smith on a 68-yard touchdown pass.
Scott's nine-yard touchdown scamper early in the final frame put the Terps ahead by a 35-21 margin.
The Golden Panthers cut their deficit in half on Darriet Perry's one-yard run with just over four minutes left in regulation.
Maryland responded just seconds later on David Meggett's 76-yard touchdown run that gave Maryland a 14-point lead, which the team would hold for the remainder of the contest.