The Maryland Terrapins got off to a great start, but it could have been even better.
On the opening kickoff, the Terrapins special teams unit forced a fumble, but the Florida State Seminoles recovered. But just four plays and 16 yards later, Florida State was punting, and Maryland was driving.
In 6-10 yard bursts at a time, Danny O'Brien and the Terrapin offense moved the ball from the Maryland 25-yard line to the Florida State 14-yard line before kicker Travis Baltz booted a 31-yard field goal to give the home team a 3-0 lead in blacked out Byrd Stadium. O'Brien went 4-6 for 49-yards passing.
The Terrapins took 5:31 off the game clock, and maybe more importantly, kept the Seminoles offense off the field in what could become a high scoring game.
Maryland's 3-0 lead didn't last long though. On the first play of the Seminoles' ensuing possession, sophomore Chris Thompson ran at the left side of his line, broke through, and lumbered 70-yards down the field and into the endzone.