Maryland Terrapins vs Florida International Panthers Match Player Stats On Sep 09, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Sep 9, 2016

Maryland steamed to 2-0 under new coach DJ Durkin, flattening Florida International 41-14 Friday at Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium.

Senior quarterback Perry Hills completed 13 of 18 passes for 210 yards and three touchdowns as the Terrapins racked up over 40 points and 475 yards for the second straight week. Maryland had 478 total yards as Hills chipped in another 52 yards on eight rushes, and also caught a pass for 21 yards.

The Panthers fell to 0-2 for the first time since 2013, despite 109 yards on 16 carries from Alex Gardner. Conference USA member FIU is now 0-2 against Big Ten foes following last week's 34-13 loss to Indiana.

Maryland led 31-7 at the end of a first half marked by big plays. The Terrapins were up 10-0 after a 15-yard interception return by linebacker Jermaine Carter, and then got a 40-yard scoring run from freshman Lorenzo Harrison. Gardner answered with a 4-yard touchdown to make it 17-7.

The Terrapins came right back less than two minutes later when Hills hit D.J. Moore for a 45-yard score, Maryland's first passing touchdown this season, and one of two scoring grabs for Moore, who had career highs of six catches for 147 yards.

Carter's first quarter interception return was the third pickoff returned for a score by an FIU opponent this season. The play was a double-whammy for the Panthers, who saw quarterback Alex McGough injury his back trying to make a tackle. He returned, but was just 5-of-10 for 39 yards, after throwing for 263 yards last week against the Hoosiers. FIU turned to redshirt-freshman Maurice Alexander, who finished 9 of 18 for 131 yards and a touchdown.

FIU plays on the road for the first time next week, traveling to UMass. Maryland is in action in Florida again, playing at Central Florida, and trying to move to 3-0 for the first time since 2013. The Terrapins defeated Howard 52-13 last Saturday.