Don't believe anyone who thinks that FIU is not a good football team. Just ask the University of Maryland (3-1). The Golden Panthers gave them all they could handle in front of a hostile crowd of 45,317.

It wasn't until the very last play of the game, an interception in the end zone by Maryland's Christian Varner that the Terrapins escaped with a 14-10 victory, dropping FIU to 0-4 on the season, by a total of 11 points.

A'mod Ned got the FIU offense going in the second half finishing with 88 yards on 15 carries and Josh Padrick completed 15-of-32 passes for 221 yards, including a 45-yard completion to Chandler Williams that gave the Golden Panthers a first-and-goal at the Maryland nine-yard line with one second remaining in the game.

But it was Maryland quarterback Sam Hollenbach who completed a pair of touchdown passes to secure the victory.

FIU played outstanding defense from the very beginning.

After a 13-yard punt set Maryland up at the FIU 43, the Golden Panther defense looked to have forced a punt when on a third-and-11 at the 33, Alexander Bostic III sacked Hollenback for an eight-yard loss. But Bostic was whistled for a 15-yard face mask penalty giving the Terps a first-and-10 instead, at the 18. Two plays later, Hollenbach hooked up with Josh Allen for 14 yards and the first score of the game and a 7-0 lead after the first quarter.

With the FIU offense unable to get on track, the Golden Panthers defense needed to make a stand and it did when Lionell Singleton intercepted a Hollenback pass in the end zone, his fifth of the season, returning it to the 13-yard line.

And the offense responded when, on a third-and-12 play, Padrick found Samuel Smith over the middle. Smith than out-raced the Terps defense for an 89-yard score?the longest touchdown pass play in school history and the first TD pass over 75 yards allowed by Maryland in seven years.

The FIU defense thought it had another turnover when Jeremiah Weatherspoon come up with a Josh Allen fumble on the Golden Panthers 42. But a replay overruled the call and Maryland moved the ball down to the FIU 30, but a Dan Ennis 47-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left.

But the Golden Panthers offense was forced to give up the ball one more time before the half and Maryland took full advantage. Chris Cook's 35-yard punt, was returned for 37 yards by Danny Oquendo, setting up the Terps at the FIU 28 with 49 seconds to play in the half. An 18-yard pass completion to Oquendo took the ball to the 10 and an FIU half-the-distance-to-the-goal penalty gave Maryland a first-and-goal at the five.

On third down play, Hollenbach hit Isaiah Williams in the left far corner of the end zone and Maryland took a 14-7 lead into the intermission.

With Maryland nearly doubling the time of possession and the Golden Panthers offense being held to just three first downs over the first 40 minutes, it was just a matter of time before the Terps wore down the overachieving FIU defense.

But again, the Golden Panthers stiffened after a Maryland drive that lasted 5:19, giving the ball back to the offense, be it deep in Terrapins' territory. FIU picked up a pair of first downs, but the drive stalled at the Maryland 47 as the third quarter ended.

FIU showed shotgun for the first time this season and the change seemed to work. First, Padrick found Jeremy Dickens on a 16-yard pass and then A'mod Ned raced 52 yards down to the five. The Golden Panthers could go no further, but a 26-yard field goal by Rivest, his first and the first of the year for FIU, brought the score to 14-10 with 10:42 to play.

The Golden Panthers offense had one more opportunity when it took over the ball at its own 20 and 1:35 to go. Three pass completions by Padrick gave FIU a first down at their own 46 before the senior signal-caller heaved the ball long to the end zone and in to Williams arms with 10 seconds to play.

But FIU chance at the biggest upset in program history ended when Padrick's pass was intercepted by Varner as time expired.