COLLEGE PARK , Md. -   The FIU football team couldn't overcome plays of 85, 76, 68 & 56 yards by Maryland as the Terrapins beat the Panthers, 42-28, Saturday afternoon in College Park, Md.

Wesley Carroll completed 35-of-58 passes, setting an FIU school record for completions and attempts, for 355 yards and two scores. However, the redshirt-junior was also picked off twice.

Greg Ellingson led FIU with 93 receiving yards on six catches and a touchdown.

On defense, senior cornerback Anthony Gaitor had 10 tackles, including 1.5 for loss. He also broke up a pass. Winston Fraser had seven tackles, one of them for a loss.

At the 4:10 mark of the first quarter, FIU took a 7-0 lead when Jeremiah Harden capped off a 13-play, 63-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run. On the drive, the Panthers ate up almost five minutes of clock, picking up five first downs along the way.

After the teams traded 3-and-out possessions, Maryland put together a drive aided by a facemask call against the Panthers. With 14:55 left in the first half, the Terrapins tied the score on a nine-yard TD pass that was reviewed and confirmed.

The Panthers were forced to punt on the ensuing drive. Maryland's Tony Logan returned the kick 85 yards for a touchdown and a 14-7 lead with 11:45 to play in the second quarter.

Following another FIU punt, Maryland drove into FIU territory, but the Panthers defense buckled down and held the Terrapins to a field goal attempt. However, the 45-yard attempt sailed wide left to keep the score at 14-7 with 6:53 to go in the first half.

The Panthers would take advantage of the missed kick as they drove 72 yards on the very next drive to tie the score at 14 on a Carroll to Ellingson TD throw with 5:33 to go in the half. After hitting Darriet Perry to pick up a key first down near mid-field on third-and-two, Carroll threw a laser just past the reach of the Maryland defender and into the hands of Ellingson, who took it 44-yards for the score.

Maryland responded on the next drive, as Da'Rel Scott broke loose for a 56-yard touchdown run to give the Terrapins a 21-14 lead with 2:38 to go in the half.

FIU would get another possession, but was forced to punt on the last play of the half as the Terrapins took a 21-14 lead into the break.

The second half got off to an uneventful start as both teams traded punts. However, on their second drive of the half, the Panthers tied the game with 5:34 remaining in the third quarter on a five-yard TD throw from Carroll to Jonathan Faucher. On the drive, Carroll connected with Ellingson for a first down on three occasions, totaling 39 yards.

Aided by a pass interference call on an incomplete pass that would have ended their drive, Maryland responded with a touchdown of their own to regain the lead. The Terrapins scored on a 68-yard pass to Torrey Smith to give the lead right back to Maryland at the 3:32 mark of the third quarter.

On Maryland's next possession, the FIU defense forced a punt and FIU took over on their own 39-yard line. However, on the second play of the drive, Carroll's pass bounced off the receiver's hands and was picked off by Maryland, setting the Terrapins up in FIU territory. The good field position led to a Maryland touchdown to put the home team ahead, 35-21.

On their next two drives, the Panthers took the ball deep into Maryland territory, but came up with no points as the first drive ended on an interception at the Maryland six and the second ended on a turnover-on-downs at the Terrapins' four-yard-line.

The Panthers came through on their next possession, driving 68 yards in 3:48 and scored on a one-yard run by Perry. The score pulled FIU within seven of Maryland with 4:16 left on the clock. However, on the ensuing possession, Maryland scored on the very first play - a 76-yard touchdown run that made the score 42-28.

FIU would get two more possessions, but they resulted in no points as the Terrapins closed out the 42-28 victory. The loss drops FIU to 0-3 on the season, while the victory puts Maryland's record at 3-1.

Next week the Panthers travel to Pittsburgh, Pa. to face the Pitt Panthers. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. and the game will be aired on ESPN3. Pitt is 2-1 and coming off a 31-3 loss to the Miami Hurricanes.

Postgame Notes

FIU Captains: Linebacker Tornoto Smith, center Brad Serini & safety Ash Parker

Cointoss: FIU won the toss and deferred to the second half. Maryland will receive to start the game. FIU will defend the west endzone.

- This was the third meeting between the the two teams. Maryland now leads the all-time series, 3-0.

- Anthony Gaitor's 10 tackles ties a career-high.

- Jeremiah Harden's first-quarter touchdown was the sophomore's first-career rushing touchdown.

- The FIU defense held Maryland scoreless in the first quarter. It is the second-consecutive game where FIU has held their opponents without a first-quarter score.

- Maryland's second-quarter 85-yard punt return for touchdown was the first punt return for touchdown FIU has allowed since September 30, 2008 (75-yards vs. Kansas).

- Greg Ellingson's second-quarter, 44-yard touchdown catch was the 10^th of his FIU career. He is fourth all-time, two behind T.Y. Hilton and Harold Leath who are tied for second.

- Ellingson's six catches ties a career-high.

- Jonathan Faucher's touchdown catch in the third quarter was the first of his career.

- Wesley Carroll's 33 completions and 53 attempts are the most ever by an FIU quarterback.

- Carroll compleated passes to 12 different recievers.