Maryland's defense took its lumps during the first four games of the season - literally and figuratively.

The Terrapins entered last Saturday's game against then-No. 20 Clemson having allowed 279 passing yards per game. Even teams like Middle Tennessee State and Eastern Michigan moved the ball consistently against the Terrapins, who nevertheless had managed to win three of their first four games.

In the first half at Clemson, Maryland's worst fears about its banged-up defense were realized. The Terrapins were thinned up front and in the secondary by a series of injuries and Clemson took advantage of Marylands problems to grab a 17-6 halftime lead.

In those first two periods, Clemson gained 260 yards and picked up 17 first downs. About the only good thing Maryland did defensively was come up with a pair of turnovers. Both of those led to points, but the situation was disheartening all the same because Maryland came away with field goals instead of touchdowns in both instances.

"The first half was definitely very ugly," Maryland linebacker Moise Fokou said. "They did anything they wanted and we had no answer."

Maryland's coaching staff made some adjustments at halftime and the Terrapins came out much more aggressive in the second half. They also got a break when Clemson running back C.J. Spiller was slowed by leg cramps in the last 30 minutes.

Maryland began getting to Clemson quarterback Cullen Harper and kept the Tigers off the scoreboard, giving the offense a chance to rally. Maryland came up with 14 second-half points and came away with a big upset, improving to 4-1, 1-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

"It looked like they were going to run right through us," Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen said. "Then we shut them down. Weve seen what were capable of."

It marked the first time all season that Clemson had been shut out for an entire half. The Tigers managed just 112 yards after intermission and picked up just two first downs. Maryland stopped Clemson on a critical fourth-and-one play with 5:36 left, which gave the Terrapins the ball on downs and enabled them to run out the clock.

Now, Maryland will try to duplicate that strong defensive effort from the second half when the Terrapins visit Virginia (1-3, 0-1 ACC) this week.

"Were still trying to put that one full game together," defensive tackle Jeremy Navarre said. "That team that played the third quarter last week was pretty good. I don't know who that team was in the first half."

If Maryland is to build on its early season momentum, it must avoid the kind of defensive lapses that cost them last year's Virginia game. The Cavaliers drove 90 yards and took seven minutes off the clock in earning a last-second 18-17 victory at Byrd Stadium. Reserve running back Mikell Simpson climaxed the decisive drive by tumbling into the end zone with 16 seconds left, leaving Maryland without enough time to answer.

"Last year's game left a bitter taste in our mouths," Fokou said. "Hopefully, we'll get it right this year."

Injuries will continue to make consistent performances problematic for the Terrapins. Backup cornerback Nolan Carroll is listed as questionable this week and linebacker Adrian Moten will be out at least a month following wrist surgery.