COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) -- Caleb Rowe threw for 297 yards and four touchdowns in his first start since 2013, and Maryland notched a 35-17 victory over South Florida on Saturday.

Despite throwing three interceptions, the junior completed 21 of 33 passes and provided enough big plays to help the Terrapins (2-1) finish with 411 yards in offense.

Rowe threw touchdown passes of 12 and 22 yards to Avery Edwards; connected with Taivon Jacobs for a 70-yard score and hit Kenneth Goins Jr. for a 1-yard TD.

Maryland fumbled three times and totaled 12 penalties for 120 yards, but South Florida (1-2) also had its share of miscues -- including two turnovers, a dropped potential touchdown pass, a holding call that wiped out a touchdown run, and a personal foul penalty that erased a fourth-quarter first down when the score was 28-17.

USF quarterback Quinton Flowers went 10 for 19 for 60 yards with a touchdown pass and an interception. He was replaced for a series in the fourth quarter by Steve Bench, who was 0 for 3 with a pick.

The game turned late in the first half after South Florida used a 12-play drive to get a field goal and close to 14-10.

Starting at his own 34 with 52 seconds left, Rowe completed passed of 10 and 49 yards to Levern Jacobs. On first-and-goal at the USF 2, Rowe botched a pitch to Brandon Ross, who picked up the ball and took it into the end zone with 10 seconds remaining.

Maryland opened the second half with 45-yard kickoff return by Ty Johnson. Five plays later, Edwards made an excellent over-the-shoulder catch of a Rowe pass in the end zone for a 28-10 lead.

That proved to be enough to assure the Terrapins their second victory of the season.

Maryland's opening drive ended when USF's Devin Abraham returned an interception 42 yards, setting up a 4-yard touchdown pass from Flowers to Rodney Adams.

Rowe bounced back to direct a 59-yard drive, capped by a TD pass to Goins. Then, on the last play of the quarter, Rowe connected with Jacobs deep on the right sideline for a 70-yard score.

Last year, South Florida led Maryland in the fourth quarter before falling 24-17. In this one, the Terrapins took control much earlier and breezed through the final 15 minutes.

-Maryland-