Andre Ellington rushed for a career-high 212 yards and two touchdowns, and freshman Sammy Watkins set a school record for all-purpose yards and scored three touchdowns as No. 8 Clemson rallied from an 18-point deficit for a 56-45 victory over host Maryland on Saturday.

The Tigers (7-0, 4-0 ACC) are off to their best start since beginning the 2000 season with eight wins.

Making his first start, sophomore quarterback C.J. Brown led the Terrapins (2-4, 1-2 ACC) out of the gates quickly. The Terps led 35-17 after the second of Brown's three touchdown passes on the opening drive of the second half.

But Ellington and quarterback Tajh Boyd led the Tigers back. Boyd, who left last week's victory against Boston College with a strained hip, matched a career high with four touchdown passes. Two of them went to Watkins, who also had a 89-yard kickoff return to give Clemson the lead for good with 7:24 left.

Watkins' 345 all-purpose yards broke C.J. Spiller's school record.

Clemson has scored in 19 consecutive quarters, the second-longest streak in school history. The Tigers scored in 20 consecutive quarters in 1983.