Maine quarterback Dan Collins hands off to running back Josh Mack during first quarter action Saturday, October 15th, 2016 against Albany at Alfond Stadium. Photo by Chris Lessner.
ORONO, Maine- Dan Collins passed for 280 yards and three touchdowns and Maine rushed for 187 yards in defeating #17 Albany 20-16 Saturday afternoon at Alfond Stadium.
A homecoming crowd of 10,443, the largest in Alfond Stadium history, witnessed the Black Bears move to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in the CAA.
Albany (4-2, 1-2) struck first as Ethan Stark connected on a 27 yard field goal five minutes into the opening quarter to make it 3-0. Maine then went 86 yards in seven plays over the next 3:06 to take the lead, as Collins connected on a deep 49 yard touchdown pass to Micah Wright, who made a leaping catch over his defender to put Maine up 7-3. “All I gotta do is put the ball in the area and those guys will go and make a play. I have all the faith in the world in them. I know all of our receivers and I would take them over any corner or DB, anyday”, said Collins.
Collins continued that confidence in his receivers in the second quarter when he hooked up with freshman Earnest Edwards on a 40 yard touchdown pass. Maine would fail the two point conversion but had a 13-3 lead. But just over two minutes later with Maine backed up inside their own 20, a snap would go over Collins head. Collins recovered in his own endzone but would be tackled for a safety. Stark added his second field goal of the day, from 39 yards later in the quarter, to make it 13-8 at halftime.
Maine would increase the lead back to 12 just over five minutes into the third quarter, when Collins put one up for grabs for wide receiver Jordan Dunn. Dunn went up and hauled it in between two Albany defenders at the goal line for a 51 yard scoring play to make it 20-8.
Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks would run in from one yard out in the fourth quarter for Albany, and with the two point conversion it was 20-16 with just over 10 minutes left. However some key first down runs by Darius Davis-Ray, and a key sack by Sterling Sheffield would seal the Maine victory.
Albany coach Greg Gattuso said, “They (Maine) gave us an opportunity to win the game in the second half and we weren’t able to finish the drives. Give credit to your opponent. We struggled in both phases very badly in the first half. They took advantage and made some good plays and put us behind. We had opportunities but didn’t capitalize. When you take field goals instead of touchdowns, it’s the difference in the game”.
Collins finished 11 for 23 passing, 280 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Davis-Ray had 81 on 16 carries to lead the Bears ground attack while Josh Mack had 11 carries for 57 yards. Edwards had four catches for 79 yards and a score to lead the receiving core. He also had an 83 yard kickoff return but Maine wasn’t able to cash in any points on. Jared Osumah also had two big receptions for 81 yards. Christophe Mulumba Tshimanga led the defense with 13 total tackles while Darrius Hart had 10 total tackles and an interception. Jason Matovu also had 10 total tackles.
Maine coach Joe Harasymiak said, “First and foremost I want to thank the fans. I got told off the field 10,400, we broke a record today. We just want them to know how important they are to us to have them there, week in and week out. Obviously not the cleanest of games from either side. Good football teams, which I believe we are becoming, you got to find a way to win. That’s the bottom line, that’s why we are in this. They (Albany) are a very talented team. I got to give credit to them. They stuck it out and they kept battling. It was a great football game. It was more sloppy than either coach wanted. But at the end of the day, we won”.
For Albany, quarterback Neven Sussman was 10-26, 187 yards, and an interception. Sussman was also the leading rusher for the Great Danes as he carried the ball 12 times for 85 yards. Jordan Crockett had four receptions for 36 yards while Anthony Manzo-Lewis had three receptions for 66 yards. The defense was led by Michael Dicastro and Josh Wynn who both chipped in with 11 total tackles.
Both teams return to conference play next week as Albany travels to Villanova for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff with the Wildcats while Maine travels to Rhode Island for a noon kickoff with the Rams.
ALB 3 5 0 8- 16
UME 7 6 7 0- 20
Total yards- Albany 335 Maine 467
Turnovers- Albany 1 Maine 1
Time of game- 3:00
