The Maine football team came back from a 17 point first half deficit to tie the game Saturday evening, but ultimately would fall to FBS opponent Massachusetts 44-31 at Fenway Park in Boston before 12,794 fans.
Maine has evened the score 7-7 in the opening quarter when Earnest Edwards went 95 yards on a kickoff return. A pair of touchdown passes though by Andrew Ford to Andy Isabella in the first, and an early second quarter field goal made it 24-7 UMass. Chris Ferguson went nine yards on a quarterback draw for a score, and Maine defensive end Connor Walsh tripped up Ford in the endzone for a safety to cut the lead to 24-16 at the half.
Maine tied it early in the third on a one yard run by Josh Mack, followed up with a two point reception by Drew Belcher from Ferguson. But Isabella scored his third touchdown of the night to put the Minutemen back on top just over seven minutes later. And just 1:34 after that touchdown, Lee Moses intercepted Ferguson and went 70 yards for a score to make it 37-24 (extra point was blocked), with just over a minute left in the third.
Maine (4-5), wasn’t finished however. In the final quarter with about 8:30 left, the Bears went 85 yards on four plays, highlighted by a huge 48 yard reception by Belcher, to set up a 37 yard touchdown run by Mack to make it 37-31 with 6:46 left. Maine had the ball back again with about five minutes to go and a chance to take the lead, but penalties backed up the Black Bears, and they ended up turning the ball over on downs in their own territory. Marquis Young scampered 33 yards for a UMass (3-7) touchdown with 1:57 left to finish off the scoring and end the comeback attempt. Maine committed 12 penalties for 124 yards in the game.
Ferguson went 16-41 passing, 232 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions. Mack finished with 110 yards on 22 carries and two touchdowns. On the UMass side, Ford sliced up the Bears defense going 21-39 passing, 355 yards, and four touchdowns. Young had 19 carries for 123 yards a score, while Isabella hauled in eight receptions for 152 yards and three touchdowns.
Maine finishes the regular season next Saturday at home by hosting Stony Brook. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 noon.
