ORONO, Me- Sterling Sheffield made a big defensive play in the closing moments, Ramon Jefferson had a solid day in the run game, and Earnest Edwards took two kickoffs for touchdowns Saturday afternoon as the #16 Maine football team topped #12 Elon 27-26 in the regular season finale in front of 6,584 fans to claim their first CAA title since 2013.
Elon (6-4, 4-3 CAA) was on a long drive in a scoreless first quarter, when Bears defensive lineman Jamehl Wiley made a strip of Phoenix quarterback Jalen Greene and recovered the loose ball at the Maine 15 yard line. Maine (8-3, 7-1) turned that into a 12 play, 85 yard drive capped off by a short touchdown run by Drew Belcher on the second play of the second quarter to make it 7-0 Black Bears. Late in the first half Elon tied the game when Brelynd Cyphers scored on a two yard run to make it 7-7. Just 14 seconds later on the ensuing kickoff, Edwards went 95 yards pretty much untouched to give Maine back a seven point lead 14-7. Skyler Davis made his first of four field goals on the day from 40 yards with 17 seconds left to make it 14-10 at the half.
Maine regained a seven point advantage when Kenny Doak hit a 44 yard field goal 2:30 into the third quarter. Davis answered back however just 1:55 later from 39 yards to make it 17-13. 12 seconds after the Davis field goal, Edwards did it again on the kickoff busting up the seam in the middle of the field and outracing defenders to the endzone for a 93 yard score making it 24-13. “It was two different plays. First one was designed to go to the right and I saw a big hole and right outside the hole was just the kicker, and I knew I could outrun him. The second was the same, blocking was great, just saw another hole and I knew I had to make one person miss and I did that”, said Edwards. Edwards became the first player in Maine football history to return two kickoffs for touchdowns in the same game.
3:51 later, Doak added a short field goal to make it 27-13, before Elon quarterback Daniel Thompson who had replaced starter Greene, found receiver Cory Taylor on a 32 yard scoring strike to cut the deficit to 27-20 and that was the score headed to the fourth quarter. Maines offense struggled as starting quarterback Chris Ferguson had his shoulder banged up in the first half and didn’t return. A pair of Davis field goals in the final quarter made it a one point game. With three minutes left in the game, Elon was driving near midfield and faced a 3rd and 12. Jaron Grayer made a great play when he intercepted Thompson, but was stripped by Cyphers and was recovered by Elons Tristen Cox to save the Phoenix possession and giving them a first down. Elon drove to the Maine 42 where it eventually faced a 4th and 5. Thompson tried to hit Taylor who was open near the Maine sideline for a first down, but Sheffield jumped up and was able to deflect the ball which landed incomplete and ended the game.
The Bears only passed for 86 yards in the game, as Ferguson and backup Isaiah Robinson were both 4-10, with Ferguson throwing for 51 yards and one interception, and Robinson threw for 35 yards with two interceptions. Jefferson rushed 25 times for 130 yards. Belcher made four catches for 46 yards. Defensively, Deshawn Stevens made a total of 16 tackles with one sack. Taji Lowe made 10 total tackles, while Sheffield had nine. Maine head coach Joe Haraysmiak said, “I just told them afterwards that if you are accountable for yourself and for each other as you do in your life then you can accomplish anything, and that was really the story of the season. Very proud of them, the players and the staff, and it’s really all about them”.
Thompson went 18-43 passing for Elon, 250 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Cyphers ran 10 times for 68 yards, while Jaylan Thomas rushed 14 times for 75 yards. Taylor caught six passes for 115 yards. Davis went 4-4 on field goal attempts. Marcus Willoughby and Warren Messer both had eight total tackles for the Phoenix defense. Elon head coach Curt Cignetti said, “It was a hard fought game, I thought our guys played with alot effort that’s what we asked them to do. Sure it was an exciting game for the fans, but things went on there you can’t give up 17 points on special teams and expect to win, although we certainly had our chances at the end so it’s a tough loss for us”.
Maine will await their location, date, and opponent for the NCAA Div IAA football tournament on Sunday afternoon at 12:30 pm on ESPN U.
ELN 0 10 10 6- 26
UME 0 14 13 0- 27
Total yards- Elon 432 Maine 234
First downs- Elon 23 Maine 13
Turnovers- Elon 1 Maine 3
Time of possession- Elon 33:28 Maine 26:52
