UMaine running back Ramon Jefferson looks to find some room to run during action on Saturday, December 1, 2018 in an NCAA FCS second round playoff game in Orono, Maine against Jacksonville State. Photo by Anthony Delmonaco (click to enlarge)
ORONO, Me- The University of Maine has been playing football since 1892. In that time, the Black Bears had never won a home playoff game. Saturday that all changed. Chris Ferguson threw five touchdown passes to lead Maine to a 55-27 NCAA FCS second round playoff victory over Jacksonville State (Alabama) on Morse Field at Alfond Stadium in front of a crowd of 6,145.
Maine (9-3) jumped on the visiting Gamecocks quickly. On the first possession by JSU, Maines Kayon Whitaker sacked quarterback Zerrick Cooper causing a fumble that was recovered by the Bears Jamehl Wiley at the JSU 4 yard line. On the first play after the turnover, Ferguson hit Jaquan Blair to make it 7-0 Maine 3:40 into the game. About three minutes later, the offense struck again set up by a big 20 yard pass from Ferguson to Julian Dunn to the JSU 41. Ferguson then hit Earnest Edwards for a 41 yard scoring play to make it 14-0.
On the next possession for Jacksonville St (9-4), the Black Hole Maine defense stepped up and stopped the Gamecocks on a fourth down and 1 at their own 47. That turnover on downs resulted in another Ferguson to Edwards strike from four yards to make it 21-0. “We should of punted the ball there, and thought that was a turning point so that one is on me”, said JSU head coach John Grass. The 21 first quarter points were the most for the Bears in a first quarter since a 2013 game against Delaware. “I thought they played really well (Maine), got off to a great start, played well offensively and defensively too so congratulations to them we just didn’t get off to a good start and didn’t play our best ball for sure today”, added Grass after the game. JSU did get on the board on just two plays after the Maine score, on a 42 yard pass to Jaelen Greene, and then a 36 yard touchdown pass from Cooper to Jamari Hester.
Just over two minutes into the second quarter, the quick strike Gamecock offense cut the score to 21-14 when Cooper found Hester along the sideline, and with a good block and some good footwork Hester took it the distance for a 70 yard touchdown. The Bears came right back with a three play, 73 yard drive in 1:17, set up with a 42 yard run from Ramon Jefferson. Ferguson then found Micah Wright on a 20 yard fade route in the back of the endzone to make it 28-14. Maine added two more scores in a wild first half, set up on a fumble caused by Mozai Nelson that was recovered by Sterling Shefffield, and also a goal line stand at the one yard line on fourth down that led to a 99 yard drive. The scoring plays was an Edwards one yard run, and a 24 yard run by Jefferson to make it 42-14 at the half.
An early third quarter 30 yard field goal from the Gamecocks kicker Cade Stinnett made it 42-17. Ferguson threw his fifth and final touchdown of the day to Drew Belcher for three yards about five minutes later to make it 49-17. Ferguson when asked about his performance after nursing a shoulder injury suffered earlier this season that was aggravated again two weeks ago in the regular season finale against Elon said, “I think the bye week was huge, being able to rest and relax it. Just got alot of work in, I wanted to be ready for this week. Our offensive line took care of me today, don’t think I took many hits. Receivers did their job and Ramon (Jefferson) in the running game, it was a complete team effort”. JSU got the next 10 points on a short touchdown run by Cooper later in the third, and another field goal by Stinnett early in the fourth. The Bears put the game on ice with less than two minutes left when Jefferson scored on a short one yard run. That score was set up on runs of 14 and 30 by Jefferson, and another of 19 yards by Joe Fitzpatrick. Maine head coach Joe Haraysmiak said, “Just a great moment for this University, first home playoff win in history of Maine football. I am just proud to be a part of it, and ultimately these guys sitting to my left and to my right, the whole team, staff, great gameplan. We were really motivated to just come in here and do a good job, so just proud. I am proud to be their coach, and it’s survive and advance, and we are really excited about that”.
Maine head coach Joe Haraysmiak gets a Gatorade bath from Earnest Edwards (81) and Jaquan Blair (11) in the closing seconds of a second round NCAA FCS playoff win over Jacksonville State on Saturday, December 1, 2018 in Orono, Maine. Photo by Anthony DelMonaco (click to enlarge)
Ferguson finished the day 14-26 passing, 159 yards, and the five big touchdowns. Jefferson rushed 26 times for 186 yards. Edwards led the receiving core with three catches and 49 yards and two touchdowns, with Blair, Wright, and Belcher also contributing with a TD catch each. Deshawn Stevens had 10 total tackles and Jaron Grayer had eight to lead the defense, who made life hard for Cooper sacking him four times and adding an interception by Eric Robertson. Harasymiak added, “We were very confident coming in this game. We play in the best conference in the country and we were the champs, so we felt very confident in what we could do if we executed and that was the plan all week to prepare well and execute at a high level and we knew if we did that we had a chance to make some plays. That’s what it is all about, and our guys made a ton of plays today”.
Cooper was 19-44 passing, 365 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. JSU, who came into the game averaging over 200 yards rushing was held to 87 by Maine led by Cooper who had 31 yards on 14 carries. Trae Barry had six catches for 102 yards, and Hester had four for 125 yards and the two scores to led the talented Gamecock receivers. Traco Williams and Marlon Bridges had eight total tackles each to lead the defense.
Maine will now travel to Ogden, Utah to play Weber State next Friday night at 8 pm in a national quarterfinal matchup. The Wildcats, who play out of the Big Sky Conference, are 10-2 and defeated Southeast Missouri 48-23 Saturday in another second round game. The game can be seen nationally on ESPN 2. This is the third time Maine has made it as far as the national quarterfinal round, first since 2011.
