The University of Maine Football team, coming off a bye week and an 0-3 start under first year head coach Jordan Stevens, turns their attention to their Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) opener Saturday at home against #14 Villanova. Two of the three Black Bears losses so far have come against FBS opponents.
After a season opening loss on the road 41-0 to New Mexico out of the Mountain West Conference, Maine played a tight contest in a 21-18 loss in their home opener against Colgate. The Black Bears had a much better offensive effort in their most recent defeat to ACC opponent Boston College 38-17. Senior quarterback Joe Fagnano has done a good job at protecting the football thus far, completing 58 out of 109 passes for 631 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions. He will enter Saturday 41 yards shy of 4,000, and 438 yards away from moving into 10th place on the schools all-time passing list. Maine will need the rushing attack to come alive, to not put too much added pressure on Fagnano as they have only averaged 75.7 yards per game with only one touchdown that came from the quarterback. Through the air, they’ve averaged 210 yards per outing with Montigo Moss hauling a pair of scores and tight end Shawn Bowman with one. The defense has been led by Adrian Otero who has 24 total tackles, Brian Lee, Jr. with 21, and Kahzir “Buggs” Brown along with Raffaele Salamone with 17 a piece. Brown and Nurse both have an interception, while Justin Sambu has three sacks and Lee Jr. along with Darius McKenzie have 1.5. The team has recorded nine sacks in three games, only three shy of their 2021 total of 12.
Villanova enters the Saturday contest with an overall record of 2-2, after dropping their opening CAA game last weekend 49-42 to Monmouth. The Wildcats use a good mix of run and pass, as they have 11 rushing touchdowns and seven through the air. Junior QB Connor Watkins has thrown for 807 yards with the seven TDs and four scored on the ground, but has also thrown eight interceptions in four games. Running back Jalen Jackson has also found the endzone four times on 47 attempts for 293 yards. They have averaged 246 yards rushing, 201 yards passing, and 33.7 points per outing so far. Villanova was the preseason CAA favorite in the coaches poll. The Black Bears are 10-14 all-time against the Wildcats, as the teams meet for the 12th time in the past 13 seasons and for the second straight year in Orono. ‘Nova won the 2021 meeting 44-17. The kickoff at Alfond Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m.
