ORONO- The University of Maine Black Bears held high powered Monmouth University in check for the most part on Saturday afternoon, forcing three turnovers and knocking off the Hawks 38-28 in a Colonial Athletic Association football matchup at Alfond Stadium on homecoming weekend.
Monmouth (4-3, 2-2 CAA) entered the contest averaging 39.5 points per game and 246 yards rushing, but the Maine defense did a great job in limiting that rush attack to a total of 112 yards. The Hawks started fast however, taking the opening kickoff and going 85 yards in seven plays in just 3:05 capped off by a 17 yard touchdown pass from Tony Muskett to Dre Tucker. Maine would tie it when they would force the first of three turnovers on the day by the guests, as Muskett would fumble trying to gain extra yards on a scramble. The fumble was forced by Khairi Manns and recovered by Shakur Smalls at the Hawks 22 yard line. On the ensuing drive, Black Bears quarterback Joe Fagnano converted on a fourth down and short play at the 13 yard line with a four yard run and then found Shawn Bowman on the next play in the corner of the endzone for a nine yard touchdown to make it 7-7. Freddie Brock gave the hosts the lead for good with 3:09 left in the first half. Brock found some daylight and exploded up the left sideline for a 33 yard rushing TD and a 14-7 advantage. Defensive back Kahzir “Buggs” Brown on the next offensive possession for Monmouth would also make a big play. Brown jumped a route on a pass from Muskett on second down, intercepting the ball and taking it 39 yards for the score. A 15 yard personal foul on Maine on the kickoff allowed the Hawks to cut into the lead before the break, as they went 57 yards in just four plays culminating in a 31 yard touchdown pass from Muskett to Dymere Miller and it was 21-14 at the half.
A huge play early in the third quarter set Maine up for their next score. After taking the kickoff to begin the half, Fagnano on a second down play at his own 22 yard line found Kobay White down the middle of the field behind the defense for a 77 yard passing play all the way to the Monmouth one yard line. Elijah Barnwell punched it in on the next play with a short touchdown run. On the kickoff, the Hawks Makhi Green would fumble and the Black Bears recovered at the 28. Latrell Couchman forced the final turnover of the day, and Vince Thomas recovered. A personal foul on the play against the Hawks moved the ball to the 14, where on third and goal Fagano tossed his second score of the day and the game winner of 14 yards to Montigo Moss that increased the lead to 35-14. It took just one minute off the clock for Maine to stretch that advantage from seven to 21 points. Monmouth kept moving the ball and struck back in just 3:15 going nine plays that covered 77 yards, with Muskett finding Assanti Kearney for a 43 yard touchdown. The Hawks went for a two-point conversion but the attempt failed. A key defensive play late in the quarter by Maine left the guests without any points. Running out of a wildcat formation on fourth down and short at the Black Bears five yard line trying to slice into the lead, Owen Wright was stopped by Smalls and Josh Lezin for no gain turning it over on downs. They would turn that stop into points as Zavier Scott had a 31 yard run to help set it up, and Cole Baker made it 38-20 with a 35 yard field goal with 9:46 left to play. Monmouth scored for the final points of the game with 5:09 remaining, when Wright scored on a three yard run and Muskett ran in a two-point conversion. The Hawks tried an unsuccessful onside kick that Maine recovered, as they were then able to use their run game to kill all but 50 seconds off the clock giving the guests no time to muster any comeback. The Black Hole defense had only forced two total turnovers in their first four losses, but now have forced six takeaways in the last two weeks that have both equaled wins. Maine has now also won six straight homecoming games.
Fagnano finished 14-23 passing for 181 yards and two touchdowns, and also moved into 10th place on the all-time passing yards list at UMaine. He added nine rushes for 29 yards. Brock led the run game with 68 yards on 10 attempts, as the Black Bears had 174 total rushing yards. White, the Boston College transfer, had his best game of the season with six catches for 115 yards. Manns stepped up huge and had 11 total tackles with the one forced fumble and two tackles for loss. He also had 1.5 sacks, and Jamehl Wiley had 2.5 sacks. Muskett was 22-31 for 292 yards with three touchdowns with one interception and was sacked five times in the loss for Monmouth. Jaden Sheridan, who was averaging 155 yards rushing per contest, was held to just 81 yards on 18 carries. Kearney had six catches for 100 yards and a touchdown, and Miller also had six receptions for 95 yards and a score. Maine improves their record to 2-4 overall, 2-1 in conference play and has another CAA contest next Saturday when they travel to Long Island to face winless Stony Brook. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
