Khalil Newton caught a game winning touchdown with 5:48 left in the fourth quarter on Saturday afternoon, as the Stony Brook Seawolves came back to defeat the Maine Black Bears 28-27 at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium in Stony Brook, New York in Colonial Athletic Association football action.
Maine, who falls to 2-5 on the season (2-2 in the CAA), had their two game win streak snapped after having a pair of 13 point leads. Stony Brook scored early on the games first possession going 75 yards in nine plays as Ross Tallarico scored on a two yard touchdown run for a quick 7-0 lead. The Black Bears scored the next 20 points unanswered, with the first of those coming on a Cole Baker 45 yard field goal later in the first quarter. Kobay White, the Boston College transfer, scored his first touchdown of the season with a 13 yard scoring reception from Joe Fagnano 6:39 into the second quarter. Shawn Bowman had a 42 yard TD catch 5:37 later, and another Baker field goal late in the second of 33 yards had the guests up 20-7 at the halftime break.
Maine had the ball first to start the second half trying to extend their lead, but would go three and out. Stony Brook then drove the field, with the 76 yard drive leading to a Charlie McKee touchdown pass of 10 yards to RJ Lamarre. The Black Bears answered that Seawolves score with another of their own to increase the lead back to 13. Bowman had the biggest play with a 37 yard reception, and on the next play Elijah Barnwell found the endzone on a 12 yard run to make it 27-14. The hosts wouldn’t go down without a fight, as they bounced right back again. McKee completed passes of 24 and 16 yards to Tyler Devera to help set it up. On fourth and goal at the Maine one yard line, Devera capped the drive with a one yard scoring reception from McKee and it was a 27-21 game headed to the fourth quarter. The Bears had the ball at midfield with 11:24 remaining to play hoping for some points to help finish off the road win. They drove to the Stony Brook 31 yard line, but came up empty when White was stuffed for a loss of one yard on a fourth down and three play. The Seawolves then went 68 yards in seven plays to score what ended up as the game winner. The two key plays was a 13 yard pass from McKee to Shawn Harris, Jr. on a third down and seven, and a 35 yard completion to Damien Caffrey. McKee would find Newton in the corner of the endzone for a seven yard TD on first and goal. After each team had an empty possession after that score, Maine would have one final chance with 3:00 left from their own 11 yard line. A nine yard run by Fagnano, two completions of six and 15 yards to Montigo Moss, and a nine yard run by Barnwell got the ball out to midfield. Another pass to Moss for five more yards, a 12 yarder to Zavier Scott, and six yards to White got them within Baker field goal range at the Stony Brook 27 yard line. The potential game winner by Baker of 46 yards though sailed wide left with 56 seconds remaining, as the Seawolves then ran out the clock to end it.
Fagnano finished 28-45 passing for 314 yards and two touchdowns, while also leading the team in rushing with 10 attempts for 65 yards. Bowman led the receiving core with a big day, ending with six receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown. White had seven catches for 51 yards and a score. Adrian Otero, Robby Riobe, and Shakur Smalls each had eight total tackles. Otero had one sack, and Riobe also was credited with a half sack. McKee went 18-21 for 249 yards and three touchdowns in the win for Stony Brook. Jayden Cook had 26 rush attempts for 92 yards, while Devera had four catches for 50 yards and a touchdown. The Seawolves won their first game of the season, improving to 1-6 and 1-4 in the CAA. Maine is back at Alfond Stadium next Saturday when they host Richmond.
