ORONO- The University of Maine football team came into Saturdays conference matchup with Stony Brook only averaging 9.75 points per game and 242 yards per outing. The Black Bears changed that script however, exploding for 42 first half points and putting up over 500 yards of offense in taking down the Seawolves 56-28 in Coastal Athletic Association action at Alfond Stadium for their first win of the season.
Maine scored early and often. Stony Brook quarterback Casey Case fumbled on a keeper on the first play from scrimmage, as Xavier Holmes would strip him and recover at the Seawolves 33-yard line. It took the Black Bears six plays, but they found the endzone on a one-yard touchdown run by Tristen Kenan. After a three and out, Robertson passed for his first touchdown of the season on the next possession when he found a streaking Joe Gillette down the middle for a 55-yard scoring connection. The guests would then drive to the Maine 38-yard line trying to build a little momentum, but that would stall out on a fourth down stop. A 33-yard pass by Robertson to Jamie Lamson set the Bears up for their next touchdown, as Trevin Ewing took an end around on the next play for 30 yards into the endzone and it was 21-0 just over 9:30 into action. The senior quarterback Robertson finished off an impressive first quarter with a 41-yard TD pass to Montigo Moss on a trick play variation of a flea flicker. Stony Brook pulled off their own flea flicker to get on the board for the first time in the second, with Case hitting a wide open Jayden Cook for a 47-yard touchdown. Robertson tossed two more touchdowns in the half, one of 34 yards to Gillette and another late in the period of 27 yards to Moss. That was wedged around a second Seawolves score, a 51-yard pass from Case to Cal Redman. Maine would take the 42-14 lead into the halftime break, and their 384 yards over the first 30 minutes was already 142 yards above the season average.
They continued to roll in the second half, getting the ball first and going 75 yards on 10 plays capped off with a second touchdown run by Kenan of two yards. Cooper Heisey finished off the Maine scoring with a two-yard TD catch, the fifth passing score of the afternoon for Robertson who entered Saturday with none on the season. Stony Brook (0-5, 0-4 CAA) also got a pair of touchdowns over the third and fourth quarters on a 36-yard reception by Cook from Case, and a six-yard TD catch by RJ Lamarre. The win by the Black Bears ends a nine game losing streak, and a three game winless streak at Alfond Stadium both dating back to last year. The 56 points was the most scored in any game since a 60-12 home victory over Bryant back in 2017, and also topped their total (39) of the first four games combined this season.
Robertson finished the day 25-30 passing for 394 yards and the five touchdowns. Maine had nine players run the ball for a total of 87 yards on 30 attempts, led by Kenan (9 rushes, 24 yards, 2 touchdowns) and Ewing who took his lone carry 30 yards for a score. Moss and Gillette both had huge days receiving. Moss hauled in five catches for 108 yards and two touchdowns, and Gillette had four receptions for 96 yards and two scores as their total team offensive yards ended up at 512. Jabari Odoemenem had nine total tackles and one for a loss to lead the defense. John Costanza and Dorian Royal each had one sack, while Holmes and Vince Thomas had a half sack a piece. Holmes had a fumble recovery as did Damon Matthews, and Abdul Stewart had an interception. Case went 22-37 passing for 348 yards with four touchdowns and one interception in the loss for Stony Brook. Cook had seven catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns. Maine (1-4, 1-2 in the CAA) is back on the road next Saturday afternoon when they head to Richmond to tangle with the Spiders at 3:30 p.m.
Recap/photos/videos by Chris Lessner/Additional video courtesy of Maine Football on Twitter
Derek ➡️ Joey for a 55-yard TOUCHDOWN!!#BlackBearNation pic.twitter.com/teFC9Mq360
— Maine Football (@BlackBearsFB) September 30, 2023
Black Bears are deep in the bag of tricks here in the first quarter – flea flicker TD!
Maine – 28
Stony Brook – 0
1Q | 0:54#BlackBearNation pic.twitter.com/tynBWm2pSj— Maine Football (@BlackBearsFB) September 30, 2023
