The Maine Black Bears scored 24 points in the second half Saturday afternoon, getting a game sealing pick six from Jamaree Gibson with less than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter for a 34-20 Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) upset football victory over #21 Albany on Bob Ford Field at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium in Albany, New York. Maine was a 17.5 point underdog in the contest, securing a victory over a ranked opponent for the first time since a shortened 2021 spring season and also spoiling the Great Danes conference opener.
There were three lead changes in the first half. Joey Bryson gave Maine a 3-0 advantage with a 40-yard field goal early in the first quarter. Albany jumped in front for the first time on a 2-yard Jojo Uga touchdown run 41 seconds into the second. Jaharie Martin pushed Maine back in front from the wildcat formation on a 1-yard scoring run with 1:57 to play in the second period. The Great Danes responded and took their final lead of the afternoon on a 13-yard TD reception by Seven McGee from quarterback Myles Burkett with 14 seconds left, as they led 14-10 at the halftime break.
Maine, as they did last Saturday in their road win at Merrimack, picked it up on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball in the second half. The Black Bears outscored the Warriors 20-0 in the second half in a 26-15 win a week ago, and would do it again by outscoring Albany 24-6 in the final 30 minutes to secure the huge road victory. After a second field goal by Bryson got them within a point in the third quarter, they took the lead for good just over eight minutes later on a 2-yard touchdown pass from Carter Peevy to Cooper Heisey. On what looked like the same exact play, Peevy found Heisey again for another 2-yard score with 7:04 remaining in the game. Maine also converted a two-point conversion on a pass from Joe Gillette to Montigo Moss to extend it to 27-14. The Great Danes didn’t go away easily, as they went 66 yards in just five plays culminating in a 32-yard TD pass from Burkett to McGee. The extra point was blocked keeping it a seven point deficit. The Bears got a break on the ensuing kickoff when Trevin Ewing fumbled, but the ball went out of bounds. After a three and out, Albany would have one more chance to try to tie it. They would get it to the Maine 36-yard line, before Gibson came up with the game sealing play. Gibson picked off Burkett at the 22, and then went up the left sideline for a 78-yard touchdown return to help his team improve to 1-1 in the CAA.
Peevy went 20-24 passing for 193 yards and two touchdowns in the Maine win. Martin and Tavion Banks led a solid ground game that chewed up 144 yards. Martin carried 19 times for 82 yards and a touchdown, while Banks had 57 yards on 12 attempts. Molayo Irefin came up with several big receptions, finishing with five catches for 68 yards. Heisey had three catches, with two of them going for scores. Kesean Dyson had six total tackles on defense and a half sack, while Gibson and Alhaji Kamara each had an interception. Burkett went 19-32 passing for 202 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in the Albany loss. McGee was the big offensive performer with four receptions for 72 yards and two touchdowns. The Great Danes, who made it all the way to the FCS National semifinals last season, fall to 1-3 overall and 0-1 in conference play. The Black Bears (3-2, 1-1 in the CAA) have a week off before returning to action on Saturday, October 12th on the road in Delaware to take on the Blue Hens with a 1 p.m. kickoff.
Maine running back Jaharie Martin (#19) tries to pick some extra yards during a season opening win over Colgate in Orono. Martin rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown Saturday afternoon, as the Black Bears upset #21 Albany 34-20 in New York. Photo by Anthony DelMonaco
