Things didn’t start well for the University of Maine football team this fall. The Black Bears went 0-4, which included two losses to FBS opponents, but also a 13-10 home loss to Stonehill College who is only in their fifth season at the Division I FCS level after being part of Division II and Division III from 1988-2021.
Now turn the calendar ahead two months, and Maine is on a four game winning streak that included their most recent triumph in the Coastal Athletic Association on homecoming last weekend by slowing down the high scoring Elon Phoenix 35-14. They go for five in a row this Saturday when they host CAA foe Stony Brook at Alfond Stadium at 1 p.m.
The Black Bears (4-4 overall and 3-1 in the CAA) are really only a few plays away from being 6-2 and 4-0 in league play. The lone conference loss was a 28-27 defeat on the road at the hands of William & Mary. In that game, Maine had a first and goal at the Tribe 7-yard line halfway through the fourth quarter, but had to settle for a field goal and a six point lead instead of a 10-point bulge. W&M then went down and scored and Carter Peevy threw an interception on the next possession. The four wins during the streak has included home victories over North Carolina A&T and Elon in the CAA, a conference road win at Bryant, and a non-conference road win at Merrimack.
Maine has done a great job defensively especially in the last three contests. Graduate linebacker Christian Thomas is having a breakout season. Thomas has 75 total tackles (36 solo, 8.5 for a loss), three sacks, two pass breakups, two quarterback hits, and one fumble recovery. Redshirt sophomore and defensive back Devin Vaught has added 41 total tackles (35 solo) and leads the team with three interceptions including one in the win over Elon. The Black Bears held the Phoenix offense, who had been averaging 393 yards per game, to 231 total.
The Black Bears have gotten some help with the ground game in recent weeks. After both Nick Laughlin (out of the season) and Sincere Baines got injured in the win at Merrimack, redshirt freshman Rashawn Marshall has stepped up big. Marshall after entering the game vs the Warriors has rushed for a total of 287 yards on 34 carries (8.4 average), while also finding the endzone on a 61-yard run against Elon. Baines still seems to be banged up some, as he only had two rush attempts vs the Phoenix last Saturday. The graduate quarterback Peevy has been steady as he has completed 133-228 passes on the season for 1,471 yards, with nine touchdowns and only three interceptions. Also add in 110 total rush yards and five scores. The connection between him and transfer wide receiver Scott Woods has seemed to work all year. Woods, who also returns punts, has 40 receptions for 461 yards and three touchdowns while also returning seven of those punts for 170 yards (24.3 average) and a score that was an 85-yard return to find pay dirt last weekend.
The Stony Brook Seawolves arrive in Orono with a record of 4-4 (2-2 in the CAA). They are averaging nearly 27 points per game (26.8), but are also giving up 26.4 per contest. Stony Brook has been led by their outstanding graduate running back Roland Dempster. He has rushed for 890 yards on 177 carries with nine touchdowns. The team averages 187 yards per game on the ground.
Maine has put themselves in a good position to battle for the Coastal Athletic Association Title and a possible FCS Playoff spot. If the Black Bears can claw their way past Stony Brook this Saturday, they then play on the road at Hampton on November 8th who is currently last in the league (0-5). The final regular season home contest could be a huge one on November 15th vs. Rhode Island who is currently the top team in the conference (5-0). The Brice-Cowell Musket rivalry finishes the regular season on November 22nd in Durham, New Hampshire with a border battle vs. the Wildcats. If Maine can continue to play good complimentary football they’ll be in the mix until the end.
Featured photo courtesy of Anthony DelMonaco
