Carter Peevy tossed four touchdown passes on Saturday afternoon, and the Maine defense was strong once again with five sacks culminating in a 35-7 Coastal Athletic Association football win over Hampton at Armstrong Stadium in Hampton, Virginia. The Black Bears have now won six games in a row, setting up the biggest game they’ve played in years next Saturday at home vs Rhode Island.
Maine scored twice in the first 10:10 of the first quarter. Peevy connected with Ty’ee Stephens for a 21-yard touchdown to cap a 32 yard drive after a 17-yard Hampton punt on the Black Bears first possession. It was the first career score for the redshirt sophomore receiver. A 48-yard punt return by Scott Woods set up the second TD, and on third play Rashawn Marshall got in for six on a 1-yard run to make it 14-0 in what was the eventual game winner. The Pirates scored for the only time on the day in the second quarter on a Jah’Kei Chavis 12-yard scoring reception from quarterback Earl Woods III, but Maine pushed their advantage back to 14 just before the half getting a 6-yard TD catch by Marshall from Peevy. The key plays on that drive were a pair of runs by Peevy. He had a 15-yard scramble on 3rd and 16 at the Hampton 22 yard line, and then another 3-yard rush on 4th and 1 to help set up the TD reception by Marshall two plays later. The graduate quarterback capped off the game with touchdown passes of 5-yards to tightend Eli Mahan (Fryeburg Academy) in the third quarter, and a 10-yarder to Woods in the final period. The score by the senior Mahan was also the first of his career.
Woods III passed for 86 yards (9 for 10) and a touchdown in the loss for Hampton. Donovan Shepard rushed for 61 yards, and Tae’Shaun Johnson had five catches for 58 yards. The Pirates are now 2-8 and 0-6 in the CAA. Peevy was very efficient in throwing for 121 yards (17 for 24) and four touchdowns which matched a career-high in the Maine win. He also added seven rushes for 45 yards. Marshall led the backfield with 10 carries for 49 yards and a touchdown, while also reeling in two receptions and a score. Sincere Baines (13 rushes, 47 yards) and Daniel Batch (7 rushes, 45 yards) also helped the ground attack. Mo Irefin led the receiving core with four catches for 48 yards. Christian Thomas would lead the Black Hole defense with eight total tackles (four solo, 1.5 for a loss) and one sack. Elias Sherman had two sacks and 2.5 tackles for a loss, Ta’kai Chisolm had one sack, while Nicolas Kalume and Bryce Purnell were also credited with a half sack each. As a unit they had five sacks for a third straight game, nine tackles for a loss, and also recovered a fumble. The Black Bears improve to 6-4 and 5-1 in conference play, as they will now get set to host Rhode Island next Saturday at 1 p.m. The Rams are 8-2 and 6-0 in the CAA. Monmouth and Villanova also only have one loss each in conference play. Monmouth suffered their first defeat in the league to UNH at home on Saturday.
