ORONO- One of the key attributes during the recent six game win streak for Maine football, not allowing explosive plays, let the Black Bears down in their biggest game in years. The #9 Rhode Island Rams had plenty of offensive explosives in putting up 497 total yards as they built a 28-7 halftime lead, in rolling to a 45-13 Coastal Athletic Association win on Morse Field at Alfond Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The loss snaps the win streak for Maine, and will likely keep them out of any FCS postseason talk.
On the first drive of the game, Maine attempted to jump on top but a 43-yard field goal attempt by Samuel Tremblay was short. It was the first kick missed by Tremblay this season (field goals or extra points). Rhode Island set the tone by taking over and going 74 yards on 13 plays culminating in a 2-yard touchdown run by Antwain Littleton Jr. It went from bad to worse for the Black Bears with their second possession, as they were forced to punt and the snap went over the head of Anthony Peccorella who was tackled at his own 5. On the third play after the error, the Rams made it 14-0 on a Devin Farrell 2-yard TD pass to Dontay Bishop. Early in the second quarter, Maine got on the board for the first time on a 40-yard scoring pass from Carter Peevy to Scott Woods down the far sideline to cut their deficit in half. But URI had an immediate response, as Littleton Jr. took one up the middle on their next snap from scrimmage almost to the house on a 65-yard run to the Black Bears 12-yard line. Brendon Barrow went nearly untouched on the next play for a 12-yard rushing score to extend their advantage back to 14. After the Black Bears went three and out, Farrell sent a pass into the flats to Marquis Buchanan who did the rest taking it 63-yards to find paydirt as the Rams had a 28-7 lead at the break.
Rhode Island added two more touchdowns in the third quarter on a 3-yard run by Barrow and a 52-yard rush Littleton Jr. to keep their unbeaten conference record intact. Peevy had a 4-yard scoring run in the period for Maine to end their scoring on the afternoon.
Littleton Jr. was the offensive star of the game in the Rhode Island win, rushing for 202 yards on 21 carries with two touchdowns picking up over half of that net yardage on two attempts alone. Barrow also got into the endzone twice, while Farrell was 16-22 passing for 221 yards and a pair of scores. Buchanan had six receptions for 138 yards and a touchdown, as the Rams improved to 8-2 and 7-0 in the CAA. Peevy tossed one touchdown pass and was 21-34 for 278 yards in the Maine defeat. The rushing attack that had helped them during the win streak was held to just 67 yards under center on 27 attempts. Woods reeled in five catches for 114 yards and a touchdown and was one of the bright spots offensively on the day. Trevin Ewing also had three receptions for 77 yards. Graduate linebacker Christian Thomas had 19 total tackles (15 assisted), while Chris Bacon (2) and Noah Carpenter (1) (Leavitt) combined for three sacks. The Black Bears are now 6-5 and 5-2 in conference play and will head to Durham to battle UNH for the Brice Cowell Musket next Saturday at 1 p.m. in the season finale.
