Maine linebacker Sterling Sheffield stopped Towson running back Shane Simpson short of the endzone on a 4th and goal from the four yard line with 1:21 left in the game Saturday evening, to lift the #23 Black Bears football team to a huge road CAA win 35-28 over the #15 Tigers at Johnny Unitas Stadium in Towson, Maryland.
Maine (6-3, 5-1 CAA) had taken a 21-7 halftime lead on the strength of passing touchdowns from Chris Ferguson of 7 and 46 yards to Earnest Edwards, and a 64 yard touchdown run from Ramon Jefferson with less than two minutes to go before the break. The Bears extended the lead to 28-10 with eight minutes left in the third quarter on a short run by Jefferson, before Towson mounted a comeback led by their quarterback Tom Flacco, brother of Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco.
Flacco hit Simpson for a 26 yard touchdown with just over five minutes left in the third, and with a two point conversion cut the lead to 28-18. Aidan O’Neill hit a field goal on the last play of the third quarter to cut it to a one score game 28-21. The game was tied at 28-28 when Simpson finished off a 10 play, 66 yard drive with a five yard run with 10:14 to go. The Black Bears came right back and responded with a nine play, 85 yard drive with Jefferson getting some help from his offensive line for his third score of the day with 6:29 left. Jefferson had looked as though he was stopped at the four yard line, but the pig pile of Bears offensive lineman kept pushing, and eventually pushed Jefferson into the endzone for what turned out to be the game winning score.
Ferguson finished 16-32 passing, 233 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception for the Black Bears. Jefferson carried 14 times for 121 yards and the three scores. Edwards caught three passes for 74 yards and two touchdowns. Jeffrey DeVaughn had nine tackles to lead the defense. Sheffield added six tackles, his first interception of the season, and the game winning stop at the two yard line to end of the game. Maines defense sacked Flacco five times.
Flacco ended up 21-36 passing, 211 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions for the Tigers. He also carried 19 times for 67 yards. Simpson had 201 all purpose yards, with 50 yards rushing, 64 receiving, three kick returns for a total of 87 yards with two total touchdowns on the day. Robert Hayward made six tackles, and Monty Feener had five to lead the Towson defense. With the loss, Towson dips to 6-3, 4-2.
Maine, now in a tie for first place with Deleware in the CAA, hits the road once again next Saturday when they face Richmond at 3 pm.
UME 7 14 7 7- 35
TOW 0 7 14 7- 28
Total yards- Maine 408 Towson 367
First downs- Maine 20 Towson 26
Turnovers- Maine 1 Towson 2
Time of possession- Maine 27:34 Towson 32:26
