Chris Ferguson tossed four touchdown passes Saturday afternoon, and the University of Maine football team clinched at least a share of the Colonial Athletic Association title with a 28-9 win over the Richmond Spiders at Robins Stadium in Richmond, Virginia.
Ferguson hit Earnest Edwards on a four yard touchdown on the first drive of the game to quickly make it 7-0 Maine five minutes into the game. Jaquan Blair also had a first quarter touchdown from Ferguson from six yards to make it 14-0. Griffin Trau got Richmond (3-7, 1-6 CAA) on the board early in the second with a 23 yard field goal. Edwards extended the lead with his second score of the day later in the quarter, as he reached up over a defender to reel in a 29 yard scoring play. Micah Wright got the final score of the day for Maine (7-3, 6-1) from 15 yards out from Ferguson with 6:45 left in the third quarter. The Black Hole defense kept the Spiders out of the endzone until late, when quarterback Reid Chenault scored on a seven yard run with just 2:10 left.
Ferguson finished 20-32 passing, 229 yards, with four touchdowns. Edwards had six catches for 105 yards, Wright with five for 72, and Blair adding seven for 59 yards. Neither team could mount a rushing attack as Maine only had 59 yards on 41 carries, and Richmond had 29 yards on 19 attempts. Jeffrey Devaughn had 11 total tackles and an interception to lead the Bears defense, while Jaron Grayer and Darrius Hart had seven total tackles a piece with Grayer adding a sack.
Ferguson left the game in the fourth quarter after being hit and landing on his shoulder. Ferguson who missed nearly three full games earlier this season after a first quarter shoulder injury at Central Michigan, seemed fine according to head coach Joe Haraysmiak and didn’t need any ice for his shoulder. Isaiah Robinson was 3-8 for 38 yards in relief of Ferguson.
With a Maine win over Richmond, coupled with an Elon loss to Towson and a Delaware loss to Stony Brook Saturday leaves the Black Bears as the only team in the conference with only one loss. A win in the regular season finale over Elon at home next Saturday will give Maine their first outright CAA title since 2013. Worst case scenario, Maine will share the conference title and still get a bid to the NCAA tournament.
The Bears and Phoenix will kick off at Alfond Stadium next Saturday at 12 pm.
UME 14 7 7 0- 28
RIC 0 3 0 6- 9
Total yards- Maine 324 Richmond 281
First downs- Maine 22 Richmond 15
Turnovers- Maine 2 Richmond 3
Time of possession- Maine 34:47 Richmond 25:13
