Joe Fagnano tossed four touchdown passes and the Maine Black Bears outscored the Albany Great Danes 23-3 in the third quarter Saturday afternoon to take a 47-31 Colonial Athletic Association football win at Casey Stadium before a crowd of 3,315 fans in Albany, New York.
Maine (4-5, 2-3 CAA) drove the field on their opening drive but had to settle for a 19 yard Kenny Doak field goal for an early 3-0 lead. On their second possession the Black Bears extended their lead on the longest passing play in school history. Fagnano from his own 10 yard line found Old Town native Andre Miller streaking across the middle of the field at the 25 yard line, and then Miller did the rest cutting down the right sideline for a 90 yard touchdown for a 10-0 advantage. Albany however responded immediately on their first play 17 seconds after the Miller score. Quarterback Jeff Undercuffler found receiver Juwan Green, who beat Maines Manny Patterson who fell and was injured on the play for a 64 yard touchdown to cut it to 10-7.
Early in the second quarter after a good Maine drive ended with a fumble by Joe Fitzpatrick at the UAlbany 30, the hosts took their first and only lead of the day. Undercuffler found backup tightend Thomas Greany for a 10 yard score to make it 14-10. Shawn Bowman caught a two yard score from Fagnano with 6:23 left to go before halftime to give Maine back the lead. A fumble by Undercuffler at his own 8 yard line that was recovered by the Black Bears Kayon Whitaker led to a short one yard TD run by Emmanuel Reed to build back a 10 point lead. The Great Danes cut into the lead again before the break helped by two Black Bears penalties to sustain the drive. Tyler Oedekoven caught a 16 yard score from Undercuffler with 26 seconds showing on the clock and Maine led 24-21 at intermission.
Maine tightend Ori Jean-Charles makes a catch in a game earlier this season in Orono against Richmond. Jean-Charles had an offensive and defensive touchdown on Saturday afternoon as Maine beat Albany 47-31. Photo courtesy of Anthony DelMonaco
The visitors blew apart a close game in the third quarter. Albany (5-4, 3-2) did tie the game on their first drive of the quarter when Dylan Burns hit a 27 yard field goal. Maine then would reel off the next 23 points. A grounding penalty against Undercuffler while in the endzone led to a safety that gave the lead back to the Black Bears for good. They took the safety kick and six plays later Fagnano found Earnest Edwards down the seam for a 43 yard TD connection. Edwards made a phenomenal catch in between two Albany defenders at the 5 yard line and barreled his way into the endzone. The next three minutes was all about Ori Jean-Charles. The redshirt sophomore transfer tighend from Louisville was put in on the defensive side of the ball and intercepted Undercuffler and took it 47 yards down the sideline for the touchdown and a 16 point lead. A fumble by the Great Danes gave it back to Maine deep in Albany territory, and Jean-Charles caught a two yard score from Fagano four plays later to make it 47-24. The Bears scored the 23 points in a span of 6:30 to put it away. Greany did catch his second score of the game from Undercuffler with 6:15 left to go in the game to cap off the scoring.
Fagnano finished the day 12-18 passing for 257 yards and four touchdowns. Fitzpatrick rushed 13 times for 77 yards, and Reed had 11 attempts for 50 yards and a touchdown. Edwards continued his hot play of late catching six passes for 134 yards and a touchdown. Kately Joseph had nine tackles, while both Taji Lowe and Adrian Otero each had eight to lead the defense. The Black Hole defense also had five sacks, recovered two fumbles, and had the pick six by Jean-Charles. Undercuffler went 25-49 passing, with four touchdowns and one interception in the Albany loss. Karl Mofor who averaged almost 95 yards per game rushing was held to 33 yards on 18 carries. Green and Jerah Reeves both went over 100 yards receiving. Green had four catches for 111 yards and a score, while Reeves reeled in seven receptions for 109. Josh Wynn had 10 tackles to lead the Great Danes defense.
Maine now has three games remaining on their ‘must win’ tour. The Black Bears must win their remaining contests in order to have any chance at a return trip to the FCS playoffs where they reached the national semifinals a year ago. Next up is a road trip to North Carolina for a CAA matchup with the Elon Phoenix next Saturday at 2 p.m.
UME (4-5, 2-3) 10 14 23 0- 47
ALB (5-4, 3-2) 7 14 3 7- 31
Total yards- Maine 426 Albany 454
First downs- Maine 16 Albany 25
Third downs- Maine 2-10 Albany 7-13
Penalties- Maine 11-77 Albany 6-47
Turnovers- Maine 1 Albany 3
Time of possession- Maine 29:12 Albany 30:48
