One local college football team will begin their 2025 season this weekend, as the University of Maine is set to kickoff with FBS opponent Liberty University on Saturday at 4 p.m. in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Maine is coming off a 5-7 season in 2024 (3-5 in the Coastal Athletic Association). They are led by fifth year head coach Jordan Stevens (’10). Stevens had accumulated an overall record of 15-30 (10-22 in CAA play). The Black Bears return graduate and transfer quarterback Carter Peevy, who passed for 2,422 yards with 18 touchdowns and five interceptions last fall. Peevy had a 66.6% completion rate and also rushed for one score. On defense they also have back linebacker Christian Thomas (63 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one pass breakup), safety Devin Vaught (43 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, 3 pass breakups), and cornerback Jamaree Gibson (34 tackles, 1 interception, 9 pass breakups). They may rely more heavily on offense this season on graduate wide receiver Molayo Irefin (19 receptions, 302 yards, 1 touchdown), and Cape Elizabeth redshirt sophomore receiver Nick Loughlin. Senior wideout Trevin Ewing has big play capability on the outside and in the backfield, and is one of the top kick returners in the conference averaging 27.5 yards per return with a 98-yard touchdown last season. Maine has 10 transfers who hope to make an impact, with nine on defense and one on the offensive side of the ball in wide receiver Scott Woods II (Harvard). The Black Bears have been picked to finish eighth in the 14-team CAA. Rhode Island, Villanova, and Monmouth are slated at the top (1 through 3 respectively).
This first opponent, the Liberty Flames out of Conference USA, went 8-4 a season ago finishing their year with a 26-7 loss to Buffalo in the Bahamas Bowl which was their second straight appearance in a bowl game. This will be the third all-time meeting between the schools with the series tied 1-1, with Liberty taking the most recent with a wild 59-44 victory in Virginia back in October of 2019. Maine starts the 2025 campaign with two road games as they also begin conference play on Saturday, September 6th at William & Mary at 6 p.m., before their home opener on September 13th against Stonehill College in non-conference action at Alfond Stadium at 6 p.m. They’ll face another FBS school on Saturday, September 20th with a road trip to Georgia Southern (Sun Belt Conference) for a 7 p.m. kickoff. The home league opener is on Saturday, September 27th vs North Carolina A&T State University at 3:30 p.m.
