Coming off a befuddling 51-22 home loss at the hands of last year’s quarterback, Derek Robertson, and his Monmouth University team, the University of Maine football team had a poor first half at Merrimack College and found itself trailing 15-6 at the intermission in its Sept. 21 game.
Sitting with a 1-2 record and seemingly en route to another forgettable season after back-to-back 2-9 campaigns, the Black Bears outscored Merrimack 20-0 in the second half to secure a 26-15 win.
That was their first win in a current 3-1 stretch that was highlighted by last Saturday’s impressive 35-7 victory over the nation’s fifth-ranked Villanova Wildcats at Morse Field in Alfond Stadium in Orono.
It was the best win over a nationally-ranked opponent since the Black Bears upset No. 3 Weber State on the road in a 2018 Football Championship Subdivision playoff quarterfinal.
It was UMaine’s eighth straight Homecoming win.
The Villanova triumph earned them the Stats Perform FCS National Team of the Week honor.
The Black Bears, 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the conference, now find themselves preparing for a game with Football Championship Subdivision playoff implications on Saturday at the University of Rhode Island.
UMaine was picked 13th in the 16-team league in the preseason poll so being involved in a game with playoff implications wasn’t in the cards.
The conference wins over Villanova and Albany were against nationally-ranked teams chosen first and third in the CAA preseason poll.
The UMaine defense registered seven sacks against Villanova, its most in a game since 2019.
That boosted the Black Bears up to a tie for ninth among 123 FCS teams in sacks per game at 2.86. UMaine averaged only 1.3 sacks per game a year ago and 2 per game in 2022.
The Black Bears also forced four turnovers, its most since 2021, and limited Villanova’s running game to 35 yards which is 170.3 yards per game below its average.
Hard-hitting defensive units have always been the trademark of UMaine football.
But that hasn’t been the case in recent years because Black Bear defenses have been torched by big plays –107 plays of at least 20 yards in the previous two seasons.
And one of the reasons has been the lack of a consistent pass rush.
In UMaine’s last three wins, they have registered 14 sacks, had six interceptions and limited opposing quarterbacks to a 51.5 percent completion rate and an average of just 157.7 passing yards per game.
Defensive ends Xavier Holmes and Jacob Tuiasosopo, nose tackle John Costanza and tackle Izaiah Henderson have been able to get penetration at the line of scrimmage and pressured the quarterback which makes life a lot easier for the linebackers and secondary.
In the Villanova win, Henderson had seven tackles and a quarterback hurry; Holmes had six tackles including 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and five hurries; Tuiasosopo had six tackles and Costanza had three tackles, a sack and he blocked a field goal that was returned for a touchdown by strong safety Devin Vaught.
Holmes was the CAA’s Co-Defensive Player of the Week.
“The defense had a real nice day in terms of being physical up front,” said UMaine head coach Jordan Stevens, a former All-CAA defensive end at UMaine. “They did a real nice job using their hands (to shed blocks). They played hard and, on the back end, (the secondary) really covered well. And they played well together and that’s what we’ve been searching for.”
The defense impressed Rhode Island coach Jim Fleming whose team hosts UMaine Saturday.
“They have a very active defense,” Fleming said. “They cover well. They’re doing a nice job in all phases on the defensive side of the ball.”
The defense will have to continue to play well, swarm the ball and pressure the quarterback if the Black Bears are going to contend for a playoff spot.
The offense was very efficient as quarterback Carter Peevy rebounded from a three-interception game in the 44-21 loss to Delaware with a 16-for-18 showing through the air for 173 yards and three touchdown passes against the Wildcats.
And the Black Bears rushed for 155 yards to provide a balanced attack.
The improving offensive line has allowed one sack in the last two games after giving up nine in the previous two.
The Black Bears will have their hands full against a 6-1 Rhode Island team (3-0 in the CAA) whose only loss was to Football Bowl Subdivision team Minnesota.
But they are confident. They believe in themselves.
Following the Rhode Island game and the Nov. 2 contest at FBS school Oklahoma, UMaine finishes its CAA schedule with home games against Bryant and New Hampshire sandwiching a road game at Elon.
The Black Bears control their own destiny and are capable of winning their four CAA games.
It won’t be easy but it is doable.
