ORONO, Maine — The University of Maine football team rolled up a 35-0 lead at halftime and held on for a 38-26 victory over visiting Bryant University in a showdown of offenses on Saturday at Alfond Stadium.
UMaine improved its record to 5-5 overall, 3-3 in Coastal Athletic Association competition, while Bryant fell to 2-8 and 0-6 in league play.
UMaine quarterback Carter Peevy threw a career-high four touchdowns in the win, finishing the afternoon 19-of-24 for 269-yards. Peevy connected with wide receiver Montigo Moss seven times as the receiver posted a career-best 122 receiving yards while matching his career-high with a pair of touchdown receptions.
Nick Laughlin added a career-high five catches for a career-best 61-yards with a touchdown while Joe Gillette posted three catches for 75-yards and a score for the Black Bears.
Brian Santana-Fis rushed for a career-best 104-yards with a touchdown as Maine posted 435 total yards of offense, 332 of which came in the first half.
Maine’s defense, which held Bryant to 0-of-7 on third down in the first half, posted two sacks and two takeaways as Xavier Holmes and Amir Byrd each posted their first career interceptions. Izaiah Henderson led Maine with seven tackles and a half sack while Holmes added six stops and 1.5 tackles for loss. Jamaree Gibson added six tackles with a pass deflection. In all, the Black Bears finished the day with 7 tackles for loss.
The Black Bears dug into their bag of tricks early as they executed a flea flicker when Peevy connected with a wide-open Gillette for a 48-yard touchdown.
After Maine’s defense forced a three-and-out on the ensuing possession, Peevy hit for his second touchdown of the first quarter. The quarterback slung a short pass out to Laughlin who maneuvered his way down the sideline for big yards after the catch on a 36-yard score.
Holmes intercepted Bryant four plays later, setting Maine up at the Bryant 30. Shortly after, Santana-Fis stutter stepped behind the line of scrimmage before sprinting 15-yards for a touchdown.
Maine pushed its lead to 28-0 when Peevy hit Moss for a 79-yard touchdown reception with 9:51 left in the half.
The lead swelled to 35-0 when Peevy and Moss connected once again for a score. This one, a three-yard fade, saw Moss elevated up and over his defender in the corner of the end zone for his fifth touchdown snare of the season.
Maine entered the half with a 35-0 edge.
Bryant would not go quietly as it opened the second half with a touchdown drive when Brennan Myer found Landon Ruggieri for a five-yard score.
Maine answered with a 32-yard field goal from Joey Bryson.
The Bulldogs responded with 19-unanswered points as Myer connected with Ruggieri, Drew Montez, and Tristen Riley for scores, but it would not be enough as Maine closed out its third CAA victory of the season.
The Black Bears return to the road when they travel to meet Elon on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 2 p.m.
