Football games are won and lost on third downs.
If your offense can convert third downs into first downs, it keeps possession of the ball and can continue driving for a score.
If your defense stops the opponents on third down, they usually punt and your offense gets to trot onto the field.
For the University of Maine’s football team, inefficiency on third down on both sides of the football has been costly and a key contributor to its third 0-4 start in four seasons.
So far this season, the UMaine offense is converting on only 22.4 percent of its third downs (11-for-43) and that ranks the Black Bears 121st among 126 Football Championship Subdivision teams in that category.
The defense hasn’t been much better as opponents have converted on 48.3 percent of their third down chances (29-for-60) which leaves UMaine ranked 106th in that category.
“Definitely, without a doubt, we have to get better on third down on both sides of the ball,” said fourth-year head coach Jordan Stevens.
The primary culprit on the offensive side has been the passing attack.
UMaine is averaging 115.8 yards per game through the air which is 117th in the country. UMaine threw for 204.5 yards per game a year ago.
Graduate student and preseason All-Coastal Athletic Association honorable mention quarterback Carter Peevy, who completed 66.6 percent of his passes last season, has completed just 50.9 percent of his passes this season which is 107th in the nation.
Redshirt sophomore Caden Drezek received some playing time last weekend against Georgia Southern and completed 6 of his 12 passes for 51 yards. He was intercepted once.
Stevens said Peevy will get the start on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. when UMaine entertains 1-3 North Carolina A & T in a Coastal Athletic Association game at Morse Field in Alfond Stadium in Orono.
The head coach acknowledged that Peevy has had his struggles.
“He is our guy right now. From there, we’ll kind of see how the week goes,” said Stevens, who feels Peevy is pressing.
Stevens said the coaching staff needs to put Peevy in the right positions to put the ball where it needs to go.
“It’s a new year, new circumstances, new people around him. He probably felt like there were new expectations,” said Stevens. “We’re trying to help him understand it’s not all on him.”
UMaine’s third down challenges have been particularly decisive in the second half, when UMaine has been outscored 77-16.
UMaine’s offense has converted on just 18.5 percent of its third downs (5-for-27) in the second half while the opponents are converting on 56.7 percent of their third down opportunities (17-for-30).
UMaine and Football Bowl Subdivision team Liberty University were tied 7-7 at the half but Liberty converted 7 of its 10 third down chances in the second half. UMaine was 0-for-6 as Liberty pulled away for a 28-7 victory.
In a 28-27 loss to William and Mary, UMaine actually converted on three of its seven third down plays after halftime, but William and Mary went 4-for-6 and its last third down play was a kneel down at the end of the game.
In the 13-10 loss to Stonehill, UMaine converted just one of its six third down opportunities in the second half while Stonehill went 3-for-9.
Last Saturday, in a 45-17 loss to FBS team Georgia Southern, UMaine went 1-for-8 while Georgia Southern went 3-for-5 in the second half when it outscored UMaine 28-3.
Redshirt junior center Nicolas Cruji said there isn’t any one specific issue causing the second-half woes.
“There are 11 of us on the field and we all need to do our jobs,” Cruji said. “The areas where we need improvement are being worked on every day. As an offensive line, the best thing we can do is a better job in pass protection so the quarterbacks have all the time in the world to go through their reads and make great plays. I have nothing but faith in those guys to come down with the ball on Saturday.”
UMaine’s quarterbacks have been sacked 10 times.
The UMaine running game continues to be solid, averaging 172.5 yards per game to tie for 35th in the country.
University of North Carolina Pembroke transfer running back Sincere Baines is sixth in the country in yards per carry (7.49), 14th in total rushing yards (352) and 20th in yards per game (88).
On the defensive side of the ball, graduate student linebacker Christian Thomas is tied for 14th in tackles per game (10.8) and he and free safety Devin Vaught are tied for 29th in the nation in solo tackles per game with five.
Thomas is tied for 30th in tackles for lost yards per game with 1.38.
Cruji said their 0-4 start is behind them.
“We have eight games left and if we win all eight, we will be 8-4 and we will have had a great season,” said Cruji. “Right now, we’re just worried about North Carolina A & T. I can’t even tell you who we play the week after. We will be ready for Saturday.”
