The University of Maine’s football team will look to extend its winning streak to three games on Saturday when it visits Merrimack College for its final non-conference game of the season.
Kickoff is 1 p.m. at Duane Stadium in North Andover, Massachusetts.
The Black Bears haven’t won three in a row since the 2021 campaign when they knocked off William and Mary, Albany and Rhode Island en route to a 6-5 season under head coach Nick Charlton.
Current head coach Jordan Stevens has won back-to-back Coastal Athletic Association games for the first time in his four years at the helm as the Black Bears knocked off North Carolina A & T (37-30) and Bryant (34-14).
UMaine is 2-4 overall and 2-1 in the CAA.
Merrimack is 3-3.
UMaine rallied from a 15-6 halftime deficit to beat Merrimack 26-15 last fall.
Second halves have been problematic for the Black Bears this season as they have been outscored 105-23 over the final 30 minutes of their six games.
“We have to finish better,” said Stevens. “We’re obviously searching for ways to be better in the second half and that has to happen quickly.
“There are a lot of different positions we’ve been in that we haven’t been in before. We have to learn how to manage those pieces and play a complete game,” added the Black Bear coach.
UMaine built a 34-0 halftime lead at Bryant to secure the win early.
“We have to maintain a level of focus and consistency throughout a game,” said Stevens. “Playing with technique, playing with fundamentals and with a detailed finish whether it’s blocking or tackling or downfield in coverage. Those things have to continue to improve.”
One of the major components in the two-game winning streak is the play of graduate student quarterback Carter Peevy.
After the Mercer University transfer completed just 54 of 106 passes for 412 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions through the first four games, Peevy has thrown for over 300 yards in back-to-back games for the first time in his career.
He has completed 43 of 63 passes for 640 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions in the wins over North Carolina A & T and Bryant.
Stevens said Peevy’s turnaround is a tribute to his “resiliency, his mental toughness and his ability to continue to trust the process. He has continued to show up here with the right attitude.
“Our staff has done a great job finding ways to put him in position to be successful. We need our quarterback to be successful for our team to be successful,” Stevens said. “He is finding different ways to get the ball in our playmakers’ hands.”
Stevens said his team is going to be challenged by a “tough, physical” Merrimack team.
“They’re aggressive and will find any way possible to get a win,” Stevens said. “We have to show up ready to play and take that next step.”
Peevy will enter the game completing 57.4 percent of his passes for 1,052 yards and seven TDs. Harvard University transfer Scott Woods has snared a team-high 30 passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns and Mo Irefin has 20 catches for 245 yards.
Sincere Baines has rushed for 503 yards and leads the CAA in yards per carry at 6.71. That is 16th best among players at 126 Football Championship Subdivision schools. His 503 yards are fourth-best in the CAA. Rashawn Marshall has carried the ball 48 times for 223 yards.
Linebacker Christian Thomas tops the team in tackles with 60 and that’s 12th best in the FCS. He has seven tackles for lost yards which is 35th in the FCS. Free safety Devin Vaught has 28 tackles and a team-high four pass breakups. He also has an interception and he returned it for a touchdown. Defensive tackle Elias Sherman has 25 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
Former UMaine backup quarterback Ayden Pereira is calling the signals for Merrimack and is the Warriors’ leading rusher with 357 yards on 91 carries. He has completed 47.9 percent of his passes for 820 yards and three TDs. He has been intercepted three times.
DeMarcus McElroy has carried the ball 32 times for 172 yards.
Jalen McDonald and Seth Sweitzer are the reception leaders with 16 and 10, respectively, for 197 and 152 yards.
Linebackers Kendal Sims (37 tackles, 2.5 sacks) and D.J. Frazier (28 tackles, 2 sacks) have keyed the Merrimack defense along with free safety R.J. Chapman (23 tackles, 3 interceptions).
