It’s common to see a team playing in its first meaningful game struggle because it isn’t used to being in such a high-level, pressure-packed situation.
It’s a form of stage fright.
You may think you’re ready but once you get out there, you realize it’s a different vibe than you are used to.
Everything is magnified. You feel like you’re under a microscope.
Every move is scrutinized.
That was certainly the case on Saturday for the University of Maine’s football team, which lost to Rhode Island 45-13 at Morse Field in Alfond Stadium.
UMaine was 5-1 in the Coastal Athletic Association coming into the game and 6-4 overall with six straight wins. URI was the only conference unbeaten at 6-0 and was 8-2 overall.
This group of Black Bears had never played a game in November with league championship and Football Championship Subdivision implications.
Unfortunately for the Black Bears, Rhode Island earned its first postseason playoff berth since 1985 a year ago and went 1-1 in the FCS playoffs.
So the Rams are used to playing meaningful games in November and it showed.
There was a false start penalty on UMaine before the first play from scrimmage.
UMaine marched down the field into URI territory on its first drive but kicker Sam Tremblay missed his first field goal of the season after nine successful kicks.
It was one of those days.
URI was simply better everywhere and more experienced in meaningful games.
The Rams were impressive, to say the least.
UMaine head coach Jordan Stevens said his team could have been impacted by its lack of big-game experience but said the Black Bears have “been ahead of those things as a team” this season.
“We were down 0-4 to start the season so our backs have been against the wall,” Stevens said. “We certainly were in that position, so we shouldn’t have approached it any differently.”
Stevens called it a “good learning experience” for UMaine to treat every game the same.
“That was the message from us as a staff and from our leaders, but certainly things start to creep in from the outside,” Stevens said. “We’re learning how to handle the success of winning a few games and winning six games in a row. We’re going to learn from it and get better.
“But we certainly have to be better in these meaningful games in November,” he added.
All of the things that UMaine had done successfully in putting together its six-game winning streak went by the wayside on Saturday.
UMaine entered the game with the best defense in the conference, allowing just 300.8 yards per game. URI racked up 497 total yards.
The Black Bears had the CAA’s best rush defense, allowing 119.9 yards per game. URI rushed for 264 yards with Temple transfer Antwain Littleton Jr. picking up 202 yards on just 21 carries.
UMaine’s third-best rushing attack, averaging 173.1 yards per game, was held to only 45 yards. But the Black Bears fell behind 28-7 at the half so they had to come out throwing in the second half.
Opponents went 30-for-80 on third down during UMaine’s winning streak, but URI went 7-for-12 thanks to its productive first and second down plays which set the Rams up in third and short yardage situations, Stevens noted.
UMaine had gone 35-for-77 on third downs but was just 3-for-13 on Saturday.
The Black Bears had limited the opponents’ explosive plays during the winning streak but gave up six passes of 17 or more yards and three runs of 36 or more yards.
With the Black Bears’ playoff hopes gone, they can set their sights on ruining the possible playoff aspirations of New Hampshire on Saturday in Durham as the two teams vie for the Brice-Cowell Musket.
The UMaine players who return next season have a taste of meaningful November football games and will be ready if the Black Bears find themselves playing in some a year from now.
Certainly Saturday’s game was disappointing.
But at least it’s a start for a program that won just nine games the previous three seasons and hadn’t played in a November game with playoff or league championship aspirations.
