Orono, Maine -- The No. 7 University of Maine football team opens the 2019 campaign on Friday, Aug. 30 when it hosts Sacred Heart at 6 p.m. at Alfond Stadium, presented by the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce. Fans are encouraged to stick around following the game for a fireworks show, presented by Phantom Fireworks.
Tickets are still available and can be purchased
GoBlackBears.com/tickets, by phone at 207.581.BEAR or by visiting the
Alfond Arena Ticket Office during normal operating hours. Tailgate lots will open at 3 p.m. on game day. For more information on tailgating at UMaine, including parking maps, rules and regulations, please click
here.
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ORONO BREWING COMPANY 'FAMILY 4-PACK':
The Black Bears are excited to partner with our friends at Orono Brewing Company to announce a special
Family 4-Pack ticket offer for the 2019-20 athletic season! UMaine Athletics and Orono Brewing Company have joined forces to offer Black Bear fans a Family 4-Pack ticket option to football and men's ice hockey games for the 2019-20 season. This special deal offers families the chance to purchase four tickets to a home UMaine football game for a special price of $44 and four tickets to a UMaine men's ice hockey game for $55! Men's Ice Hockey Family 4-Packs will be available when single-game tickets go on sale on Tuesday, Sept. 3. This special Family 4-Pack also comes with an offer in which fans will receive a special coupon to Orono Brewing Company for a free kids meal with the purchase of an adult meal! Fans can purchase their tickets online at
GoBlackBears.com/tickets, by phone at 207-581-BEAR or in-person at the UMaine athletics box office located at Alfond Arena!
GAME STORYLINES:
- Maine, coming off a CAA title and trip to the NCAA FCS Semifinals, opens its 127th season of football when it hosts Sacred Heart at Alfond Stadium. This marks the second-straight season in which Maine opens on Aug. 30 after a convincing 35-7 victory over New Hampshire in last year's season opener. The Black Bears are 63-57-5 all-time in season openers and will be looking to start the year 1-0 in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2014. Maine has also not opened the season at home in back-to-back years since last doing so in 2010 and 2011.
- The contest with Sacred Heart marks the first-ever meeting between Maine and the Pioneers, of the Northeast Conference (NEC). The Black Bears enter play 12-2 all-time against the NEC with all 14 games coming against Central Connecticut (7-1) and Bryant (5-1).
- Maine looks to run its undefeated streak at Alfond Stadium to six-straight after finishing the 2018 campaign 5-0 at home. Maine has not lost in Orono since Nov. 18, 2017. The Black Bears are also 4-0 in their last four night games (6 p.m. or later).
- A year ago, Maine led all of FCS in rush defense, allowing just 79.2 yards per game. The Black Bears welcome back eight starters from that defense, including the entire defensive line led by preseason All-American, Kayon Whitaker.
- On offense, Maine will be led by three-year starting quarterback Chris Ferguson. In 2018, Ferguson threw for 2,372 yards, good for the ninth most single season passing yards in Maine history. Ferguson welcomes back several offensive weapons, including All-CAA selection Earnest Edwards who led the CAA with 14 total touchdowns in 2018. Maine averaged 26.6 points per game a year ago, its most since 2013.
- Sacred Heart, who finished at 7-4 overall and 5-1 in NEC play to earn a share of the NEC title, return Second Team All-NEC running back Jordan Meachum. Maine's rush defense will be tested early after Meachum rushed for 1,396 yards, second highest total in school history, and 11 touchdowns in 2018.
TALE OF THE TAPE (2018 stats/rankings)
| Maine (CAA rank) |
Category |
Sacred Heart (NEC rank) |
| 26.5 (5) |
Points |
28.1 (4) |
| 349.0 (8) |
Total Offense |
409.5 (3) |
| 134.4 (6) |
Rushing Yards |
241.1 (1) |
| 214.6 (7) |
Passing Yards |
168.5 (7) |
| 31:54 (2) |
Offensive Time of Possession |
29:03 (7) |
| 313.1 (4) |
Total Defense |
336.0 (2) |
| 79.2 (1) |
Rushing Yards Allowed |
187.2 (4) |
| 17/26 |
Rushing TDs/Passing TDs |
26/13 |
| 233.9 (12) |
Passing Yards Allowed |
148.8 (1) |
| 10/28 |
Rushing/Passing TDs Allowed |
18/12 |
| 28:06 |
Defensive Time of Possession |
30:57 |
| +5 (4) |
Turnover Margin |
+2 (2) |
| 23.4 (5) |
Points Allowed |
22.1 (2) |
A UMAINE WIN WOULD...
...Stretch Maine's home win streak to six-straight, it's longest home win streak since winning seven in a row at home (2012-13).
...Be the second-straight year in which Maine got off to a 1-0 start (defeated UNH, 35-7, in 2018).
...Be the first time since 2014 in which Maine has started back-to-back seasons at 1-0.
...Move Maine's record to 8-1 over its last nine outings.
...Be Maine's fourth-straight, victory in a home opener.
...Be Maine's first ever win over Sacred Heart (first meeting).
...Move Maine to 13-2 against NEC member schools.
...Be
Nick Charlton's first win as head coach.
SERIES NOTES:
Maine and Sacred Heart will meet for the first-time in history ... Maine is 12-2 all-time against teams from the Northeast Conference, having gone 5-1 against Bryant and 7-1 against Central Connecticut State ... Counting playoff games, the Black Bears went 3-3 against non-conference opponents last year, 2-2 against FCS non-conference foes ... Last year, Maine went 3-2 against teams in which it was facing for the first time ... Sacred Heart is the only opponent on Maine's schedule this season in which it will be facing for the first-time.
SEASON NOTES:
PRESEASON HONORS
• Maine collected seven CAA preseason all-conference honors -
Earnest Edwards (WR/KR);
Manny Patterson (CB);
Kayon Whitaker (DL);
Taji Lowe (LB);
Liam Dobson (OL) and
Deshawn Stevens (LB).
Chris Ferguson (QB) and
Charles Mitchell (DL) received honorable mentions nods to the CAA preseason all-conference squad.
• Three Black Bears were named STATS FCS Preseason All-Americans -
Manny Patterson (first team);
Kayon Whitaker (second team);
Deshawn Stevens (third team).
•
Manny Patterson was one of 25 players in the nation to be selected to the STATS FCS Buck Buchanan Award Watch List, an award presented to the top defensive player at the FCS level.
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED
• Maine will once again play one of the toughest schedules in the FCS in which it will hit the road for two FBS contests, take on a pair of non-conference opponents who won (Colgate) and shared (Sacred Heart) conference titles in 2018, and play a total of seven road games.
• A tough schedule is nothing new to Maine. In 2018, Maine defeated seven ranked opponents (a school record) all while playing just four regular season games at home.
• Maine also scored its third-ever win over an FBS opponent in 2018, coming back from down 21-0 to defeat Western Kentucky.
HOME WIN STREAK
• Maine enters 2019 riding a five game home win streak. Maine went a perfect 5-0 at Alfond Stadium a year ago, including picking up its first-ever home playoff victory, a 55-27 win over Jacksonville State.
• Maine has not lost in Orono since Nov. 18, 2017 in which they lost on a last-second hail mary to Stony Brook, 20-19.
CAPTAINS
• Following a team vote, the Black Bears elected two juniors and two seniors as the 2019 captains.
Kayon Whitaker (Sr., DE);
Jaquan Blair (Sr., WR);
Chris Ferguson (Jr., QB) and
Deshawn Stevens (Jr., LB) will serve as captains for the 2019 squad.
• After selecting game day captains from 2010-17, the Black Bears elected two captains in 2018 (
Drew Belcher, Jeff DeVaughn).
THE RUSH STOPS HERE - RETURN OF THE BLACK HOLE
• Maine led the nation in rush defense in 2018, allowing just 79.2 rush yards per game - with opponents averaging just 2.4 yards per rush.
• Maine returns eight starters on defense, including all four of its defensive lineman to the 2019 squad.
• Maine has held 13 of its last 16 opponents to 100-yards rushing or fewer. Three of those opponents have been FBS member schools.
• Preseason All-American
Kayon Whitaker,
Charles Mitchell,
Alejandro Oregon and
Jamehl Wiley will be among the best defensive line tandoms in the nation this season. Among the four, they've racked up 294 tackles, 64.5 tackles for loss and 33.5 sacks in their time at Maine.
• At linebacker, Maine returns its top two overall tacklers in
Deshawn Stevens (120) and
Taji Lowe (85). Maine will need to replace All-American
Sterling Sheffield but will look to do so with
Jaron Grayer, who led the team in tackles in 2017.
TAKE IT AWAY
• Maine ranked first in the CAA and third nationally in turnovers gained in 2018 (31).
• Maine checked in first in the CAA and sixth nationally with 18 interceptions.
DEFENSE IN THE BACKFIELD
• Maine currently returns two of the top six CAA sacks leaders (Whitaker, D. Stevens) - each tallying 9.5 and 9.0 sacks respectively in 2018.
• Both players made it a habit to disrupt the oppositions backfield. Whitaker recorded at least a half sack in seven of Maine's contests, including a career-best 3.0 sacks against UAlbany.
• Stevens posted a half sack or more in eight of Maine's outings while racking up an impressive 17.0 tackles for loss, averaging 1.2 TFLs per game to rank fifth best in the CAA.
• In all, Maine featured five players with double-digit TFLs. The Black Bears welcome back four of the five in Whitaker, Stevens, Lowe and Oregon.
BEHIND ENEMY LINES
• Through 14 games in 2018, Maine recorded 47 sacks. Maine led the CAA in total sacks, nine more than second place New Hampshire.
• Maine boasted a season-best 13.0 TFLs in its FCS semifinal win at Weber State. It was the most TFLs in a game for Maine since 2007 (13.0 vs. UNH).
• Maine finished the season ranked first in the CAA and fourth nationally, averaging 3.36 sacks per game.
• The Black Bears ranked sixth in FCS and first in the CAA with 8.4 TFLs per game.
TOP TACKLERS BACK
• The Black Bears welcome back their top two tacklers in
Deshawn Stevens (120) and
Taji Lowe (85) to a veteran defense. In all, Maine will welcome back eight starters to the Black Hole defense.
RUSHING FOR 100+ IS POSITIVE FOR MAINE
 • The Black Bears are 9-1 in their last 10 games when rushing for 100 or more yards.
 • On the flip side, Maine was 8-3 when it allowed less than 100 yards rushing in 2018.
OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION
 • The Black Bears ranked fifth in the CAA in 2018 in scoring offense, averaging 26.5 points per game. The scoring averaged was Maine's highest output since 2013.
 •
Chris Ferguson returns as the third-year starter at quarterback and welcomes back four of his top six weapons including senior
Earnest Edwards who led the team in receptions (53), receiving yards (839) and touchdown receptions (10) in 2018.
FERGUSON MOVING UP ALL-TIME
• Currently, Ferguson ranks 10th on Maine's all-time passing yards list at 4,436. Ferguson stands 57 yards behind Bob Wilder for ninth and 378 behind Dan Collins for eighth.
FERGUSON CAREER YEAR
 •
Chris Ferguson, who begins his third year as the Black Bears started under center, is coming off a career year in 2018. The 2018 campaign saw Ferguson net career highs in completions (209), attempts (371), passing yards (2,372) and touchdowns (22).
• Ferguson's 2,372 pass yards in 2018 ranked ninth on Maine's single-season all-time list.
• In his final performance of the 2018 season, Ferguson threw for a career-best 325 yards in Maine's NCAA semifinal contest at Eastern Washington.
• Ferguson tallied three or more touchdowns in four games, including a career-high five touchdown passes in the NCAA second round meeting with Jacksonville State.
• Over the past two seasons, no one in the CAA has thrown for more total touchdowns (38) than Ferguson.
TOUCHDOWN EDWARDS!
•
Earnest Edwards has tallied at least one touchdown (receiving, rush, return) in six of his last seven outings.
• Over his last six outings, Edwards has tallied two or more touchdowns four times.
EDWARDS MILESTONES - CLIMBING ALL-TIME CHARTS
• Edwards begins the 2019 season closing in on several career milestones. Edwards stands just six receptions away from 100 in his career and 56-yards from 1,600 career receiving yards. He also stands just three touchdown receptions away from 20 in his career.
• Edwards, Maine's all-time leader in career kickoff returns for touchdowns (4), needs just 259 return yards to surpass 2,000 for his career.
• Edwards ranks 14th all-time in receiving yards at Maine (1,544); just 135 behind Landis Williams for 15th.
• Edwards (94 career receptions) ranks 36 receptions behind Kevin McMahan (130) for 13th all-time at Maine.
• Edwards has tallied 24 total touchdowns in his time at Maine; 17 receptions, four kick return and three rushing.
 • Entering 2019, Edwards has two or more receptions in each of his 12 games.
THIRD DOWN DEFENSIVE SUCCESS
• The Black Bears ranked second in the CAA and ninth nationally in third down conversion percentage defense in 2018.
• The Black Bears held their opposition to a slim 28.4 percentage conversion rate on third down a year ago.
OFF TO A QUICK START
• The Black Bears went 7-1 in 2018 when they scored first, outscoring their opponents by a 196-143 margin in the first half.
• Maine provided itself with great momentum heading into the half last year, nearly doubling up its opposition in the second quarter. The Black Bears outscored their opponents 123-67 in the second quarter in 2018.
PUTTING THE GAME AWAY
• Heading into the 2018 season, the Black Bears put their focus on closing games. That focus paid off as the Black Bears finished a perfect 8-0 when leading after three quarters.
WELCOME TO PATTERSON ISLAND
• Preseason All-American, All-Conference and Buck Buchanan Watch List selection
Manny Patterson has tallied 52 career pass deflections while at Maine.
 • Patterson has recorded at least one PBU in 13 of Maine's 14 games including each of the last 10.
 • In 2018, Patterson led the nation in total pass breakups (25) while ranking third nationally and first in the CAA at 1.8 passes defended per game.
PRESEASON POLL/NATIONAL RANKING
• After capturing the outright CAA Championship in 2018, the Black Bears were selected third in the CAA Preseason Poll. Maine received one first place vote in the poll.
• Maine, which finished the 2018 campaign ranked No. 4 in the STATS FCS Poll and No. 5 in the AFCA Coaches Poll, open the season ranked at No. 7 nationally in each poll.
• Maine's CAA preseason ranking is its highest-ever CAA preseason ranking to start a season.
• Maine's No. 4/5 national ranking to close 2018 was the highest it had ever finished a season in the national polls.
NEW STAFF
• After 2018 head coach Joe Harasymiak took an assistant coaching role at Minnesota, former offensive coordinator
Nick Charlton was named head coach of the Black Bears.
• All six of Maine's returning coaches from 2018 have had their role altered from the last season while Maine also welcomes in seven new assistants.
• The newcomers include
Kurt von Bargen (DL);
Makana Garrigan (RB);
Reggie Garrett (CB);
Mikal Myers (OLB);
Mikahael Waters (TE);
Sam Lenson (ST QC) and
Robert Smoloski (Offensive Undergraduate Assistant).
-UMaine-
