Saturday, November 5
Orono, ME
12:00 PM
University of Maine
5-4 , 4-2
7
vs
26
Villanova
7-2 , 5-1
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Villanova | 0 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 26 |
| Maine | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Photo by: Peter Buehner
Football's Win Streak Snapped by Villanova
11/5/2016 3:49:00 PM | Football
Earnest Edwards totals 245-yards of offense, Pat Ricard with 5.0 TFLs
Orono, Maine -- The University of Maine football team's (5-4, 4-2 CAA) five-game win streak came to an end with a 26-7 loss to No. 10 Villanova (7-2, 5-1 CAA) on Saturday afternoon at Alfond Stadium.
Micah Wright matched a season-high with eight catches for a season-best 99-yards receiving. Freshman Earnest Edwards totaled 245-yards of offense including a 97-yard kick return for Maine's lone score. The score was Maine's first on a kick return since Damarr Aultman's in 2013's playoff game against New Hampshire. The 97-yard total was the longest for the Black Bears since Arel Gordan matched the yardage with a kickoff score in 2004.
Dan Collins went 18-for-35 through the air for 235-yards. On the ground, freshman Josh Mack led Maine with 61-yards on 10 carries. The Black Bears yielded 334-yards of offense against Villanova's top-ranked CAA defense.
Defensively, Pat Ricard was a constant in the Villanova backfield as the tackle recorded a career-high 5.0 tackles-for-loss on eight total stops and a blocked PAT. For the fifth time this season, the CAA's second-leading tackler Christophe Mulumba Tshimanga tallied double-digit tackles with 10. Villanova, which came into play averaging 225.1 rush yards per game, were limited to just 94.
Villanova was led by quarterback Zach Bednarczyk who finished 23-for-31 with 326-yards and three touchdowns. Tight end Ryan Bell had two touchdown catches while Jarrett McClenton added six receptions for 91-yards.
It was a defensive battle throughout a scoreless first quarter before the Wildcats struck first with a 42-yard field goal from Gerard Smith.
Villanova took a 10-0 lead with 11-seconds left in the half. The Wildcats took advantage of one of four Maine interceptions, marching 69-yards and ending with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Bednarczyk to Brandon Chadbourn.
The Black Bears came out hot in the second half when Edwards took the opening kickoff 97-yards for Maine's first score of the game. Following Patrick Leonard's point-after, Maine found itself down three, 10-7.
Smith and the Wildcats answered with a 43-yard field goal to extend the Villanova lead out to 13-7. On its next drive, Villanova put together an 11 play, 40-yard drive after forcing a Maine turnover on downs. Bednarczyk's 8-yard pass to Bell put the Wildcats up 19-7 with 3:04 left in the third quarter.
Villanova looked to put the game away, extending its lead to 19 on a 7-yard pass from Bednarczyk's second touchdown pass to Bell.
The Black Bears had once last drive but failed to score, dropping the CAA matchup, 26-7.
Maine is back in action on Nov. 12 for its final regular-season road game when it travels to take on Stony Brook at 2 p.m.
-UMaine-
Micah Wright matched a season-high with eight catches for a season-best 99-yards receiving. Freshman Earnest Edwards totaled 245-yards of offense including a 97-yard kick return for Maine's lone score. The score was Maine's first on a kick return since Damarr Aultman's in 2013's playoff game against New Hampshire. The 97-yard total was the longest for the Black Bears since Arel Gordan matched the yardage with a kickoff score in 2004.
Dan Collins went 18-for-35 through the air for 235-yards. On the ground, freshman Josh Mack led Maine with 61-yards on 10 carries. The Black Bears yielded 334-yards of offense against Villanova's top-ranked CAA defense.
Defensively, Pat Ricard was a constant in the Villanova backfield as the tackle recorded a career-high 5.0 tackles-for-loss on eight total stops and a blocked PAT. For the fifth time this season, the CAA's second-leading tackler Christophe Mulumba Tshimanga tallied double-digit tackles with 10. Villanova, which came into play averaging 225.1 rush yards per game, were limited to just 94.
Villanova was led by quarterback Zach Bednarczyk who finished 23-for-31 with 326-yards and three touchdowns. Tight end Ryan Bell had two touchdown catches while Jarrett McClenton added six receptions for 91-yards.
It was a defensive battle throughout a scoreless first quarter before the Wildcats struck first with a 42-yard field goal from Gerard Smith.
Villanova took a 10-0 lead with 11-seconds left in the half. The Wildcats took advantage of one of four Maine interceptions, marching 69-yards and ending with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Bednarczyk to Brandon Chadbourn.
The Black Bears came out hot in the second half when Edwards took the opening kickoff 97-yards for Maine's first score of the game. Following Patrick Leonard's point-after, Maine found itself down three, 10-7.
Smith and the Wildcats answered with a 43-yard field goal to extend the Villanova lead out to 13-7. On its next drive, Villanova put together an 11 play, 40-yard drive after forcing a Maine turnover on downs. Bednarczyk's 8-yard pass to Bell put the Wildcats up 19-7 with 3:04 left in the third quarter.
Villanova looked to put the game away, extending its lead to 19 on a 7-yard pass from Bednarczyk's second touchdown pass to Bell.
The Black Bears had once last drive but failed to score, dropping the CAA matchup, 26-7.
Maine is back in action on Nov. 12 for its final regular-season road game when it travels to take on Stony Brook at 2 p.m.
-UMaine-
Players Mentioned
Quarterback
/ Football
Wide Receiver
/ Football
Kicker/Punter
/ Football
Linebacker
/ Football
Wide Receiver
/ FootballTeam Stats
VU
MAINE
Total Yards
420
334
Pass Yards
326
235
Rushing Yards
94
99
Penalty Yards
0
50
1st Downs
21
19
3rd Downs
6
4
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
34:02
25:58
2nd Quarter
VU 3, MAINE 0
VU - Smith, G. 42 yd field goal 8 plays, 62 yards, TOP 3:19
VU 10, MAINE 0
VU - Chadbourn, B. 17 yd pass from Bednarczyk, Z. (Smith, G. kick) 6 plays, 69 yards, TOP 1:54
3rd Quarter
VU 10, MAINE 7
MAINE - Edwards, Earnes 97 yd kickoff return (Leonard, Patric kick)
VU 13, MAINE 7
VU - Smith, G. 43 yd field goal 7 plays, 26 yards, TOP 3:11
VU 19, MAINE 7
VU - Bell, R. 8 yd pass from Bednarczyk, Z. (Smith, G. kickblocked) 8 plays, 79 yards, TOP 3:26
4th Quarter
VU 26, MAINE 7
VU - Bell, R. 7 yd pass from Bednarczyk, Z. (Smith, G. kick) 9 plays, 55 yards, TOP 4:07
Game Leaders
CMP
18
TD
0
YDS
235
INT
4
Monday, April 27
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