Box Score Orono, Maine -- First-year head coach Joe Harasymiak and the University of Maine football team carried a 20-17 lead into the fourth quarter against No. 11/7 James Madison but could not hold on, falling to the Dukes, 31-20, in the home opener for the Black Bears on Saturday.

In front of a crowd of 8,786, Maine's largest since 2004, the Black Bears held James Madison's second-ranked scoring offense to just 14 first half points. Individually, the Black Bears recorded their first rushing touchdown of the year as Darian Davis-Ray led the ground attack with 47-yards and a score. Micah Wright returned to the field, pulling down three catches for a team-high 84-yards while Dan Collins went 13-for-22 through the air for 238-yards.

Defensively, Maine was led by Christophe Mulumba Tshimanga who notched his third-straight double-digit tackling performance with 14 tackles, including a pair of sacks. Sterling Sheffield added nine stops and a sack while DeAndre Scott and Austin Brown each made seven tackles. Darrius Hart recorded his first career interception and Najee Goode added three pass breakups.

Overall, James Madison outgained Maine 430-341, with 293 of the Dukes' yards coming on the ground. Khalid Abdullah paced the ground game for James Madision with 172-yards and two scores on 22 carries while Cardon Johnson chipped in 110-yards and a touchdown on 13 rushes.

James Madison marched down the field on the opening possession, completing an eight play, 69-yard drive with a 3-yard rushing score from Abdullah.

Maine scored early in the second when Collins' 36-yard pass to Davis-Ray setup a 23-yard rushing score on a reverse from true freshman Earnest Edwards. The touchdown marked the first of Edwards' career. The Black Bears' two-point conversion fell just short of the goal-line, keeping JMU on top by one.

The Dukes tacked on a 31-yard field goal from Tyler Gray before Maine snatched its first lead of the game.

Collins hit Wright for a 40-yard pass and catch down the sideline on first down before a 22-yard reception by Nigel Beckford set Maine up at the JMU 22. Four plays later, Beckford bounced in from 2-yards out, putting the Black Bears up, 13-10, at the half.

The Dukes took advantage of an interception by Collins on the first play of the second half, turning the Maine mishap into an 85-yard rushing score from Abdullah.

Maine regrouped and responded on its next possession. Davis-Ray's carries of 17 and nine yards brought Maine into JMU territory before the sophomore back leaped over the line and into the endzone for a 3-yard score; the first of his career. The third quarter touchdown gave Maine a 20-17 lead, one it would carry into the fourth quarter.

However, the Black Bears could not hold on, surrendering a pair of fourth quarter scores to the Dukes and ultimately dropping their home opener, 31-20.

Maine is back in action at Alfond Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 1 when they step out of CAA play and host Bryant at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are available at GoBlackBears.com or by calling 207.581.BEAR!

-UMaine-