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University of Maine Athletics

Maine
Reed_TD
Peter Buehner
27
Rhode Island URI 1-5 , 0-3
51
Winner Maine MAINE 2-3 , 1-3
Rhode Island URI
1-5 , 0-3
27
Final
51
Maine MAINE
2-3 , 1-3
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
URI Rhode Island 14 7 0 6 27
MAINE Maine 7 16 28 0 51

Game Recap: Football |

Football Downs Rhode Island, 51-27, For First CAA Victory

Black Bears pick up 533 total yards, 319 on the ground

Orono, Maine -- The University of Maine football team used explosive plays on offense and key plays when they were needed on defense and special teams for an exciting 51-27 victory over Rhode Island on Saturday afternoon in front of a rowdy homecoming crowd at Morse Field.

The Black Bear offense finished the day with over 500 total yards, including 319 rush yards, marking the second-time this season Maine has bested 500 yards and 300 on the ground.

Chris Ferguson threw five touchdown passes, finishing 18-of-26 for 214-yards. Three of Ferguson's touchdown passes went to Jaleel Reed as the senior receiver finished the day with five receptions for 123-yards.

On the ground, Mack went over the 200-yard mark for the second-time this season as the CAA's leading rusher finished with 248-yards and a score on 30 carries. Micah Wright's electrifying 77-yard punt return for a score added to the impressive day for the Black Bears.

Defensively, the Black Hole forced three Rhode Island turnovers as Sterling Sheffield and Najee Goode each nabbed an interception while Kayon Whitaker recorded a strip sack and recovered the fumble. Sheffield and Jaron Grayer each tallied nine tackles.

On the opening drive, Rhode Island did something it had not done all season long and put together a scoring drive that finished with a 16 yard touchdown run from T.J. Anderson.

It seemed the Rams defense would preserve the early lead by forcing a four-and-out, but UMaine got a break when the visitors were called for a roughing the kicker and the hosts got a new set of downs at the 46-yard line. Ferguson made Rhode Island pay immediately, hitting Reed with a throw down the left sideline for a 54-yard touchdown.

The game then went the way of a seesaw battle, as the Rams took used a pass-heavy drive that culminated in a 14-yard touchdown pass and a drive later was marching towards the endzone once again before Goode intercepted a pass; the fifth of his career.

Brandon Briggs converted a 21-yard field goal to cut the deficit to four but Rhode Island then took just five plays to find the endzone again when Aaron Parker hauled in a 44-yard touchdown pass.

Faced with a 21-10 deficit, Earnest Edwards reset the tone when he returned the ensuing kickoff 27-yards to give the Black Bears favorable field position at their own 34. Mack had a 23-yard outburst and then the Black Bears got their first taste of the red zone after completions of nine and seven yards from Ferguson, and an eight yard rush from Edwards. Jared Osumah hauled in a toss from Ferguson and scampered into the left corner of the endzone to make it a 21-17 game.

The up-tempo play continued on the defensive side of the ball as Charles Mitchell sacked JaJuan Lawson on the first play of the next drive and then the Black Bears forced a punt that would turn the tide.

With 1:20 to play until halftime and faced with a 21-17 deficit, a clutch 77-yard punt return from Wright - fielding the ball amongst crashing defenders and then dancing past two defenders and racing his way up the middle of the field and past the punter - sent the Black Bears into the break with a 23-21 lead and an overwhelming edge in momentum.

The Black Bears had finally found their legs, as Mack gashed the Rams on UMaine's opening drive of the second half, opening up with a 37 yard scamper before going for seven, 12 and then a 16-yard scoring rush up the left flank.

The UMaine defense forced a punt and the offense then put together a 12-play, 83-yard drive that took 6:26 off the clock. Ferguson capped off the drive with an eight-yard floater over a defender's head to Reed in the northeast corner of the endzone. Kayon Whitaker then contributed a forced fumble and subsequent recovery to put the Black Bears at the Rhode Island 12 -- and Ferguson made them pay when he found Edwards over the middle for a 44-21 lead with 2:46 to play in the third quarter.

Thirty-six seconds later, after the defense forced a quick Rhode Island punt, a 42-yard connection between Ferguson and Reed off a flea-flicker plus a field goal from Briggs extended Maine's lead to 51-21.

Rhode Island was able to find the endzone one last time when Lawson hit Marven Beauvais for a 6-yard score.

However, the Black Bears were able to run the clock out, capturing the 51-27 league victory.

Maine looks to make it two in a row in CAA action when they travel to meet UAlbany on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 3:30 p.m.


-UMaine-

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