Orono, Maine -- The University of Maine football team (1-2, 0-2 CAA) looks for its first win in league play as it travels to meet No. 12/15 Villanova (3-2, 1-1) in the CAA Game of the Week at Villanova Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 1:05 p.m. live on CBSi/College Sports Live.  

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Follow The Black Bears:

• Watch - Saturday's game will be streamed live on CBSi/College Sports Live as part of the CAA Game of the Week package.
• Listen - The game will be carried by the Black Bears Sports Network radio affiliates through the state of Maine. Fans can tune in at 103.9 FM, 101.3 FM, 1450 AM, 1310 AM and live at GoBlackBears.com.
• Live Stats - Fans can follow along to live, up to the second stat updates throughout the game, provided by GameTracker at GoBlackBears.com.
• Social Media - Follow @BlackBearsFB on Twitter for all in-game social media photos and updates!

Game Storylines:

• Maine travels to Villanova for its second-straight CAA road contest following its second bye week of the year, due to the cancellation of the UCF game. The Black Bears are coming off a 28-10 loss at JMU, a game in which Maine led 10-7 early in the third quarter as it was able to limit the high-powered JMU offense to just seven first half points. Josh Mack rushed for 144-yards in the loss, marking the third-straight game in which the sophomore has eclipsed the 100-yard mark on the ground.
• Saturday's showdown at Villanova will be the 21st meeting in a series which the Wildcats lead, 11-9. Villanova has won each of the last three meetings, including a 26-7 victory a year ago in Orono. The Black Bears last traveled to Villanova in 2015, a game won by the Wildcats by a score of 13-3. Maine's last win in the series came at Villanova, a thrilling 37-35 win as part of Maine's 2013 CAA Championship season. The Black Bears enter action 4-6 all-time in games played at Villanova.
• A key to watch will be Josh Mack, the CAA leader in rush yards per game (167.3) going up against Villanova's top-ranked rush defense which is allowing 56.8 yards per game.
• Villanova, which has began the season playing four of its first five games on the road, is coming off a 24-9 league win at Towson. In its only home game of the season, Villanova blanked Lafayette, 59-0.
• The Black Bears, who went a perfect 4-0 in CAA road games a year ago, will be looking to pick up their first road win as the game at Villanova will mark the third-straight CAA road game for Maine to begin the season.

A UMaine win would...

• ...Be Maine's 10th against Villanova.
• ...Snap a three-game losing skid to Villanova.
• ...Be Maine's first win over a ranked team since defeating No. 17 UAlbany, 20-16, on Oct. 15, 2016
• ...Be Maine's highest ranked win since it knocked off No. 8 Richmond, 33-20, on Nov. 8, 2014
• ...Be Maine's first road win over a ranked opponent since defeating No. 18 Villanova on the road, 37-35, in 2013.
• ...Be Maine's first win at Villanova since 2013 (37-35).
• ...Be Maine's first win over Villanova since 2013.
• ...Be Maine's fifth road win at Villanova.
• ...Be Maine's first CAA win of the season.
• ...Be Maine's first road win of the season.

Series Notes:
Maine and Villanova will be meeting for the 21st time in history and the 11th time in Villanova ... The Black Bears are 9-11 all-time against Villanova and 4-6 all-time on the road ... Maine's last win in the series came in 2013 on the road, a 37-35 overtime win over then No. 18 ranked Villanova ... The win marked the last time Maine has defeated a ranked opponent on the road ... Villanova has won each of the last three meetings ... Maine has won two of the last three meetings at Villanova ... Maine put together a four-game win streak in the series from 2001-2006 ... Five of the last eight meetings have been decided by 15 or more points ... Only six of the 20 meetings have been decided by 10 or fewer points.

Bear Tracks:

• Redshirt freshman QB Chris Ferguson made his career debut in Maine's opener at UNH. Ferguson tossed three touchdown passes in the 24-23 loss, becoming the first player since Ron Whitcomb (2003) to throw for 3+ touchdowns as a freshman. Ferguson matched the feat with three more TDs in his second career game, against Bryant.
• Sophomore running back Josh Mack currently leads the country in rush yards per game (167.3) and had a historic performance against Bryant earlier this season. In that game, Mack rushed for 255-yards becoming just the second Black Bear ever to rush for more than 250+ in a game, and the first to go over 200 since Marcus Williams (246 yds) in 2003. Mack is the nation's leader in all purpose yards per game (187.7). His 502 total rush yards is seventh most in the country and second in the league, despite only playing in three games. Mack has now rushed for 100+ six times in his career and in each of Maine's first three games of 2017.
• Third Down Defense: The Black Hole defense has held its ground on third down as it ranks 20th in the country and first in the CAA, allowing a slim 31.0% conversion rate to opponents facing third down.
• Kickoff Return: The return game, which was a highlight for Maine in 2016, has picked up right where it left off. The Black Bears returned all four of their kickoff return weapons (DeVaughn, Edwards, Scott, Mack) to a unit which currently ranks first in the CAA at 24.1 yards per return. Individually, Edwards is the CAA's top returner and ranks eighth nationally at 28.3 yards per return.
• Electric Earnest: During his true freshman campaign, Earnest Edwards rushed for a score, caught a score, threw for a score and returned a kickoff for a score. Edwards was the only Division-I player to score a touchdown four different ways (rush, reception, pass, kick return) during the 2016 season. His 97-yards kickoff return for a score was Maine's longest kickoff return touchdown since 2004. Edwards set a career-high with two TD receptions in 2017 against Bryant.
• Take Aways: The Black Bears currently rank third in the nation in turnover margin at +7. Highlighting the stat was Maine's eight take away performance (five interceptions, three fumble recoveries) against Bryant.
• Sterling Sheffield enters the game against with a tackle for loss in each of his last six games, dating back to 2016. In his last six outings, Sheffield has totaled 11.0 TFLs. Sheffield is currently second in the CAA in TFLs per game (1.5).
• Redshirt freshman linebacker Jaron Grayer has burst onto the scene for Maine. After leading the Black Bears with 10 tackles in his first career game, Grayer followed up with 3.0 TFLs, including a sack, and a forced fumble against Bryant. Grayer currently ranks 10th in the CAA with 8.3 tackles per game.
• Sophomore RB Josh Mack is 286 rush yards from 1,500 in his career.
• Senior RB Nigel Beckford stands 408 rush yards from 1,500 for his career.
• Freshman Earnest Edwards enters action 75 receiving yards from 500 in his career.
• Senior WR Jared Osumah, who pulled down his 50th career reception at UNH, is 321 receiving yards from 1,000. Osumah stands 39 receptions from 100.
• Senior WR Jaleel Reed is 472 receiving yard away from 1,000 for his career.
• Preseason all-conference corner Najee Goode recorded his 100th career tackle in Maine's opener at UNH. Goode is now 41 tackles away from 150.
• Redshirt junior safety Darrius Hart stands 26 tackles from 100 in his time at Maine. Hart has a pick in two of Maine's first three games.
• Senior safety Jason Matovu is Maine's active leader in tackles (126).
• All-Conference selection Sterling Sheffield is the veteran at linebacker for Maine. A three-year starter, he has appeared in 24 games over his first three seasons and recently record the 100th tackle of his career (at JMU). Sheffield will lead a team of two first-year starters at linebacker in Taji Lowe and Jaron Grayer.
• Senior right guard Isaiah Brooks is Maine's active leader in games played at 35, starting all 35 he's appeared in. Jamil Demby and Najee Goode, rank second on the active games played list for Maine (33).

-UMaine-