Orono, Maine -- The University of Maine football team looks for its fourth-straight victory when it travels to Portland's Fitzpatrick Stadium to meet Delaware on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 2 p.m., presented by Gorham Savings Bank. The trip will mark the Black Bears' first contest in Portland since 2005.
 

UMaine vs. Delaware | Nov. 4 | 2 p.m. | Fitzpatrick Stadium

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• Tickets - Tickets for Saturday's contest can be purchased at GoBlackBears.com or by phone at 207.581.BEAR. The ticket windows at Fitzpatrick Stadium will open at 9 a.m. on game day. Tickets for Maine's game in Portland are $10 in advance or $15 on game day.
• Watch - Saturday's game will be featured nationally as part of the Colonial Athletic Association's CBS Sports Digital Game of the Week. The contest will be available for freeon College Sports Live online and on the College Sports Live mobile app.
• 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 streamed live at GoBlackBears.com.
• Live Stats - Fans can follow along to live, up to the second stat updates throughout the game, provided by StatBroadcast at GoBlackBears.com.
• Social Media - Follow @BlackBearsFB on Twitter for all in-game social media photos and updates!
• Tailgate Information - Tailgating will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis outside of Fitzpatrick Stadium. For more information, please click here.

Game Storylines:

• The University of Maine football team returns to Portland's Fitzpatrick Stadium for the first time since 2005 as it hosts Delaware in CAA action, presented by Gorham Savings Bank.
• Maine and Delaware will meet for the 35th time. The Blue Hens hols a 23-11 record in the all-time series. However, Maine has won each of the last four meetings and six of the last eight contests. A year ago, the Black Bears defeated Delaware by a score of 28-21 thanks to Austin Brown's scoop and score off a Blue Hen fumble with just 56-seconds remaining.
• Delaware recently had its three-game win streak snapped when it dropped an 18-17 decision last weekend at Towson. The Blue Hens held a 17-11 lead late in the fourth but a Towson touchdown pass with 35-seconds to go sealed the win for the Tigers. Delaware enters play 1-2 on the road this season.
• The Black Bears will be making their 16th appearance for a regular season game in Portland, Maine, and their first since defeating UAlbany 31-7 back on Oct. 1, 2005. Maine, which has won five-straight in Portland, first competed in the Southern Maine city back on Oct. 20, 1906 when it tied Holy Cross, 0-0. Maine is 7-7-1 all-time in Portland.
• The Black Bears, who have now won three in a row, are coming off a 23-6 win against William & Mary. Maine put together a tremendous defensive effort, only allowing 199 total yards. The Black Hole defense has not allowed an offensive touchdown over the last eight quarters.
• Saturday's showdown will be a meeting between two of the top rushing offenses in the CAA. Delaware ranks second in the league at 191.9 rush yards per game while the Black Bears' Josh Mack is the nation's leading rusher at the FCS level (979-yards, 139.9 yards per game).
• Maine's pass defense ranks second in the CAA, allowing 183.4 yards per game while Delaware ranks last in the league in pass offense (117.6).

A UMaine Win Would...

• ...Be Maine's 12th win over Delaware.
• ...Be Maine's fourth-straight win.
• ...Be Maine's fifth-straight win over Delaware.
• ...Be Maine's first win in Portland since 2005 (Albany, 31-7).
• ...Be Maine's eighth all-time win in Portland.
• ...Be Maine's sixth-straight win in Portland.
• ...Be Maine's sixth home win over Delaware.
• ...Be Maine's third-straight win over Delaware in Maine.

Series Notes:

Maine and Delaware will be meeting for the 35th time in history, and the first time in Portland ... Delaware holds a 23-11 advantage in the all-time series ... Maine has won each of the last four meetings, including a 28-21 victory a year ago in Delaware ... In the win, Austin Brown's scoop and score off a Delaware fumble with 56-seconds remaining lifted the Black Bears to the victory ... Maine has won each of the last two meetings in Maine ... The Black Bears are 5-8 in home games against Delaware ... In the last meeting held in Maine, the Black Bears routed Delaware 62-28 in 2013 on their way to the 2013 CAA Championship ... The teams first met in 1972, a 62-0 win by the Blue Hens in Delaware ... Delaware won the first 10 meetings ... Maine has won six of the last eight.

Bear Tracks:

• Sophomore running back Josh Mack, who has rushed for 100+ yards in five of Maine's seven games, currently leads the country at 139.9 rush yards per game and in total rush yards (979). Mack has been named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List, presented to the top offensive player in FCS football. Mack, averaging a CAA best 5.83 yards per carry, 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 again eclipsed the 200+ yard mark with 248 rush yards against URI - becoming just the second Black Bear since 1989 (Carl Smith) to rush for 200+ twice in a single season. Mack has now rushed for 100+ eight times in his career.
• Third Down Defense: Maine's third down defense currently ranks first in the CAA and third in the nation, allowing a slim 26.1 conversion percentage to opponents. Over the past two weeks, Maine's defense has held opponents to a 4-for-28 (14.3%) conversion rate on third down.
• 'Black Hole' - Maine's defense has not allowed an offensive touchdown over the last eight quarters. Over that span, Maine is allowing just 230.5 total yards of offense.
• Kayon Whitaker has made his presence known in the oppositions backfield over the past few weeks. Whitaker, who leads Maine and ranks sixth in the CAA with 5.5 sacks, has recorded 5.0 sacks over the last four games, including a pair of 2.0 sack performances.
• Brandon Briggs - Kicking: Brandon Briggs, who was named CAA Special Teams Player of the Week on Oct. 30, currently ranks first in the CAA and fourth nationally with a 87.5% field goal rate. Briggs hit a career-high 43-yarder as part of a three field goal performance on Oct. 28 against William & Mary.
• Redshirt freshman linebacker Jaron Grayer, who leads all CAA freshmen in tackles and was recently named to the Jerry Rice Award watch list, 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 before adding 11 tackles at Villanova and a career-high 12 stops against William & Mary. Grayer currently ranks eighth in the CAA with 7.8 tackles per game.
• Sacks: The Black Bears' offensive line have provided incredible production thus far. Maine has allowed just 13 sacks all season, tops in the CAA. On the flip-side, the Black Hole defense ranks third in the CAA and 12th nationally with 3.14 sacks per game.
• Special Teams: The return game, which was a highlight for Maine in 2016, has picked up right where it left off. The Black Bears returned all five of their return weapons (DeVaughn, Edwards, Scott, Mack, Wright) to a unit which currently ranks fourth in the CAA in kickoff return at 22.3 yards per return. On the punt side, Maine is 13th in the country and tops in the CAA, averaging 13.6 yards per return. Defensively, the Black Bears lead the nation in punt return defense, allowing just 1.54 yards per return.
• 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 before tossing five touchdowns against Rhode Island. Ferguson is just the third UMaine QB since the start of the 1999 season to throw for 5+ TDs in a game. With a career-high 263-yards against UAlbany, Ferguson surpassed 1,000-yards throwing for the season.
• Take Aways: On Sept. 9, the Black Bears forced an impressive eight turnovers (five interceptions, three fumble recoveries) in a win over Bryant.
• Sterling Sheffield enters the game against with a tackle for loss in each of his last 10 games, dating back to 2016. In his last 10 outings, Sheffield has totaled 16.0 TFLs.
• Sophomore RB Josh Mack is 309 rush yards from 1,500 in his career and 21 from 1,000 this season.
• Freshman Earnest Edwards enters action 461 receiving yards from 1,000 in his career.
• Senior WR Jared Osumah, who pulled down his 50th career reception at UNH, is 186 receiving yards from 1,000. Osumah stands 28 receptions from 100.
• Senior WR Jaleel Reed is 224 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 38 tackles away from 150.
• Redshirt junior safety Darrius Hart stands 13 tackles from 100 in his time at Maine.
• Senior safety Jason Matovu is Maine's active leader in tackles (131).
• Manny Patterson, who notched a career-best five pass breakups at UAlbany, currently ranks ninth in the nation with 1.6 pass breakups per game.
• Senior right guard Isaiah Brooks is Maine's active leader in games played at 40, starting all 40 he's appeared in. Jamil Demby ranks second on the active games played list for Maine (36).

-UMaine-