ORONO, Maine -- The No. 24 University of Maine football team (5-3, 4-1 CAA) improved to 3-0 this season at Alfond Stadium with a 28-9 win over UAlbany (2-6, 0-5) on Homecoming weekend in front of 9,248 fans on Saturday afternoon.

Maine, which entered the weekend with the top rushing defense in all of Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), limited UAlbany to just 113 total yards, including 51-yards of rush offense. The rush yardage marked Maine's 10th consecutive game in which it limited the opponent to 100 or fewer rush yards. The 'Black Hole' was able to limit UAlbany to just seven total yards in the first half on 26 plays.

Deshawn Stevens led the defensive charge with eight tackles, including a sack, while Darrius Hart added seven stops and his eighth career interception. Kayon Whitaker continued to be a force in the backfield, tallying 2.5 sacks and seven total stops while Sterling Sheffield tacked on a six tackles and his CAA leading 8.5 sack.

The Black Bears tallied 360-yards of offense with a balanced rush (111) and pass attack (249). Chris Ferguson finished the afternoon 22-for-32 with 249-yards and two scores, one on the ground, with his lead target being Earnest Edwards who racked up six catches for 114-yards and a touchdown. Ramon Jefferson led the charge on the ground with career-highs in carries (19), rush yards (93) and his second rushing score in as many weeks.

How it happened:

1Q | For the second-straight week, the Black Bears were able to score a touchdown on the first snap of the game. Ferguson found Edwards in transition down the middle of the field. Edwards hauled in the ball near midfield and sprinted into the end zone for a 77-yard touchdown. The score came a week after the duo hooked up for nine catches and 196-yards.

1Q | The Black Bears' offense regained possession quickly after the touchdown when Darrius Hart picked off Vincent Testaverde at the Maine 15. The pick was Hart's eighth of his career and second of the season.

1Q | Maine added to its lead with its second touchdown of the first quarter, this one coming with 4:34 left in the period. Ramon Jefferson's 23-yards of rushing carried Maine down to the UAlbany 29. Facing third and four, Ferguson found Belcher for a seven-yard gain before hitting Andre Miller for a gain of 15 to the one. Ferguson crossed the goal line on a quarterback sneak, giving the Black Bears an early 14-0 edge.

2Q | The Black Bears took a convincing 21-0 lead late in the second quarter when Jefferson completed an eight play, 51-yard drive with a 6-yard rushing score. Jefferson totaled all 51-yards on the drive as the freshman bounced in for his second score in as many weeks.

2Q | Maine's defense forced a quick three-and-out on the ensuing Great Danes' possession, returning the ball back to the Black Bears with 41-seconds remaining in the half. Ferguson hit Edwards for 11 to start the drive before manuvering the offense down to the UAlbany 29 with three seconds on the clock. Kenny Doak came on to attempt a 46 yard field goal but missed wide left. However, the Black Bears entered the half with a 21-0 advantage.

3Q | UAlbany was first on the scoreboard in the second half as the Great Danes took advantage of an interception. Following the pick, UAlbany began in great field position at the Maine 40. Brunson's pass to Dev Holmes for a gain of 12 brought the Great Danes to the Maine 6. The Black Hole tackled Karl Mofor for a loss of six before Kayon Whitaker's sack backed UAlbany up to the 21. Ethan Stark came on to hit a 38-yard field goal, cutting the deficit to 21-3.

3Q | UAlbany forced a Maine punt on the next Black Bear possession and took over at the Great Dane 25. UAlbany strung together a lengthy drive, spanning 5:06 as it marched down to the Maine 6 where it was faced with a 4th and 1. The Great Dane offense stayed on the field as Brunson handed it to Mofor who was stuffed by Andrew Stevens and Whitaker for no gain, turning the ball back over to the Black Bears.

4Q | A three-and-out followed for Maine. UAlbany took over at the Maine 43 with 14:51 left in the third period. A penalty heavy drive led the Great Danes down to the Maine 14 where Jeff Undercuffler hit Jerah Reeves for a 14-yard score. Dev Holmes' two-point conversion try failed as the Black Bears held on to a 21-9 lead.

4Q | The Black Bears had the answer, responding with an eight play, 70-yard drive for a score. The drive, which began from the Maine 30, started with an 11-yard carry from Jefferson. A 33-yard strike from Ferguson to Miller landed Maine at the UAlbany 23. Another reception by Miller, this time for 16, carried Maine to the Great Danes' 10. Two plays later, Ferguson pitched the ball to Drew Belcher who found Julian Dunn for a 5-yard touchdown. The score, Dunn's first of his career, lifted Maine to a 28-9 advantage.

The Black Bears are back in action on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 4 p.m. when they travel to Towson to take on the nationally ranked Tigers in a battle between two teams with 4-1 CAA records. The game will be carried on NBC Sports Washington.

-UMaine-