Orono, Maine -- The No. 7 seeded University of Maine Black Bears make their eighth NCAA playoff appearance, and first since 2013, when they host No. 8/9 Jacksonville State in an NCAA FCS Second Round matchup at Alfond Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 1 at noon.
Tickets for the Second Round game may be purchased atÂ
GoBlackBears.com/tickets, by phone at 207.581.BEAR or by visiting theÂ
Alfond Arena Box Office during normal operating hours.
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GAME STORYLINES:
- Maine and Jacksonville State will meet for the first-time in history. The match-up also marks Maine's first-ever meeting with an opponent out of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC). The Black Bears will be hosting their second-ever home playoff game, with the last coming in a 2013 Second Round loss to New Hampshire.
- Maine, which earned the No. 7 seed and a bye through the First Round, captured the CAA Outright Title after defeating Elon, 27-26, in the final weekend of the regular season. The championship marked Maine's 13th conference dating back to 1949. The win, Maine's fifth over a ranked opponent this season, lifted the Black Bears to a perfect 4-0 mark at home.
- Jacksonville State, making its sixth straight appearance in the FCS playoffs, earned the Ohio Valley Conference's automatic bid after capturing the league's title with a 7-1 mark in league play. In the First Round, the Gamecocks defeated East Tennessee State, 34-27, behind 421-yards of offense and three touchdown receptions from Shaq Davidson. The Gamecocks, who trailed by 10 at the half, outscored ETSU 24-7 over the final 30-minutes.
- The Black Bears, led by CAA Coach of the Year Joe Harasymiak, continue to impress on the defensive side of the ball. Maine ranks second in FCS in rush defense (73.4 ypg) and fourth in total defense (278.8); both tops among CAA leaders.
- The Gamecocks boast an impressive offense led by quarterback Zerrick Cooper who has thrown for 3,051 yards and 30 touchdowns; 17 of which have gone to Josh Pearson, the nation's leader in touchdown receptions. JSU ranks sixth in FCS in total offense, averaging 499.0 yards per game. JSU's defense checks in 13th nationally, allowing 301.7 yards per game.
TALE OF THE TAPE
| Maine (CAA rank) |
Category |
Jacksonville St. (OVC rank) |
| 24.9 (6) |
Points |
41.1 (1) |
| 335.8 (8) |
Total Offense |
499.0 (1) |
| 122.1 (6) |
Rushing Yards |
209.5 (2) |
| 213.7 (7) |
Passing Yards |
289.5 (2) |
| 31:33 (3) |
Offensive Time of Possession |
32:19 (2) |
| 278.8 (1) |
Total Defense |
301.7 (1) |
| 73.4 (1) |
Rushing Yards Allowed |
117.4 (1) |
| 12/18 |
Rushing TDs/Passing TDs |
28/35 |
| 205.5 (9) |
Passing Yards Allowed |
184.2 (1) |
| 9/17 |
Rushing/Passing TDs Allowed |
12/17 |
| 28:27 |
Defensive Time of Possession |
27:41 |
| +3 (4) |
Turnover Margin |
-5 (5) |
| 21.1 (3) |
Points Allowed |
22.3 (1) |
A UMAINE WIN WOULD...
...Be Maine's first NCAA FCS Playoff victory since 2011.
...Be Maine's fourth all-time NCAA FCS Playoff victory - (3-7)
...Advance Maine to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2011.
...Be Maine's first-ever home NCAA FCS Playoff victory.
...Be Maine's ninth overall win, its most since 2013 (10).
...Be Maine's first-ever win over Jacksonville St. (First meeting)
...Be Maine's sixth win over a ranked opponent this season (5-0).
...Move Maine to 5-0 at home this season.
...Be Maine's 5th-straight victory, matching its longest win streak since 2016 (5).
...Be Maine's first win over a team from the Ohio Valley Conference (Maine has never played a team from the OVC).
SERIES NOTES:
Maine and Jacksonville State will meet for the first time. The Black Bears also have never matched up against a team from the Ohio Valley Conference. Maine is 3-7 all-time in NCAA FCS Playoff games. The Black Bears last appeared in the postseason in 2013, falling to New Hampshire by a final of 41-27 in a second round matchup. Maine will be playing just its second-ever home playoff game, the first being the 2013 meeting with New Hampshire. Maine will be looking to advance to the FCS quarterfinals for the first time since 2011, and the fourth time in history. Maine last postseason win came in 2011 when it went on the road to defeat Appalachian State, 34-12, in a first round matchup. Maine first-ever postseason win came in 2001, a 14-10 win at McNeese State. Maine has made postseason appearances in 1987, 1989, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2011, 2013 and 2018.
SEASON NOTES:
Racking up the awards
• Maine has received several postseason accolades.
•
Earnest Edwards (KR),
Kayon Whitaker (DL),
Sterling Sheffield (LB) and
Manny Patterson (CB) were named to the All-CAA first team.
• Edwards (WR),
Drew Belcher (TE),
Liam Dobson (OL),
Charles Mitchell (DL),
Deshawn Stevens (LB) and
Mozai Nelson (Specialst) were named to the All-CAA second team.
•
Micah Wright and
Cody Levy were named to the All-CAA third team.
• Edwards (KR), Patterson (CB) and Sheffield (LB) were named to the Division-I All-New England Team.
• Coach Harasymiak was named the CAA Coach of the Year, the New England Football Writers' Association Jack Grinold Coach of the Year, and a finalist for the STATS FCS Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year
•
Sterling Sheffield was named a finalist for the STATS FCS Buck Buchanan Award, presented to the top defensive player in FCS.
• Def. Coordinator
Corey Hetherman was named the Gridiron Club of Boston Assistant Coach of the Year.
Back on top of the CAA
• For the first-time since 2013, Maine captured the outright CAA title. The title was Maine's 13th overall conference title, dating back to 1949.
• Maine received the automatic bid into the NCAA FCS Playoffs. The Black Bears, seeded No. 7 in the playoffs, are making their eighth NCAA playoff appearance.
The rush stops here
• Maine's defensive goals begin with stopping the run, and the Black Bears have surely done that in their first 11 outings. Maine ranks second in FCS and first in the CAA in rush defense (73.4).
• The Black Bears have allowed just 807-yards of rushing on 366 attempts. Maine's opponents are averaging just 2.2 yards per attempt which leads all of FCS.
• Maine has held 11 of its last 13 opponents to 100-yards rushing or fewer. The streak of 10-straight was broke at Towson (156 yds). Three of those opponents have been FBS member schools.
• In total defense, Maine checks in first in the CAA and fourth nationally, allowing just 278.8 yards per game.
Defense in the Backfield
• Maine currently boasts three of the eight CAA sacks leaders (Sheffield, Whitaker, D. Stevens).
•
Sterling Sheffield currently ranks third in the CAA in total sacks (8.5), sacks per game (0.77) and is sixth in total TFLs (13.5) and TFLs per game (1.23). He is tied for 27th in the league in tackles per game (6.3). Sheffield is 18th in all of FCS with 0.77 sacks per game.
•
Deshawn Stevens has been equally as impressive in the offensive backfield. Stevens ranks fifth in the CAA in sacks per game (0.73) and is tied for third in the CAA in TFLs per game (1.27). His 14.0 TFLs rank second best in the CAA. Stevens is tied for third in the CAA in total tackles (93) and fifth in total sacks (8.0)
• Joining the duo in the backfield is
Kayon Whitaker who currently ranks eighth in the league with 7.5 sacks after notching a career-best 3.0 sacks against UAlbany (10/27).
• Sheffield has at least one sack in nine of his last 15 outings.
• Twice this season, Sheffield has matched a career-high with 3.0 TFLs (vs. UNH, at CMU).
• Twice this season Stevens has matched a career-high with 2.5 TFLs.
Rushing for 100+ is positive
 • The Black Bears are 7-0 this season when rushing for 100+ yards and 1-3 when they're held under 100 rush yards.
 • Maine's highest rushing output of the season came in its opener when it rushed for 203-yards against New Hampshire (8/30).
Belcher Offensive Versatility
• Senior tight end
Drew Belcher is closing in on 500-yards receiving (324 yards).
• If he reaches the mark, Belcher will have 500+ yards of rushing (637), passing (1,517) and receiving for his career. Belcher currently has racked up 2,332 total yards of offense.
Behind Enemy Lines
• Through 11 games, Maine has recorded 40 sacks. Maine leads the CAA in total sacks, four more than second place New Hampshire.
• Maine checks in second in all of FCS with 3.64 sacks per game. The Black Bears are tied for second in the nation with 40 total sacks.
• The Black Bears tallied 12.0 TFLs, including 6.0 sacks, in their opener against UNH. Maine's 6.0 sacks were its most since also tallying 6.0 against Rhode Island on Sept. 26, 2015.
• Seven Black Bears recorded at least a half TFL in the win over UNH, with four notching 2.0+.
• Maine's 6.0 sacks against UNH were its most since also notching 6.0 against Rhode Island on Sept. 25, 2016. The 12.0 TFLs were Maine's most since a 12.0 performance on Aug. 30, 2014 against Norfolk St.
• Maine added 6.0 sacks, and 7.0 TFLs, in its win at Western Kentucky.
• The Black Bears currently rank eighth in FCS and first in the CAA with 8.2 TFLs per game.
Ferguson Efficient
 •
Chris Ferguson was highly efficient in the season opener, going 21-for-31 (68%). The completion percentage was the highest of Ferguson's career and marked his fifth game of completing 60%+ of his passes. His 59.0% completion percentage is 4th best in the CAA while his 208.4 yards per game are third best.
 • Ferguson finished Maine's win at Rhode Island with 30 completions. The completion total was Maine's highest since 2012 when Marcus Wasilewski completed 31 against Villanova.
• Ferguson matched his career-high in passing yards (278) in back-to-back games at Rhode Island (10/13) and at William & Mary (10/20).
• Ferguson currently ranks second in the CAA in completions per game (16.9).
Doak's Walk-Off Record Breakers
•
Kenny Doak's 52-yard, record-tying field goal as time expired lifted the Black Bears over No. 19 Villanova, 13-10.
• The 52-yard kick matched Maine's all-time long field goal. The previous record kick was set by Jack Leggett against Delaware in 1975.
• For his efforts, Doak was awarded the CAA Co-Special Teams Player of the Week.
• A week after hitting the 52-yarder, Doak knocked through a 39-yarder as time expired to beat No. 16 Rhode Island, 38-36.
High-ranking victories
•Maine has defeated five ranked teams this season - the most it has defeated in one season since also knocking off five in 2011.
• Maine opened 2018 by knocking off #7 New Hampshire, snapping an eight-game losing skid against the Wildcats.
• The win was Maine's first over a ranked opponent since knocking off #17 UAlbany, 20-14, on Oct. 15, 2017.
• The victory also came against the highest ranking team since Maine beat #7 James Madison and #6 Delaware in back-to-back weeks back in 2011.
• In game two, Maine fell behind 21-0 in the first 5:03 of game action at Western Kentucky. The Black Bears rattled off 31-unanswered points and blocked a game-tying field goal try with 47-seconds left to secure their third-ever win over an FBS opponent.
• The win over WKU was Maine's third-ever win over an FBS opponent and its first since defeating UMass in 2013.
• The Black Bears added their second win over a ranked opponent when they defeated No. 19 Villanova, tacked on a third with a victory over No. 16 Rhode Island, a fourth with a win at No. 15 Towson and wrapped up the regular season with win over No. 14 Elon.
Electric Ernie
•
Earnest Edwards set a new Maine mark with 326 all-purpose yards (196 receiving, 126 kick return, 4 rush) at William & Mary (10/20).
• In the regular season finale against Elon, Edwards became the first Black Bear in history, and first CAA player, to return two kickoffs for touchdowns, taking back returns of 95 and 93-yards for scores in the win.
• Edwards currently ranks third in the CAA in receiving TDs (7), fourth in scoring TDs (10), third in all-purpose yards (121.5), seventh in receiving yards (673).
• Edwards leads the CAA in kick return average (28.4).
• Edwards has tallied two touchdowns in back-to-back-to-back games and has racked up 100+ receiving yards in three of his last four. Over Maine's last five outings, Edwards is averaging six catches and 122.3 receiving yards.
-UMaine-
