Orono, Maine -- The No. 16/21 University of Maine (6-3, 5-1) football team will look for its second Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) road win in as many weeks when it travels to Richmond (3-6, 1-5) in the first meeting between the two teams since 2015. Saturday's game can be seen on NBC Sports Washington Plus, NBC Sports Chicago Plus, NBC Bay Area, and on tape delay on SNY. The contest will also be video streamed on the web via
CAA.tv and can be heard worldwide on the
Black Bear Sports Network.
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GAME STORYLINES:
- The two teams, who have met on 26 previous occasions, are currently deadlocked at 13-13 in the all-time head-to-head series. Maine has won three of the last four contests in the series but dropped a 48-17 decision in the most recent meeting back in 2015. The Black Bears are 6-7 on the road in the series, with their last win in Richmond coming back in 2013, a 28-21 decision. The two teams first met in 1984, a 30-13 Richmond victory. Maine has won in two of its last three trips to Richmond.
- A key to the matchup will be Maine's pass rush against Richmond pass attack. The Black Bears enter the weekend ranking second in all of FCS and first in the CAA in sacks (37) while Richmond features the league's top passing attack, averaging 279.8 yards per game.
- Last weekend, reigning CAA Co-Rookie of the Week Ramon Jefferson rushed for 121-yards and three scorers and the Black Bears shut Towson down on fourth and goal from the four to seal a 35-28 road win over the Tigers. The win moved Maine to 4-1 in games decided by seven points or less.
- Richmond has lost two in a row and five of their last six after a most recent 45-21 setback to Villanova. The Spiders, who are just 1-3 at home this season, turned the ball over seven times and surrendered 24-unanswered points in their loss to the Wildcats. Richmond enters play with a -11 turnover margin (24 total turnovers).
- A win for the Black Bears, paired with losses by Delaware and Elon this week, would guarantee Maine at least a share of the CAA title.
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Tale of the Tape
| Maine (CAA Rank) |
Category |
Richmond (CAA Rank) |
| 24.3 (8) |
Points |
24.9 (7) |
| 348.4 (9) |
Total Offense |
400.2 (2) |
| 126.4 (6) |
Rushing Yards |
120.4 (8) |
| 222.0 (6) |
Passing Yards |
279.8 (1) |
| 11/14 |
Rushing TDs/Passing TDs |
11/14 |
| 31:45 (2) |
Offensive Time of Possession |
28:18 (10) |
| 21.9 (5) |
Points Allowed |
36.1 (12) |
| 261.6 (1) |
Total Defense |
398.9 (12) |
| 71.0 (1) |
Rushing Yards Allowed |
170.2 (11) |
| 190.6 (5) |
Passing Yards Allowed |
228.7 (10) |
| 8/15 |
Rushing/Passing TDs Allowed |
18/18 |
| 28:15 |
Defensive Time of Possession |
31:42 |
| +3 (6) |
Turnover Margin |
-11 (12) |
A MAINE WIN WOULD...
...Clinch at least a share of the CAA Title.
...Be Maine's 14th all-time against Richmond.
...Snap a 13-13 lock in the all-time series with Richmond.
...Be Maine's 7th on the road against Richmond
...Be Maine's first win over Richmond since 2014.
...Be Maine's first win at Richmond since 2013.
...Be Maine's fourth win in its last five games against Richmond.
...Be Maine's third road win in the series in its last four trips to Richmond.
...Move Maine to 4-1 on the road in league play.
...Give Maine its most road wins since 2013 (5-2).
...Move Maine to 7-7 on the road against Richmond.
SERIES NOTES
Maine and Richmond are meeting for the 27th time, and the first since 2015 ... The all-time series is deadlocked at 13-13 ... Maine is 6-7 on the road against Richmond ... The Black Bears last win in the series came in 2014 (33-20), over a then #8 ranked Richmond team ... Maine's last win at Richmond came in 2013 (28-21) ... Maine has won three of the last four, including two of its last three trips to Richmond ... The first meeting in the series came in 1984, a 30-13 win by the Spiders in Richmond ... The home team has won each of the last two meetings ... In the last meeting back in 2015, Maine trailed 20-10 at the half and were outscored 28-7 in the second, dropping the contest 48-17.
Micah Wright caught five passes for 55-yards and a touchdown in the loss.
LAST 10 VS. RICHMOND:
Year       Winner           Place                   Score  Â
2015       Richmond    Richmond, VA     17-48
2014       Maine           Orono, ME           33-20
2013       Maine           Richmond, VA      28-21
2011       Maine           Richmond, VA       23-22
2009       Richmond    Orono, ME           21-38
2008       Richmond   Richmond, VA     17-44
2005       Richmond    Orono, ME           21-26
2004       Maine           Richmond, VA      29-25
2003       Maine           Orono, ME           20-10
2002       Maine           Richmond, VA     21-14
SEASON NOTES:
The rush stops here
• Maine's defensive goals begin with stopping the run, and the Black Bears have surely done that in their first eight outings. Maine ranks second in FCS and first in the CAA in rush defense (71.0).
• The Black Bears have allowed just 639-yards of rushing on 311 attempts. Maine's opponents are averaging just 2.1 yards per attempt on the ground, first in the CAA and second in FCS.
• Maine has held 10 of its last 11 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 third nationally, allowing just 261.6 yards per game.
Defense in the Backfield
• Maine currently boasts the top three leaders in the CAA in terms of sacks per game (Sheffield, D. Stevens, Whitaker).
•
Sterling Sheffield currently leads the CAA in total sacks (8.5), sacks per game (0.94) and is tied for first in total TFLs (12.0) and TFLs per game (1.33). He is tied for 21st in the league in tackles per game (6.6). Sheffield is ninth in all of FCS with 0.94 sacks per game.
•
Deshawn Stevens has been equally as impressive in the offensive backfield. Stevens ranks third in the CAA in sacks per game (0.78) and is third in the CAA in TFLs per game (1.28). His 11.5 TFLs rank third best in the CAA. Stevens is fourth in the CAA in total tackles (73) and third in total sacks (7.0)
• Joining the duo in the backfield is
Kayon Whitaker who currently ranks second 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 13 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 6-0 this season when rushing for 100+ yards and 0-3 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 (361 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 2,277 total yards of offense.
Behind Enemy Lines
• Through eight games, Maine has recorded 37 sacks. Maine leads the CAA in total sacks, 10 more than second place Richmond.
• Maine checks in second in all of FCS with 4.11 sacks per game. The Black Bears are second in the nation with 37 total sacks. However. the team ahead of Maine (Alcorn - 43) has played one more game than the Black Bears.
• 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.
• Maine has three players ranked in the top-3 in the CAA in sacks per game. (Sheffield, D. Stevens, Whitaker)
• 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 seventh in FCS and first in the CAA with 8.4 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.
 • 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 (18.3).
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 four ranked teams this season - the most it has defeated in one season since also knocking off four 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 and a fourth with a win at No. 15 Towson.
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).
• Edwards currently ranks fourth in the CAA with 118.9 all-purpose yards per game.
• Edwards notched 100+ receiving performances in back-to-back games (196 at W&M, 114 vs. UAlbany), the first to do so since
Micah Wright accomplished the feat in 2015.
• In his last three games, Edwards is averaging six catches, 128-yards receiving and one touchdown.
Micah Wright climbing the charts
• Fifth-year wide receiver
Micah Wright looks to continue to climb up Maine's all-time receiver rankings.
• Wright ranks 7th all-time in receiving yards at UMaine (2,071), just 30-yards behind Christian Pereira (2,101) for 6th all-time and 112 behind Steve Roth for 5th. 155
• Wright is now just one reception behind Christian Pereira for 8th all time (156), three behind Arel Gordon (158) for 7th and six behind Phil McGeoghan for 6th (161).
• In 2015, Wright caught 61 passes for 818 yards. His 61 receptions rank tied for 9th on Maine's single-season all-time list while the 818-yards are tied for 10th all-time.
Manny's PBU
•
Manny Patterson leads the CAA in total pass breakups (15) and pass breakups per game (1.7) - ranking fourth nationally in PBUs per game.
 • Patterson, who notched his first career interception earlier this season against Villanova, has recorded at least one PBU in eight of Maine's nine games including each of the last six.
 • Five times this season he has tallied 2+ PBUs.
-UMaine-
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