Orono, Maine -- No. 18/20 Maine (2-3, 0-2 CAA) welcomes Richmond (2-3, 1-1) to Alfond Stadium on Military Appreciation Day, presented by Dead River Company, on Saturday, Oct. 12 at noon. Saturday's showdown marks the 28th meeting in history between the two teams and the first contest played between the two teams in Orono since 2009.
The University of Maine athletic department is proud to once again bring to our service men and women its Military Appreciation Series, presented by
Dead River Company. This partnership, in its fifth year, provides the opportunity for the Black Bears to honor our military men and women at select athletic events over the course of the 2019-20 season. A major component of the Military Appreciation Series partnership with Dead River Company is to provide all military personnel, veterans and their immediate family members complimentary tickets to each of the selected games. Military personnel and veterans with proper identification are asked to call the ticket office at 207-581-BEAR to reserve complimentary tickets for themselves and their immediate family members. Ticket(s) may also be picked up by visiting the UMaine Athletic Ticket Office, located in Alfond Arena. For more information regarding Military Appreciation Series tickets, call the University of Maine box office at 207-581-BEAR. To order additional tickets to select Black Bear athletic events, please visit
GoBlackBears.com or call the box office.Â
Saturday's contest will be televised throughout the state of Maine on WVII-ABC 7 Bangor and WPXT Portland. The game will also be available for viewing on
FloFootball.com.
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ORONO BREWING COMPANY 'FAMILY 4-PACK':
The Black Bears are excited to partner with our friends at Orono Brewing Company to announce a special
Family 4-Pack ticket offer for the 2019-20 athletic season! UMaine Athletics and Orono Brewing Company have joined forces to offer Black Bear fans a Family 4-Pack ticket option to football and men's ice hockey games for the 2019-20 season. This special deal offers families the chance to purchase four tickets to a home UMaine football game for a special price of $44 and four tickets to a UMaine men's ice hockey game for $55! Men's Ice Hockey Family 4-Packs will be available when single-game tickets go on sale on Tuesday, Sept. 3. This special Family 4-Pack also comes with an offer in which fans will receive a special coupon to Orono Brewing Company for a free kids meal with the purchase of an adult meal! Fans can purchase their tickets online at
GoBlackBears.com/tickets, by phone at 207-581-BEAR or in-person at the UMaine athletics box office located at Alfond Arena!
GAME STORYLINES:
- The Black Bears look to snap their two game losing skid and pick up their first CAA victory at home when they welcome Richmond to Alfond Stadium for Military Appreciation Day in the 28th meeting between the two teams. This contest marks just the second meeting between the two teams in Orono since 2009.
- The Black Bears, taking on Richmond for the 28th time in history, enter with a slim, 14-13, advantage in the all-time series against Richmond. Maine is 6-6 at home against the Spiders, with one of those losses coming in a contest played in Portland, Maine (1993). The two teams last met in Orono in 2014 when the Black Bears knocked off then No. 8 Richmond, 33-20. Maine has won four of the last five meetings, including a 28-9 triumph a year ago in Richmond. In last season's victory, Chris Ferguson threw four touchdowns, including a pair to Earnest Edwards, while Jaquan Blair added seven catches and a touchdown. Maine's defense limited Richmond to just 29-yards rushing while holding the Spiders to a 2-for-13 showing on third down. Maine and Richmond first met in 1984, a 30-13 Spider victory in a contest played at Richmond. This contest marks just the second meeting between the two teams in Orono since 2009.
- The top two passing defenses will square off in this match-up with Maine allowing just 164.8-yards per game and the Spiders surrendering 195.2-yards through the air. However, the Spiders have given up 14 passing touchdowns this season and will meet the CAA's second leading pass offense (331.8 ypg).
- Last time out for Richmond, the Spiders hung on for a 23-20 victory over UAlbany. Richmond took a 23-13 lead at the half and, despite not scoring in the second half, was able to secure its first CAA victory of the season. The victory came from an impressive defensive effort in which the Spiders tallied two interceptions, seven sacks and held the Great Danes to just 14-yards rushing. Quarterback Beau English scored his first win as the Spiders' starter.
- Earnest Edwards has recorded at least one touchdown in 11 of his last 12 outings, including all five of Maine's contests this season. Over the 12 game stretch, Edwards has racked up 19 total touchdowns (12 receiving, four kick return, two passing and one rushing). Edwards currently leads the CAA and checks in fourth nationally with 173.2 all-purpose yards per game. Edwards is also first in the league and fourth in all of FCS in kick return average (34.9 yards per game).
- Chris Ferguson has benefited from great protection up front. The Black Bears currently rank second in the CAA with just five sacks allowed on the year.
TALE OF THE TAPE
| Maine (CAA rank) |
Category |
Richmond (CAA rank) |
| 27.0 (8) |
Points |
22.0 (10) |
| 430.0 (4) |
Total Offense |
361.4 (9) |
| 98.2 (11) |
Rushing Yards |
151.6 (6) |
| 331.8 (2) |
Passing Yards |
209.8 (7) |
| 29:10 (8) |
Offensive Time of Possession |
30:51 (4) |
| 362.8 (4) |
Total Defense |
363.6 (5) |
| 198.0 (11) |
Rushing Yards Allowed |
168.4 (6) |
| 6/9 |
Rushing TDs/Passing TDs |
6/5 |
| 164.8 (1) |
Passing Yards Allowed |
195.2 (2) |
| 14/3 |
Rushing/Passing TDs Allowed |
6/14 |
| 30:50 |
Defensive Time of Possession |
29:09 |
| -9 (12) |
Turnover Margin |
-4 (11) |
| 27.8 (7) |
Points Allowed |
29.8 (10) |
A UMAINE WIN WOULD...
...Be Maine's 15th win over Richmond (currently 14-13).
...Be Maine's seventh win at home in the all-time series (currently 6-6 in home games in the series)
...Be Maine's second-straight win over Richmond (W, 28-9, 2018)
...Be Maine's first home CAA victory of the season.
...Be Maine's first CAA victory of the season.
...Give Maine back-to-back victories over Richmond for the first time sine 2011, 2013.
...Move Maine to 6-3 in its last 10 games against Richmond and 4-1 in its last five.
...Improve Maine to 7-1 in its last eight home games.
SERIES NOTES:
Maine and Richmond are meeting for the 28th time in history, and the 12th time in Orono. The Black Bears are 14-13 against the Spiders all-time. Maine is 6-6 in home games against Richmond, including a 17-14 loss in Portland, Maine in 1993. The Black Bears scored a 28-9 victory in last seasons meeting at Richmond after Ferguson threw for four touchdowns, including two to Edwards and one to Blair. Maine and Richmond began the all-time series in Richmond in 1984 with the Spiders taking that first contest, 30-13. Maine is 8-7 on the road in the series. The Black Bears have won four of the last five meetings and six of the last 10. This will be just the second meeting between the two teams in Orono since 2009.
SEASON NOTES:
CONSECUTIVE RANKINGS
• The Black Bears, currently ranked at No. 18 in the latest STATS FCS Top-25 poll, have now been ranked in the poll for 20 straight weeks. The streak marks the longest stretch in which Maine has been recognized in the top-25 poll since a 31-week ranked stretch from 2001-03.
HOME SWEET HOME
• The Black Bears are 6-1 in their last seven games played at Alfond Stadium. In those contests, Maine is outscoring the competition 223-138.
• Defensively over the seven game stretch, Maine has held its opponents to just 19.7 points per game.
BIG DAY FOR THE BLACK HOLE
• Maine's 'Black Hole' defense had a big day in the Colgate backfield on Sept. 21. The Black Bears tallied 8.0 sacks in the game, their most since a 9.0 sack day against Delaware in 2012. Maine also tallied 14.0 TFLs in the contest at Colgate, its most since racking up 15.5 TFLs against Towson in 2006.
• Whitaker currently sits at 20.5 sacks for his career, just seven shy of tying Mike Denino for second all-time at Maine and 9.0 behind Michael Cole for the school record.
EDWARDS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED RECORD BREAKING PERFORMANCE
 •
Earnest Edwards was named CAA Special Teams Player of the Week and STATS FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week following his impressive kick return performance at Colgate.
 • Edwards set a new school-record with 198 returns yards, besting his own, old record (188) set in 2018.
 • Edwards also tied his own school mark with a pair of kickoff returns for touchdowns; one going back 95-yards and one school-record tying 100-yard return.
 • Edwards is Maine's all-time leader in return yards (2,125), return touchdowns (6) and total returns (81).
FERGUSON OFF TO A HOT START
• Ferguson currently is second in the CAA and 11th nationally in total passing yards (1,622), second in the CAA and sixth nationally in passing yards per game (324.4) and is averaging 14.6 yards per completion.
• Since 2002, Ferguson is the only Black Bear to throw for 400+ yards twice in a season.
• Following his performance at Colgate, Ferguson moved into sixth on Maine's all-time passing list (6,058).
• With 347 pass yards at Villanova, Ferguson became just the sixth player in Maine history to throw for 6,000+ yards.
• Over the past three seasons, no one in the CAA has thrown for more total touchdowns (45) than Ferguson.
AERIAL ATTACK / NO-FLY ZONE
• Five games into the 2019 season, the Black Bears currently rank second in the CAA and rank seventh nationally in pass offense (331.8 ypg).
• The Black Bears also are averaging 14.6 yards per completion - second best in the CAA and 16th in FCS.
• Defensively, the Black Bears lead the CAA and check in 10th best in the FCS in pass defense, allowing just 164.8 ypg through the air.
• The Black Bears have thrown for 300+ yards in five of their last six outings, including a pair of 400+ yard showings.
MULTIPLE WEAPONS
• The Black Bears currently have four receivers who rank in the top 20 among CAA leaders in receptions per game: Blair (4th-6.0); Young (13th-4.0); Edwards (16th-3.8) and Miller (18th-3.4). The first three rank in the top 12 in receiving yards, led by Edwards (3rd-94.6), Blair (6th-80.8) and Young (12th-61.2).
• Three of the four receivers are cashing in big on receptions. Edwards is averaging an impressive 24.9 yards per reception (third in FCS), while Young (15.3) and Blair (13.5) rank 13th and 20th in the CAA, respectively.
FERGUSON MOVING UP ALL-TIME
• Currently, Ferguson ranks sixth on Maine's all-time passing yards list at 6,058. Next up on the list is Jake Eaton (7,145). Ferguson currently stands 1,087 yards behind Eaton for fifth all-time.
TOUCHDOWN EDWARDS!
•
Earnest Edwards has tallied at least one touchdown (receiving, rush, return, pass) in 11 of his last 12 outings.
• Over his last 11 outings, Edwards has tallied two or more touchdowns six times.
• This season, Edwards is third in the CAA in total touchdowns (6) and fourth in receiving touchdowns (4).
EDWARDS MILESTONES - CLIMBING ALL-TIME CHARTS
• Edwards recorded the 100th reception of his career at Georgia Southern. He now stands just 37 receptions away from 150 in his career and 483-yards from 2,500 for his career.
• With 140 yards receiving at Villanova, Edwards became just the 10th Black Bear in history to reach the 2,000 yard plateau.
• Edwards, Maine's all-time leader in career kickoff returns for touchdowns (6), surpassed 2,000 career kickoff return yards with a school-record 198 return yards at Colgate. Edwards is Maine's all-time leader in kickoff return yards (2,125) and total kickoff returns (81).
• Edwards ranks 10th all-time in receiving yards at Maine (2,017); just 12 behind Gene Benner for ninth (2,029), 44-yards behind Damarr Aultman for eighth (2,061) and 84-yards behind Christian Pereira for seventh (2,101).
• Edwards (113 career receptions) ranks eight receptions behind Kevin McMahan (130) for 13th all-time at Maine.
• Edwards has accounted for 33 total touchdowns in his time at Maine; 21 reception, six kick return, three rushing and three passing.
• Edwards has two or more receptions in each of his last 17 games.
• Edwards totaled 140 receiving yards at Villanova, marking his fifth career, 100+ receiving yard performance.
• The Black Bears are 13-4 when Edwards catches a touchdown pass.
• Edwards currently leads the CAA and checks in fourth nationally with 173.2 all-purpose yards per game. Edwards is also first in the league and fourth in all of FCS in kick return average (34.9 yards per game).
OFFENSIVE OUTBURST IN GAME ONE
• In game one, the offense put up some impressive numbers. Maine's 582 total yards were its most since a 602 yard effort in 2013 against Delaware.
• The total yards marked just the seventh time in seven seasons in which the Black Bears bested 500 yards.
• Ferguson threw for 423 yards, becoming the first Black Bear since Marcus Wasilewski (2012) to surpass 400 yards passing. His total was also the most by a Black Bear QB since Chris Treister (468) in 2009.
•
Jaquan Blair (140) and
Devin Young (104) each surpassed the 100 yard receiving mark in the win. The duo teamed up to become the first pair of wide receivers to total 100+ receiving yards in the same game since 2004 (Arel Gordon - 157; Christian Pereira - 111).
WELCOME TO PATTERSON ISLAND
• Preseason All-American, All-Conference and Buck Buchanan Watch List selection
Manny Patterson has tallied 54 career pass deflections while at Maine.
 • Patterson has recorded at least one PBU in 15 of Maine's last 18 games.
 • In 2018, Patterson led the nation in total pass breakups (25) while ranking third nationally and first in the CAA at 1.8 passes defended per game.
PRESEASON HONORS
• Maine collected seven CAA preseason all-conference honors -
Earnest Edwards (WR/KR);
Manny Patterson (CB);
Kayon Whitaker (DL);
Taji Lowe (LB);
Liam Dobson (OL) and
Deshawn Stevens (LB).
Chris Ferguson (QB) and
Charles Mitchell (DL) received honorable mentions nods to the CAA preseason all-conference squad.
• Three Black Bears were named STATS FCS Preseason All-Americans -
Manny Patterson (first team);
Kayon Whitaker (second team);
Deshawn Stevens (third team).
•
Manny Patterson was one of 25 players in the nation to be selected to the STATS FCS Buck Buchanan Award Watch List, an award presented to the top defensive player at the FCS level.
PROTECTING THE Q
 •
Chris Ferguson has benefited from great protection up front. The Black Bears currently rank second in the CAA with just five sacks allowed, averaging just 1.2 sacks allowed per game, 19th best nationally.
RUSHING FOR 100+ IS POSITIVE FOR MAINE
 • The Black Bears are 11-1 in their last 12 games when rushing for 100 or more yards.
FERGUSON WEEKLY HONOR
• For his impressive performance, QB
Chris Ferguson was tabbed the CAA Offensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career.
• Ferguson posted 404 of his 423 yards in the first half, adding three first half touchdowns.
• Ferguson connected on each of his first 11 pass attempts, finishing the game with an impressive 23-for-29 showing (79%).
CAPTAINS
• Following a team vote, the Black Bears elected two juniors and two seniors as the 2019 captains.
Kayon Whitaker (Sr., DE);
Jaquan Blair (Sr., WR);
Chris Ferguson (Jr., QB) and
Deshawn Stevens (Jr., LB) will serve as captains for the 2019 squad.
• After selecting game day captains from 2010-17, the Black Bears elected two captains in 2018 (
Drew Belcher, Jeff DeVaughn).
NEW STAFF
• After 2018 head coach Joe Harasymiak took an assistant coaching role at Minnesota, former offensive coordinator
Nick Charlton was named head coach of the Black Bears.
• All six of Maine's returning coaches from 2018 have had their role altered from the last season while Maine also welcomes in seven new assistants.
• The newcomers include
Kurt von Bargen (DL);
Makana Garrigan (RB);
Reggie Garrett (CB);
Mikal Myers (OLB);
Mikahael Waters (TE);
Sam Lenson (ST QC) and
Robert Smoloski (Offensive Undergraduate Assistant).
OFF TO A QUICK START
• The Black Bears are 9-2 in the last 11 games in which they've scored first.
PRESEASON POLL/NATIONAL RANKING
• After capturing the outright CAA Championship in 2018, the Black Bears were selected third in the CAA Preseason Poll. Maine received one first place vote in the poll.
• Maine's CAA preseason ranking is its highest-ever CAA preseason ranking to start a season.
• Maine's No. 4/5 national ranking to close 2018 was the highest it had ever finished a season in the national polls.
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED
• Maine will once again play one of the toughest schedules in the FCS in which it will hit the road for two FBS contests, take on a pair of non-conference opponents who won (Colgate) and shared (Sacred Heart) conference titles in 2018, and play a total of seven road games.
• A tough schedule is nothing new to Maine. In 2018, Maine defeated seven ranked opponents (a school record) all while playing just four regular season games at home.
• Maine also scored its third-ever win over an FBS opponent in 2018, coming back from down 21-0 to defeat Western Kentucky.
KEY INJURY
 • Junior linebacker, and captain,
Deshawn Stevens, who led the Black Bears with 120 tackles in 2018, ruptured his Achilles in game one of 2019 against Sacred Heart. After a successful surgery, Stevens will now miss the remainder of the season.
CARRYING #39 WHEREVER THEY GO
 • In August of 2018, freshman
Darius Minor tragically passed away during an off season workout.
 • Then head coach, Joe Harasymiak, declared that no one would wear #39 for the next four seasons.
 • The Black Bears carry the #39 with them, hanging it on the sidelines at all games and also pay tribute to Minor's memory with a #39 sticker on each helmet.
-UMaine-
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