ORONO, Maine -- No. 18 Maine carried a 10-7 lead into the half against visiting Richmond but the Black Bears were unable to hold on, falling to the Spiders 24-17 at Alfond Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Black Bears were outscored 17-7 in the second half but they had their chance to tie it late. Maine forced a late three-and-out and, after Jaquan Blair returned Richmond's punt 30-yards to the Spider's 17-yard line, Maine's offense went to work. Joe Fitzpatrick rushed twice down to the Richmond six but the Black Bears were picked off at the 1-yard line. With Maine out of timeouts, Richmond was able to run the clock down and escape with the seven point victory.

Chris Ferguson went 5-for-8 for 33-yards and a touchdown before leaving the game with a right foot injury. True freshman Joe Fagnano finished the game under center where he went 10-of-16 with 157-yards and an 87-yard touchdown throw. Fagnano added 13 carries for 54-yards.

The Black Bears rushed for a season-high 208-yards, led by Fitzpatrick's 93-yards on 19 carries. For the second consecutive game, and the third time this season, Blair led the Black Bears in receptions after making a game-high six catches for 56-yards and a score. Andre Miller added four catches and his second career 100-yard receiving performance, totaling 115-yards and a score.

The Black Bears, who went 7-for-17 offensively on third down conversions, limited the Spiders to just 4-of-11 on third down. Maine turned out its best rushing defense performance of the season, holding Richmond, who entered averaging 151.6 yards per game on the ground, to just 69-yards on 30 carries, an average of just 2.3 yards per rush. Overall, Maine edged Richmond, in total yards, 398 to 295. Individually, Charles Mitchell totaled six tackles with a sack and a career-best 3.0 tackles for loss while Taji Lowe led the Black Bears with 10 total stops.

Maine got off to a hot start as Ferguson and the offense pieced together a 13 play, 75-yard drive on the Black Bears opening drive. Beginning from their own 25-yard line, the Black Bears converted on third down with a 14-yard pass to Kevin Falaki. Maine moved the chains again when Ferguson converted on fourth and one with a quarterback keeper. Facing third and 15 later in the drive, Ferguson found Blair over the middle for a 21-yard score with 7:06 left in the first.

Richmond tied the game midway through the second when Joe Mancuso's 4-yard touchdown carry completed a 14 play, 71-yard drive.

Maine had the answer. A 49-yard return from Jordan Swann set Maine up at the Richmond 45. The Black Bears marched down to the Richmond 9-yard line on an 11-yard rush by Emmanuel Reed. However, the drive would stall as Kenny Doak would come on to convert a 25-yard field goal to regain a three-point lead for the Black Bears.

The Black Bears looked to add to the lead late in the half. Working in the two-minute drill, Fagnano tucked it away and rushed 37-yards to the Richmond 43. A 23-yard carry by Fitzpatrick followed. Maine kept picking away, working its way down to the Richmond 29 where Doak would come on to try a 37-yard field goal. However, the kick would miss wide right, Doak's second miss of the half, as the Black Bears would enter the break with a 10-7 lead.

Richmond took a 14-10 lead with 6:22 left in the third quarter on Mancuso's second rushing score of the game, this one coming from a yard out.

With 1:14 left in the third, Maine would begin from its own 1-yard line after a 68-yard punt by the Spiders. Backed up deep in its own zone, the Black Bears went to work. Rushes from Fitzpatrick and Fagnano brought the ball out to the 7-yard line before Fagnano's third down completion of 6-yards to Miller gave Maine a first down out to the 13. On the next play, Fagnano aired out a deep pass down the seam to Miller, hitting the receiving in stride for an 87-yard score to put Maine up by three, 17-14.

Richmond immediately answered as its first play on the ensuing possession went for a 66-yard score when Mancuso hit Keyston Fuller for the touchdown reception.

The Spiders tacked on a 26-yard field goal early in the fourth to extend their lead to 24-17 with 6:53 remaining in regulation.

After Maine turned it over on downs at the Richmond 31, Maine's 'Black Hole' defense was called upon for a key stop. And the Black Bears answered that call, forcing a three-and-out and a Spider punt. Blair would return the punt 30-yards and Maine was back in business, trailing by seven with the ball at the Richmond 17.

Rushes of eight and then three yards from Fitzpatrick gave Maine first and goal down to the Richmond 9-yard line. However, on third and goal, Fagnano's pass would be intercepted at the Richmond 1-yard line. The Spiders would kneel it out and escape Orono with a 24-17 victory.

Maine is back in action when it travels to meet its second Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent of the season, Liberty, on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 6 p.m.

-UMaine-