Orono, Maine -- The Black Bears continue Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) action on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 1 p.m. when they host William & Mary on Homecoming weekend in Orono, presented by Bangor Savings Bank. Maine is 3-0 in its last three Homecoming outings at Alfond Stadium.
Tickets are still available for this weekend's Homecoming contest and may be purchased by visiting the Alfond Arena Box Office during normal operating hours, by phone at 207.581.BEAR or online at
GoBlackBears.com/tickets. The first 5,000 fans through the gate will receive a 'Go Blue' branded rally towel courtesy of Bangor Savings Bank!
2019 HOMECOMING CHALLENGE FOR UMAINE FOOTBALL: SUPPORT MAINE'S TEAM AND DOUBLE YOUR DONATION!
The goal has been set - $10,000. Join the
Homecoming Challenge to bring UMaine Football to the next level! As a Black Bear Football fan, you have an opportunity to make a major impact on our program. For the twelfth year in a row, the Alfond Foundation has made a generous commitment to once again provide UMaine football a challenge grant of $250,000 if we can raise $250,000 to support the program by June 30, 2020. That means your gift to UMaine Football has twice the impact! We sincerely appreciate our alumni, fans, and friends whose support fuels our team in 2019 and beyond!
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GAME STORYLINES:
- Maine and William and Mary meet for the 15th time in history, this time on Homecoming Weekend for the Black Bears. Maine has won each of its last three homecoming contests.
- William & Mary enters play with a slim, 8-6 advantage in the all-time series. A year ago, the Tribe handed Maine its lone CAA league loss, defeating the Black Bears 27-20 in Williamsburg. In that contest, Earnest Edwards posted career-highs in receptions (9) and receiving yards (196) and finished the game 326 all-purpose yards. Maine is 3-4 at home against the Tribe and have won each of the last two meetings in Orono, including a 23-6 victory in William & Mary's last trip to Alfond Stadium in 2017. Maine and William & Mary will meet for the fourth consecutive season. Maine is 4-1 against the Tribe in the last five meetings.
- Maine is coming off a 59-44 loss at Liberty in a game which featured 1,059 total yards of offense. Freshman quarterback Joe Fagnano, who made his first career start in the game, went 25-for-37 with 445 passing yards and five touchdowns. Fagnano's 445-yards were the most passing yards by a UMaine quarterback since 2009. His passing total, and 469 total yards, were both the highest totals by a CAA player this season. Fagnano is also just the third UMaine quarterback since 2009 to throw for five or more touchdowns in a single game. For his efforts, Fagnano earned CAA Rookie of the Week honors and the New England Football Writers Gold Helmet Award, presented weekly to the top performance in New England's Division-I football ranks. Also at Liberty, the Black Bears had three receivers eclipse 100-yards receiving at Liberty with Edwards (127), Andre Miller (108) and Devin Young (106) all reaching the century mark while Jaquan Blair just missed the mark with 99 receiving yards. Fagnano will make his second career start this weekend after it was announced that Chris Ferguson would miss the remainder of the season due to an injury suffered against Richmond.
- William & Mary carries a four game losing skid into Orono after suffering a 38-10 loss at home to No. 2 James Madison last Saturday. The Tribe, 0-3 on the road, are also 0-3 in league play this season with losses to UAlbany, Villanova and most recently, the Dukes of James Madison.
- A key to this game to focus on will be the pass game. Maine, which has posted three 400-plus passing yards performances this season and ranks second in the league in pass offense (329.3) will look to exploit William and Mary's pass defense which checks in 10th in the CAA, allowing 240.6 yards per game. Defensively, Maine's pass defense ranks second in the CAA (200.1) and will face a William & Mary passing offense which is last in the CAA at 169.7 yards per game.
- The Black Bears will look to continue their trend of getting off to a hot start. Maine has put points on the board on its opening drive in six of its first seven games.
TALE OF THE TAPE
| Maine (CAA rank) |
Category |
W&M (CAA rank) |
| 28.0 (T-5) |
Points |
23.0 (T-10) |
| 445.7 (3) |
Total Offense |
319.0 (11) |
| 116.4 (10) |
Rushing Yards |
149.3 (6) |
| 329.3 (2) |
Passing Yards |
169.7 (12) |
| 30:55 (4) |
Offensive Time of Possession |
26:45 (12) |
| 370.9 (7) |
Total Defense |
409.0 (10) |
| 170.7 (10) |
Rushing Yards Allowed |
168.4 (T-8) |
| 7/16 |
Rushing TDs/Passing TDs |
11/6 |
| 200.1 (2) |
Passing Yards Allowed |
240.6 (10) |
| 18/9 |
Rushing/Passing TDs Allowed |
11/12 |
| 29:05 |
Defensive Time of Possession |
33:15 |
| -11 (12) |
Turnover Margin |
+0 (T-7) |
| 31.7 (11) |
Points Allowed |
30.0 (10) |
A UMAINE WIN WOULD...
...Be Maine's seventh over William & Mary (6-8).
...Be Maine's fifth win over William & Mary in its last six chances.
...Be Maine's third-straight home win over William & Mary.
...Be Maine's fourth overall home win against the Tribe.
...Be Maine's fourth-straight win on Homecoming Weekend in Orono.
...Snap Maine's current three-game losing skid.
...Be Maine's first CAA victory at home this season.
...Be Coach Charlton's first CAA victory as a head coach.
SERIES NOTES:
Maine and William and Mary are meeting for the 15th time in history ... The Tribe currently own a 8-6 advantage in the all-time series, including a 27-20 upset victory in last year's meeting. In that contest,
Earnest Edwards tallied career-highs of nine catches and 196-yards while finishing with 326 all-purpose yards ... Maine is 3-4 at home against the Tribe ... The Black Bears have won four of the last five meetings in the series and carry a two-game home win streak in the series ... The two teams last met in Orono in 2017, a 23-6 win by the Black Bears ... The series began in 1993 in Orono where William & Mary defeated the Black Bears, 47-23.
SEASON NOTES:
QUICK START
• The Black Bears have scored on their first offensive drive in six of their first seven games with three touchdowns and three field goals.
FAGNANO SLINGING IT IN FIRST START
•
Joe Fagnano made his first career start a memorable one as the freshman went 25-of-37 for 445-yards and five touchdowns at Liberty.
• His passing yards (445) and total yards (469) were both the single-game highest output by any CAA player this season.
• He is just the third Maine QB since 2009 to throw for 5+ touchdowns. His passing yardage were the most by a Black Bear since 2009 (Chris Triester-468).
• For his efforts, Fagnano earned CAA Rookie of the Week honors and the New England Football Writers Gold Helmet Award.
THREE GO FOR 100+
 • At Liberty, the Black Bears saw three receivers total 100-plus receiving yards. Edwards (127), Miller (108) and Young (106) each eclipsed the 100-yard mark.
AERIAL ATTACK / NO-FLY ZONE
• Seven games into the 2019 season, the Black Bears currently rank second in the CAA and rank eighth nationally in pass offense (329.3 ypg).
• The Black Bears also are averaging 14.9 yards per completion - second best in the CAA and 15th in FCS.
• Defensively, the Black Bears rank second in the CAA and check in 31st best in the FCS in pass defense, allowing just 200.1 ypg through the air.
• The Black Bears have thrown for 300+ yards in six of their last eight outings, including three 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-6.3); Edwards (12th-4.2), Young (13th-4.0) and Miller (16th-3.7). The first two rank in the top 10 in receiving yards, led by Edwards (3rd-100.0) and Blair (6th-79.9).
• Three of the four receivers are cashing in big on receptions. Edwards is averaging an impressive 24.0 yards per reception (fourth in FCS), while Miller (16.7) and Young (14.7) rank sixth and 18th in the CAA, respectively.
FERGUSON MOVING UP ALL-TIME
• Currently, Ferguson ranks sixth on Maine's all-time passing yards list at 6,091. Next up on the list is Jake Eaton (7,145). Ferguson currently stands 1,054 yards behind Eaton for fifth all-time.
TOUCHDOWN EDWARDS!
•
Earnest Edwards has tallied at least one touchdown (receiving, rush, return, pass) in 12 of his last 13 outings.
• Over his last 12 outings, Edwards has tallied two or more touchdowns seven times.
• This season, Edwards is third in the CAA in total touchdowns (8) and fourth in receiving touchdowns (6).
EDWARDS MILESTONES - CLIMBING ALL-TIME CHARTS
• Edwards ranks sixth all-time in receiving yards at Maine (2,144); just 39 behind Steve Roth for fifth (2,183) and 199 behind Phil McGeoghan (2,343) for fourth all-time.
• Edwards recorded the 100th reception of his career at Georgia Southern. He now stands just 31 receptions away from 150 in his career and 356-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 (2,153) and total kickoff returns (82).
• Edwards (119 career receptions) ranks 11 receptions behind Kevin McMahan (130) for 13th all-time at Maine.
• Edwards has accounted for 35 total touchdowns in his time at Maine; 23 reception, six kick return, three rushing and three passing.
• Edwards has two or more receptions in each of his last 18 games.
• Edwards totaled 127 receiving yards at Liberty, marking his sixth career, 100+ receiving yard performance.
• The Black Bears are 13-5 when Edwards catches a touchdown pass.
• Edwards currently leads the CAA and checks in second nationally with 172.17 all-purpose yards per game. Edwards is also first in all of FCS in kick return average (34.3 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 MANNY ISLAND
• Preseason All-American, All-Conference and Buck Buchanan Watch List selection
Manny Patterson has tallied 53 career pass deflections while at Maine.
 • Patterson has recorded at least one PBU in 17 of Maine's last 20 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.
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 (2,153), return touchdowns (6) and total returns (82).
KEY INJURIES
 • 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. Junior captain and quarterback
Chris Ferguson suffered a right foot injury against Richmond and will also miss the remainder of the year.
FERGUSON OFF TO A HISTORIC SEASON
• Before suffering a foot injury against Richmond, Ferguson was third in the CAA and 20th nationally in total passing yards (1,655), second in the CAA and 18tth nationally in passing yards per game (275.8) and is averaging 14.3 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 (6,091).
• 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 (46) than Ferguson.
RUSHING FOR 100+ IS POSITIVE FOR MAINE
 • The Black Bears are 11-3 in their last 14 games when rushing for 100 or more yards.
CONSECUTIVE RANKINGS
• The Black Bears recently had their streak of 20-straight weeks of being ranked in the STATS FCS poll snapped. 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.
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 9-3 in the last 12 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.
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-
