ORONO, Maine -- Joe Fagnano tossed a pair of touchdowns and the Black Bears limited William and Mary to just 68 total passing yards as Maine earned its first Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) victory of the season, defeating the Tribe 34-25 in front of 8,123 fans on Homecoming weekend in Orono.

Fagnano, the reigning CAA Rookie of the Week, completed 15-of-22 passes for 249-yards and two touchdowns while adding 42-yards on the ground. Earnest Edwards added a passing touchdown, the third of the season for him and the fourth of his career. Edwards added four catches for 92-yards and a score while moving into fifth on Maine's all-time receiving list with 2,236-yards. With his touchdown total, Edwards has now recorded at least one touchdown in 13 of his last 14 outings, with two or more scores in eight of his last 12 outings.

Jaquan Blair hauled in a pair of touchdowns while totaling four catches for 115-yards, going over the century mark in receiving yards for the third time this season. Joe Fitzpatrick, who rushed 13 times for 57-yards added Maine's fourth touchdown while Kenny Doak tacked on field goals from 38 and 24-yards, respectively.

Maine's Black Hole defensive had its best performance of the season, limiting the Tribe to 294-yards with two takeaways. Kayon Whitaker was a force in the William & Mary backfield all afternoon, racking up 11 tackles, including 4.0 for loss, with a sack, forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Adrian Otero led all players with a career-high 12 stops and a fumble recovery.

The Black Bears, who have now won four consecutive Homecoming games at Alfond Stadium, posted 439 total yards of offense. The total yardage marked the fifth time this season in which Maine surpassed 400-total yards. The Black Bears were 8-of-16 on third down and defensively held the Tribe to just 5-for-16 on third down.

The Tribe opened its first drive of the year with a score as Hollis Mathis carried in one of his three rushing scores of the game. However, the point after try would be blocked by Alejandro Oregon giving the Tribe a 6-0 lead with 11:58 left in the first.

Maine would begin the second quarter down six but driving. Fagnano found Blair for a gain of 17 down to the Maine 42 late in the first before the freshman hit Daniel Rymer for 12-yards to the Tribe 25. A six yard rush from Fagnano set Maine up at the 19 before Fagnano slung it out to Edwards who looked left, then back right before sailing a pass to the end zone where Blair would elevate over the defender and snatch the touchdown reception. Following a PAT from Doak, Maine would take a 7-6 lead early in the second.

The Tribe answered on its next drive with an eight play, 60 yard drive ending with a three yard rushing score from Bronson Yoder. The two-point pass attempt would fail as the Tribe lead would be five with 9:57 left in the half.

Maine immediately responded. Fitzpatrick began the ensuing drive with a five yard rush before Fagnano hit Edwards who made a play on the defender before sprinting 67-yards for the score to put the Black Bears back on top, 14-12.

Whitaker stripped Mathis on the first play of the Tribe's next drive and Maine's offense immediately looked to take advantage. Beginning from the Tribe 35, Devin Young scampered for a gain of 27. Two rushes followed from Fitzpatrick, the second being a one-yard touchdown to increase Maine's lead to 21-12.

The Black Bears tacked on seven more early in the third on another deep pass play, this one when Fagnano hit Blair in stride for a 64 yard touchdown. Maine's lead would be 28-12 with just 53-seconds gone in the second half.

A key, 11-play drive for the Black Bears ended with three points as Doak knocked through a 38-yard field goal as time expired in the third. The kick sent Maine into the final quarter with a 31-12 advantage.

The Tribe continued to claw away, answering with 14 unanswered points. Mathis rushed in for a 16-yard touchdown before William & Mary was able to recover an onside kick at its own 45. Nine plays later, Mathis carried in his third score of the day as the Tribe closed to within six, 31-25.

Maine looked to put the game away as Fagnano and the offense milked the clock, driving down to the Tribe's 19. William & Mary was forced to take its final timeout with 3:49 remaining as the Black Bears were faced with a third and 15. On the play, the Tribe looked to stop Fitzpatrick behind the line of scrimmage but a flag was thrown for a face mask, giving Maine an automatic first down at the 10 yard line. Maine ran the clock all the way down to one minute remaining where Doak hit a 24 yard field goal to put Maine up by nine.

The Tribe was unable to close the gap as Maine captured it's first league victory of the season, 34-25.

The Black Bears continue CAA play next Saturday when they travel to meet UAlbany at 3:30 p.m.

-UMaine-