Orono, Maine -- Maine, looking for its fifth consecutive victory, and New Hampshire meet in the 108th showdown for the Brice-Cowell musket on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 1 p.m. live on NBC Sports Boston and streaming online at
FloFootball.com. The Black Bears are currently in control of the coveted musket after earning a 35-7 victory in the 2018 season opener at Alfond Stadium. A win for Maine would secure it back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since the 2002, 2003 seasons.
Saturday's contest can be heard locally on the radio via the Black Bear Sports Network and streaming worldwide at
GoBlackBears.com.
BUFFALO WILD WINGS BORDER BATTLE:
The Black Bears currently hold a 4-3 advantage in this year's Buffalo Wild Wings Border Battle after Maine has won its last four meetings against UNH, taking victories in women's ice hockey, field hockey and a two-game men's ice hockey sweep.
The history of the University of Maine's Black Bears and the University of New Hampshire's Wildcats has been long steeped in traditions, state pride, and bragging rights for alumni. The Border War of the northeast takes on a new life this year as Buffalo Wild Wings steps up to make sure Black Bear fans have the ultimate place to get together with fellow Black Bears, to watch the games, eat wings, and get rewarded when their team wins.
When your Black Bears win a Border Battle game, fans will receive a limited time offer for five free boneless wings at various Maine Buffalo Wild Wings locations!
GAME STORYLINES:
- The Black Bears square off with New Hampshire, Maine's longest tenured rival, in a series that dates back to 1903. New Hampshire currently owns a 55-44-8 record in the all-time series. Maine snapped an eight game losing skid against the Wildcats with a 35-7 back in August of 2018. In that victory, Maine rattled off 22 points in the second quarter to take a 22-0 lead into the half before eventually extending the lead to 29-0 before New Hampshire was able to get on the board with 12:47 left in the fourth. Earnest Edwards registered two touchdowns in the win, one by rush and one by catch, as the Maine defense allowed just nine New Hampshire first downs while holding the then No. 7 ranked Wildcats to negative 15-yards rushing and 108 total yards of offense. Maine, entering the series 18-28-5 on the road against the Wildcats, will be looking for its first win in Durham since 2001. New Hampshire has won the last eight meetings at Wildcat Stadium, including a most recent 24-23 decision in 2017. New Hampshire has picked up victories in 15 of the last 17 meetings. Maine's last back-to-back winning streak against New Hampshire came with wins in 2001 and 2002.
- Maine is coming off one of its most thrilling victories of the season. Trailing by 14 with 9:52 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Black Bears rallied to outscore Rhode Island 21-3 down the stretch to capture a 34-30 victory. Edwards' 11-yard touchdown reception with 34-seconds remaining proved to be the game-winner.
- New Hampshire has lost two-straight after falling 24-17 at UAlbany last Saturday. The Wildcats enter the final week of the regular season a perfect 4-0 at Wildcat Stadium and have won six-straight on their home turf dating back to 2018. The Wildcats feature the CAA's second ranked scoring defense, allowing just 21.1 points per game. Offensively, New Hampshire ranks last in the CAA in scoring at 19.4 points per game.
- Maine has its eye on a couple of records which may fall at UNH. Earnest Edwards currently sits at 2,581 career receiving yards, just 32 yards shy of breaking Sergio Hebra's all-time mark at Maine (2,612). Kayon Whitaker has amassed 27.0 sacks in his career, just 0.5 sack behind Mike Denino (27.5) for second all-time at Maine and two behind Mike Cole (29.0) for the all-time lead.
TALE OF THE TAPE
| Maine (CAA rank) |
Category |
UNH (CAA rank) |
| 31.4 (4) |
Points |
19.4 (12) |
| 435.5 (3) |
Total Offense |
332.3 (10) |
| 128.6 (10) |
Rushing Yards |
143.9 (8) |
| 306.8 (1) |
Passing Yards |
188.4 (10) |
| 31:02 (3) |
Offensive Time of Possession |
30:13 (7) |
| 365.0 (5) |
Total Defense |
356.9 (3) |
| 159.2 (6) |
Rushing Yards Allowed |
140.0 (3) |
| 12/28 |
Rushing TDs/Passing TDs |
10/10 |
| 205.8 (2) |
Passing Yards Allowed |
216.9 (6) |
| 15/25 |
Rushing/Passing TDs Allowed |
17/7 |
| 28:58 |
Defensive Time of Possession |
29:47 |
| -7 (11) |
Turnover Margin |
-1 (10) |
| 29.5 (11) |
Points Allowed |
21.1 (2) |
A UMAINE WIN WOULD...
...Be Maine's fifth consecutive win.
...Be Maine's 45th win over New Hampshire.
...Be Maine's first win at New Hampshire since 2001.
...Be Maine's second consecutive win over New Hampshire.
...Be Maine's first back-to-back wins over New Hampshire since 2001-2002.
...Be Maine's 19th road win against New Hampshire.
...Give Maine back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2002-03.
SERIES NOTES:
Maine continues its longest tenured rivalry when it takes on New Hampshire for the 108th meeting in the Battle for the Brice-Cowell musket ... Maine and UNH have met in 73-straight seasons ... New Hampshire currently holds a 55-44-8 advantage in the all-time series ... Maine snapped an eight game losing skid to the Wildcats with 35-7 victory in the 2018 season opener ... The Black Bears have not won in Durham since 2001 ... Maine is also looking for its first back-to-back victories against New Hampshire since 2001, 2002 ... The Black Bears are 18-28-5 on the road against New Hampshire ... The team who has won the rushing battle has won 20 of the last 21 games in this head to head series ... Last year, Maine outrushed UNH 203 to negative 15.
SEASON NOTES:
FOUR-GAME WIN STREAK
• Over Maine's current four-game win streak, the Black Bears are averaging 36.5 points per game and 417.5 yards.
• Fagnano has completed 68.4% of his pass attempts for 1,042 yards and 10 touchdowns, finding Edwards (4) and Blair (3) for seven of the 10 scores over the stretch. Edwards is averaging 109.2 receiving yards over the winning streak.
• Whitaker and the Black Hole defense has turned it up over the four-game win streak. Whitaker has 11.5 TFLs and 6.5 sacks in the last four games while Maine has registered 13 sacks, 22 TFLs and forced seven turnovers over the stretch.
DECIDED AT THE HALF
• The Black Bears are 5-1 when leading at the half and 1-4 when trailing. Maine is 5-0 when leading after three quarters and 1-5 when trailing entering the fourth quarter.
RECEIVERS GOING FOR 100+
• Maine's receiving have produced 12, 100+ yard performances this season, led by Edwards' five. Edwards has gone over 100-yards receiving in four of his last six outings.
WHITAKER PACKING THE DEFENSIVE STAT SHEET
• Over his last four outings, Whitaker has registered 32 tackles, 6.5 sacks and 11.0 TFLs. Whitaker currently ranks third in the CAA in sacks per game and fourth in TFLs.
• Whitaker has produced at least a half TFL in eight of his last nine outings, including 11.0 in his last four games. Whitaker also has produced a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in two of his last four starts.
• Whitaker currently sits at 27.0 sacks for his career, just 0.5 shy of tying Mike Denino for second all-time at Maine and two behind Michael Cole for the school record (29.0).
QUICK START
• The Black Bears have scored on their first offensive drive in eight of their first 11 games with four touchdowns and four field goals.
FAGNANO IMPRESSIVE IN HIS FIRST FIVE STARTS
• Two-time CAA Rookie of the Week,
Joe Fagnano, is averaging 297.4 yards per game in his first five starts. Fagnano has thrown for 1,487 yards and 15 touchdowns with just two interceptions over the five game stretch while producing an impressive 68.1 (92-135) completion percentage.
• 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.
• Fagnano has thrown for four or more touchdowns in two of his first five starts.
• Fagnano has thrown for the top three touchdown receptions, in terms of yardage, in Maine history at 90, 88 and 87-yards.
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
• 11 games into the 2019 season, the Black Bears currently rank first in the CAA and ninth nationally in pass offense (306.8 ypg).
• The Black Bears also are averaging 15.0 yards per completion - second in the CAA and 11th in FCS.
• Defensively, the Black Bears rank second in the CAA and check in 39th best in the FCS in pass defense, allowing just 205.8 ypg through the air.
• The Black Bears have thrown for 300+ yards in seven of their last 12 outings, including three 400+ yard showings.
MULTIPLE WEAPONS
• The Black Bears currently have three receivers who rank in the top 20 among CAA leaders in receptions per game: Blair (5th-5.7); Edwards (10th-4.5) and Young (17th-3.6). The first two rank in the top 10 in receiving yards per game, led by Edwards (2nd-103.7) and Blair (8th-74.8). Edwards is seventh in the country in receiving yards per game.
• Three of Maine's receivings are cashing in big on receptions. Edwards is averaging an impressive 23.0 yards per reception (fourth in FCS, 1st in CAA), while
Andre Miller (18.89) and Young (14.85) rank fifth and 14th, respectively.
TOUCHDOWN EDWARDS!
•
Earnest Edwards has tallied at least one touchdown (receiving, rush, return, pass) in 16 of his last 17 outings, with a touchdown reception in each of his last eight outings.
• Over his last 16 outings, Edwards has tallied two or more touchdowns nine times.
• This season, Edwards is fourth in the CAA in total touchdowns (12) and third in the CAA with 10 touchdown receptions.
EDWARDS MILESTONES - CLIMBING ALL-TIME CHARTS
• Edwards ranks second all-time in receiving yards at Maine (2,581); just 32 yards from surpassing Sergio Hebra (2,612) for the all-time lead.
• Edwards recorded the 100th reception of his career at Georgia Southern. He now stands just 11 receptions away from 150 and three receptions behind Landis Williams (142) for 11th.
• 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 (2,311) and total kickoff returns (89).
• Edwards has accounted for 41 total touchdowns in his time at Maine; 27 reception, six kick return, three rushing and five passing.
• Edwards has two or more receptions in each of his last 22 games.
• Edwards totaled 153 receiving yards at Elon, marking his eighth career, 100+ receiving yard performance.
• The Black Bears are 17-5 when Edwards catches a touchdown pass.
• Edwards currently leads the CAA and checks in third nationally with 175.9 all-purpose yards per game. Edwards is also first in all of FCS in kick return average (30.0 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).
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.
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 (2,311), return touchdowns (6) and total returns (89).
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. Preseason Buck Buchanan Watch List and Preseason All-CAA selection
Manny Patterson suffered a knee injury at UAlbany and will also miss the rest 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 14-3 in their last 17 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.
OFF TO A QUICK START
• The Black Bears are 11-3 in the last 13 games in which they've scored first.
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).
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.
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.
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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