Orono, Maine -- Despite racking up 469 total yards, the No. 7 University of Maine football team was unable to come out on top in its Colonial Athletic Association opener, falling to No. 8 Towson, 45-23, on Saturday evening at Alfond Stadium.

The Black Bears (1-2, 0-1) saw their six game home win streak end as Towson (3-0, 1-0) took advantage of four interceptions, tallying 21 points off turnovers and finishing the game 7-for-8 with six touchdowns in the red zone.

Chris Ferguson threw for 400-yards for the second time this season, finishing the contest 28-for-49 with 401 yards and one touchdown. Earnest Edwards was the lead target, recording the fourth 100-yard receiving game of his career with six catches for 116 yards and one touchdown. Edwards has now accounted for one touchdown in each of his last 10 games.

Kenny Doak tallied a career-best three field goals, hitting from 30, 45 and 44 yards as he finished the night a perfect 3-for-3.

Manny Patterson led the individual defensive efforts, racking up a career-high eight tackles while Myles Taylor added a career best eight stops, including 2.0 for loss. Kayon Whitaker also recorded eight tackles, 1.5 for loss, and assisted on Maine's first sack of the season. In all, the Black Bears totaled 7.0 tackles for loss.

SCORING:
First quarter: The Black Bears marched down the field on their first drive as Ferguson opened the contest with a 54-yard pass to Edwards down to the Towson 21. An eight yard reception from Andre Miller moved Maine to the Towson 13 where Doak would cash in on a 30-yard field goal.
First quarter: Maine forced Towson into a three-and-out on its first drive, regaining possession for the Black Bears on their own 32. Ferguson's 18-yard rush and a 12-yard pass completion to Devin Young moved Maine into Towson territory where Doak gave the Black Bears a 6-0 advantage with a season-long 45-yard field goal.
First quarter: Towson had the answer on the ensuing drive when Yeedee Thaenrat rushed for the first of his four scores on the evening.
Second quarter: Towson extended its lead to 10-6 just 1:16 into the second quarter with Aidan O'Neill's 26-yard field goal.
Second quarter: Maine's first touchdown of the game regained the lead for the Black Bears when Ferguson found Edwards for the 19-yard score with 9:20 left in the half.
Second quarter: O'Neill would miss wide right from 46-yards out on Towson's next possession but the Tigers would regain possession on Coby Tippett's interception with 4:09 on the clock. Six plays later, Thaenrat would score again, this time from 1-yard out, to put Towson back on top, 17-13.
Third quarter: Maine clawed its way back within a point early in the third. On its first possession of the second half, Ferguson hit Shawn Bowman for a 36-yard gain down the sideline. Three plays later, Doak would knock through a 44-yard field goal, cutting the deficit to 17-16.
Third quarter: Towson would answer with 28 unanswered points, beginning with another rushing touchdown from Thaenrat.
Third quarter: The Tigers ran the lead to 31-16 when Tom Flacco found Chris Clark for a nine yard score with 1:09 left in the third.
Fourth quarter: Keon Paye would pick off Ferguson and return it 73-yards down to the Maine 1-yard line, setting up Thaenrat for his fourth touchdown of the evening.
Fourth quarter: Towson added its third touchdown off a turnover when it picked off Ferguson at the Towson 34. The Tigers completed the eight play, 66-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown rush from Kobe Young to run the score to 45-16 with 6:49 to play.
Fourth quarter: Maine would keep fighting, answering with a 1-yard touchdown rush from Joe Fitzpatrick which was set up by a 38-yard completion to Jaquan Blair, cutting the lead to what would inevitably be the final score, 45-23.

The Black Bears continue action with a non-conference road trip to Colgate on Saturday, Sept. 21. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m.

-UMaine-