Orono, Maine -- No. 12/16 Maine (1-2) makes its first trip to Colgate (0-3) since 1999 when it travels to meet the Raiders in the fourth meeting all-time between the two teams, and the first since 2001, on Saturday at noon broadcast live on Stadium and heard across the state on the
Black Bear Sports Radio Network.
Fans unable to make it to the game at Colgate can join Black Bear Nation at either Sea Dog Brewing Company in Bangor or Orono Brewing Company in Orono as the two restaurants will serve as the
Official Maine Football Watch Party locations for Saturday's contest.
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GAME STORYLINES:
- The Black Bears enter action 1-2 all-time against Colgate. The two teams last met in 2001, a 34-10 victory by the Black Bears in Orono. Maine is 0-2 on the road in the series, falling 28-21 in 1999 and 28-0 in the first-ever meeting back in 1916. Maine is 15-19-1 all-time against current Patriot League member schools. Maine's last meeting with a Patriot League school was its 2001 victory over Colgate. The Black Bears are looking for their first non-conference, regular season FCS road win since defeating Norfolk State, 23-6, on Aug. 31, 2013.
- Since 2000, the Black Bears are 25-10 in the regular season against non-conference, FCS member institutions and 6-4 against non-conference, FCS foes in the regular season in their last 10 opportunities.
- Colgate, which led all of FCS in scoring defense (9.3 ppg) and total defense (237.7 ypg) in 2018, have struggled defensively through its first three games. The Raiders are currently allowing 40.0 points per game and 450.3 total yards per game in 2019. Maine's pass offense, which checks in third best in FCS at 379.7 yards per game, will match-up against Colgate's pass defense which ranks 11th in FCS at 145.0 yards allowed. Maine hopes to get its rushing offense going as it meets a Colgate rush defense which is allowing 305.3 yards per game on the road.
- Chris Ferguson has thrown for 400 or more yards in two of Maine's first three games in 2019. Ferguson currently leads the nation in total passing yards (1,110) and passing yards per game (370.0), averaging a sixth-best nationally 15.0 yards per completion.
- The Black Bears, currently ranked No. 12 in the latest STATS FCS Top-25 poll, have been ranked in the poll for 17 straight weeks. 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.
- Colgate, selected first in the Patriot League preseason poll coming off its second consecutive Patriot League title, is off to an 0-3 start. The Raiders will be playing their third CAA opponent of the season, having already dropped contests against Villanova (34-14) and most recently William & Mary (38-10) with a third loss this season coming at Air Force (48-7).
TALE OF THE TAPE
| Maine (CAA rank) |
Category |
Colgate (Patriot rank) |
| 27.7 (9) |
Points |
10.3 (6) |
| 470.0 (1) |
Total Offense |
221.3 (7) |
| 90.3 (11) |
Rushing Yards |
84.0 (4) |
| 379.7 (11) |
Passing Yards |
137.3 (7) |
| 29:53 (4) |
Offensive Time of Possession |
30:15 (3) |
| 360.3 (4) |
Total Defense |
450.3 (6) |
| 223.3 (11) |
Rushing Yards Allowed |
305.3 (7) |
| 4/6 |
Rushing TDs/Passing TDs |
2/2 |
| 137.0 (1) |
Passing Yards Allowed |
145.0 (2) |
| 9/1 |
Rushing/Passing TDs Allowed |
11/4 |
| 30:07 |
Defensive Time of Possession |
29:45 |
| -5 (T-10) |
Turnover Margin |
-4 (T-6) |
| 28.3 (9) |
Points Allowed |
40.0 (6) |
A UMAINE WIN WOULD...
...Be Maine's second victory over Colgate (currently 1-2).
...Be Maine's first road victory at Colgate in three trips.
...Move Maine to 2-0 in in FCS non-conference play this season.
...Be Maine's first victory over a Patriot League opponent since 2001.
...Be Maine's fifth consecutive victory in the state of New York.
...Be Maine's first road victory of the season.
...Be Coach Charlton's first road victory of his career.
...Be Maine's eighth regular season, FCS non-conference victory in its last 12 chances.
...Move Maine's record to 16-19-1 all-time against current Patriot League member institutions.
SERIES NOTES:
Maine and Colgate are meeting for the fourth time and the first since 2001 ... Maine currently has a 1-2 mark against the Raiders ... The Black Bears were victorious in the most recent meeting, a 34-10 win at Alfond Stadium in 2001 ... In that game, Maine tallied 34 unanswered points to score the home victory ... Maine is 0-2 all-time at Colgate ... The two teams first met in 1916, a 28-0 win by Colgate ... Game two in the all-time series came in 1999, a 28-21 victory by the Raiders at Colgate ... Maine is 15-19-1 all-time against current Patriot League member schools ... Maine's last outing against the Patriot League was its 2001 victory against Colgate ... The home team has won all three meetings in the series ... In a small sample size, Maine has won in each of its last four trips to the state of New York, with all four wins coming at UAlbany.
SEASON NOTES:
CONSECUTIVE RANKINGS
• The Black Bears, currently ranked at No. 12 in the latest STATS FCS Top-25 poll, have now been ranked in the poll for 17 straight weeks. 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.
FERGUSON OFF TO A HOT START
• Ferguson currently leads all of FCS in both total passing yards (1,110) and passing yards per game (370.0). Ferguson's 15.0 pass yards per completion check in second best in the CAA and sixth best nationally.
• Since 2002, Ferguson is the only Black Bear to throw for 400+ yards twice in a season.
AERIAL ATTACK / NO-FLY ZONE
• Three games into the 2019 season, the Black Bears currently lead the CAA and rank third nationally in pass offense (379.7 ypg).
• The Black Bears also are averaging 14.9 yards per completion.
• Defensively, the Black Bears also lead the CAA and check in fourth best in the FCS in pass defense, allowing just 137.0 ypg through the air.
• The Black Bears currently lead the CAA in total offense, averaging 47005 yards per game.
• The Black Bears have thrown for 300+ yards in each of their last four outings, including a pair of 400+ yard showings.
MULTIPLE WEAPONS
• The Black Bears currently have three receivers who rank in the top six among CAA leaders in receiving yards per game: Blair (93.0); Edwards (91.0); Young (80.0).
• The three receivers are all cashing in big on receptions. Edwards is averaging an impressive 21.0 yards per reception (5th in CAA), Young is adding 17.1 yards per catch (10th) while Blair is averaging 16.4 per reception (12).
FERGUSON MOVING UP ALL-TIME
• Currently, Ferguson ranks eighth on Maine's all-time passing yards list at 5,546. Next up on the list is Emilio Colon (5,563). Ferguson needs just 17 yards to surpass Colon and jump into seventh on Maine's all-time passing list. After Colon, Ferguson will set his sights on Marcus Wasilewski (5,612) for sixth all-time and Jake Eaton (7,145) for fifth.
TOUCHDOWN EDWARDS!
•
Earnest Edwards has tallied at least one touchdown (receiving, rush, return, pass) in nine of his last 10 outings.
• Over his last nine outings, Edwards has tallied two or more touchdowns four times.
EDWARDS MILESTONES - CLIMBING ALL-TIME CHARTS
• Edwards recorded the 100th reception of his career at Georgia Southern. He now stands just 43 receptions away from 150 in his career and 183 yards from 2,000 career receiving yards. He also stands just one touchdown reception away from 20 in his career. Should he reach the 2,000 yard receiving mark, he would become just the 10th Black Bear in history to hit the plateau.
• Edwards, Maine's all-time leader in career kickoff returns for touchdowns (4), needs just 173 return yards to surpass 2,000 for his career.
• Edwards ranks 13th all-time in receiving yards at Maine (1,701); just 131 behind Ryan Waller for 12th.
• Edwards (107 career receptions) ranks 14 receptions behind Kevin McMahan (130) for 13th all-time at Maine.
• Edwards has accounted for 28 total touchdowns in his time at Maine; 19 reception, four kick return, three rushing and two passing.
• Edwards has two or more receptions in each of his last 15 games.
• Edwards totaled 116 receiving yards against Towson, marking his fourth career, 100+ receiving yard performance.
• The Black Bears are 12-3 when Edwards catches a touchdown pass.
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).
FERGUSON WEEKLY HONOR
• For his impressive performance, QB
Chris Ferguson was tabbed the CAA Offensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career.
• Ferguson posted 404 of his 423 yards in the first half, adding three first half touchdowns.
• Ferguson connected on each of his first 11 pass attempts, finishing the game with an impressive 23-for-29 showing (79%).
WELCOME TO PATTERSON ISLAND
• Preseason All-American, All-Conference and Buck Buchanan Watch List selection
Manny Patterson has tallied 52 career pass deflections while at Maine.
 • Patterson has recorded at least one PBU in 13 of Maine's last 16 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.
RUSHING FOR 100+ IS POSITIVE FOR MAINE
 • The Black Bears are 10-1 in their last 11 games when rushing for 100 or more yards.
 • On the flip side, Maine went 8-3 in 2018 when it allowed less than 100 yards rushing in 2018.
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.
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.
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 8-2 in the last 10 games in which they've scored first.
• Maine provided itself with great momentum heading into the half last year, nearly doubling up its opposition in the second quarter. The Black Bears outscored their opponents 123-67 in the second quarter in 2018.
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.
FERGUSON CAREER YEAR
 •
Chris Ferguson, who begins his third year as the Black Bears started under center, is coming off a career year in 2018. The 2018 campaign saw Ferguson net career highs in completions (209), attempts (371), passing yards (2,372) and touchdowns (22).
• Ferguson's 2,372 pass yards in 2018 ranked ninth on Maine's single-season all-time list.
• In his final performance of the 2018 season, Ferguson threw for a season-best 325 yards in Maine's NCAA semifinal contest at Eastern Washington.
• Ferguson tallied three or more touchdowns in four games, including a career-high five touchdown passes in the NCAA second round meeting with Jacksonville State.
• Over the past three seasons, no one in the CAA has thrown for more total touchdowns (43) than Ferguson.
KEY INJURY
 • 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.
-UMaine-
