Orono, Maine -- For the second time in three weeks, No. 12/16 Maine (2-2, 0-1 CAA) takes on a top-10 opponent as the Black Bears travel to No. 813 Villanova (4-0, 1-0 CAA) for a key CAA showdown with the Wildcats in the 23rd overall meeting between the two conference foes. Saturday's game will be broadcast live on
FloFootball.com and heard around the nation on the
Black Bear Sports Network.
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GAME STORYLINES:
- The Black Bears enter play with a 10-12 all-time mark against Villanova. Maine will be looking for its first road win in the series since a 37-35 triumph in 2013. Maine is 4-7 all-time on the road in the series. The Black Bears will be looking for back-to-back wins against Villanova for the first time since 2003, 2006 after defeating the Wildcats, 13-10, in last season's meeting. In that win, Kenny Doak's 52-yard field goal as time expired was the difference in a game in which Maine quarterback Chris Ferguson missed due to injury. This game also marks the second straight year in which the two teams enter play nationally ranked as No. 25 Maine knocked off No. 19 Villanova in the 2018 meeting.
- Last week, Earnest Edwards tallied three touchdowns to lead Maine in a 35-21 win at Colgate. Edwards earned STATS FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week and CAA Special Teams Player of the Week after amassing 198 return yards, a new school record, with two kick return touchdowns.
- Maine's CAA second ranked passing offense (326.0 ypg) will look to take advantage of a Villanova defense which is allowing 252.2 pass yards per game, 11th out of 12 in the conference. Chris Ferguson continues to lead the way on offense as he checks in first in the CAA and fourth nationally with 1,275 pass yards and second in the CAA at 318.8 passing yards per game.
- Villanova enters action undefeated at 4-0 after opening its conference slate with an impressive, 52-45 overtime victory at No. 5 Towson. The Wildcats enter the weekend with the top ranked scoring offense (42.2 ppg) and second ranked scoring defense (19.8 ppg). Villanova ranks first in the country in red zone offense, a perfect 14-for-14 in scoring inside the zone with 12 touchdowns and a pair of field goals.
- Maine's pass rush accounted for eight sacks, its most since 2012, and 14.0 tackles for loss, its most since 2006, in its win at Colgate. The Black Bears pass defense, ranked first in the CAA and 11th nationally allowing 152.8 pass yards per game, will match-up with Villanova quarterback Daniel Smith who ranks second in FCS with 13 passing touchdowns. Smith, who leads the nation with 102 points responsible for, also does damage on the ground along with tailback Justin Covington, the nation's leading rusher with 556 total yards. Covington ranks fourth in the nation at 139.0 rush yards per game.
TALE OF THE TAPE
| Maine (CAA rank) |
Category |
Villanova (CAA rank) |
| 29.5 (6) |
Points |
42.2 (1) |
| 431.8 (5) |
Total Offense |
450.8 (3) |
| 105.8 (11) |
Rushing Yards |
255.8 (1) |
| 326.0 (2) |
Passing Yards |
195.0 (10) |
| 29:08 (7) |
Offensive Time of Possession |
29:43 (5) |
| 350.2 (4) |
Total Defense |
346.8 (3) |
| 197.5 (9) |
Rushing Yards Allowed |
94.5 (2) |
| 6/7 |
Rushing TDs/Passing TDs |
7/13 |
| 152.8 (1) |
Passing Yards Allowed |
252.2 (11) |
| 11/2 |
Rushing/Passing TDs Allowed |
6/3 |
| 30:52 |
Defensive Time of Possession |
30:17 |
| -6 (11) |
Turnover Margin |
+1 (7) |
| 26.5 (8) |
Points Allowed |
19.8 (2) |
A UMAINE WIN WOULD...
...Be Maine's 11th win over Villanova (currently 10-12)
...Be Maine's fifth win at Villanova (currently 4-7 on road in series)
...Be Maine's second-straight win over Villanova (W, 13-10 - 2018)
...Be Maine's first road win against Villanova since 2013 (37-35)
...Be Maine's first CAA road victory this season
...Give Maine back-to-back victories over Villanova for the first time since 2003, 2006.
...Move Maine to 4-6 in its last 10 games against the Wildcats.
SERIES NOTES:
Maine and Villanova are meeting for the 23rd time in history and the 10th consecutive season ... The Black Bears are 10-12 all-time against the Wildcats ... Maine is 4-7 on the road in the series ... Villanova has won four of the last five meetings and seven of the last 10 ... Maine won the most recent meeting, 13-10, a year ago in Orono ... In the latest meeting,
Kenny Doak's 52-yard walk-off field goal gave the Black Bears the victory ... Quarterback
Chris Ferguson, who hails from Fort Washington, PA (18 miles from Villanova), missed the last meeting due to injury ... This meeting marks the second straight showdown in which each team enters the contest nationally ranked ... Maine's last win on the road in the series came in 2013, a 37-35 triumph at Villanova Stadium.
LAST 10 VS. VILLANOVA:
Year   Winner       Place       Score  Â
2018   Maine       Orono       13-10
2017   Villanova  Villanova   0-31
2016   Villanova   Orono       7-26
2015   Villanova   Villanova   3-13
2014   Villanova   Orono       20-41
2013   Maine       Villanova   37-35
2012   Villanova   Orono       14-35
2011   Maine       Villanova   41-25
2010   Villanova   Orono       18-48
2007   Villanova   Villanova  17-24 (OT)
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 18 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.
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 (2,025), return touchdowns (6) and stands just two returns shy of tying the all-time school record for kickoff returns in a career (79).
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.
• Following his performance at Colgate, Ferguson moved into sixth on Maine's all-time passing list (5,711).
• Over the past three seasons, no one in the CAA has thrown for more total touchdowns (44) than Ferguson.
AERIAL ATTACK / NO-FLY ZONE
• Four games into the 2019 season, the Black Bears currently rank second in the CAA and rank 11th nationally in pass offense (326.0 ypg).
• The Black Bears also are averaging 15.5 yards per completion - second best in the CAA and 12th in FCS.
• Defensively, the Black Bears also lead the CAA and check in 11th best in the FCS in pass defense, allowing just 152.8 ypg through the air.
• The Black Bears have thrown for 300+ yards in four of their last five outings, including a pair of 400+ yard showings.
MULTIPLE WEAPONS
• The Black Bears currently have four receivers who rank in the top 20 among CAA leaders in receiving yards per game: Edwards (83.3); Blair (71.0); Young (65.0) and Miller (46.5).
• Three of the four receivers are cashing in big on receptions. Edwards is averaging an impressive 22.0 yards per reception (3rd in CAA), Young is adding 17.3 yards per catch (7th) while Blair is averaging 15.8 per reception (15th).
FERGUSON MOVING UP ALL-TIME
• Currently, Ferguson ranks sixth on Maine's all-time passing yards list at 5,711. Next up on the list is Jake Eaton (7,145). Ferguson currently stands 1,434 yards behind Eaton for fifth all-time.
TOUCHDOWN EDWARDS!
•
Earnest Edwards has tallied at least one touchdown (receiving, rush, return, pass) in 10 of his last 11 outings.
• Over his last 10 outings, Edwards has tallied two or more touchdowns five times.
EDWARDS MILESTONES - CLIMBING ALL-TIME CHARTS
• Edwards recorded the 100th reception of his career at Georgia Southern. He now stands just 41 receptions away from 150 in his career and 123 yards from 2,000 career receiving yards. 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 (6), surpassed 2,000 career kickoff return yards with a school-record 198 return yards at Colgate.
• Edwards ranks 13th all-time in receiving yards at Maine (1,701); just 71 behind Ryan Waller for 12th.
• Edwards (109 career receptions) ranks 12 receptions behind Kevin McMahan (130) for 13th all-time at Maine.
• Edwards has accounted for 31 total touchdowns in his time at Maine; 20 reception, six kick return, three rushing and two passing.
• Edwards has two or more receptions in each of his last 16 games.
• Edwards totaled 116 receiving yards against Towson, marking his fourth career, 100+ receiving yard performance.
• The Black Bears are 13-3 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 53 career pass deflections while at Maine.
 • Patterson has recorded at least one PBU in 14 of Maine's last 17 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.
RUSHING FOR 100+ IS POSITIVE FOR MAINE
 • The Black Bears are 11-1 in their last 12 games when rushing for 100 or more yards.
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 9-2 in the last 10 games in which they've scored first.
• This season, Maine has outscored its opposition 37-14 in the first quarter and 79-41 in the first half.
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.
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.
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-
