Orono, Maine -- There's something special about Homecoming weekend in Orono. The University of Maine football team jumped out to a 24-0 lead on William & Mary and held on, capturing its first Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) victory of the season, 27-16. Maine has now won each of its last five Homecoming games in Orono.

Maine, which snapped the Tribe's four-game win streak with the win, forced three turnovers on the afternoon but maybe none larger than Adrian Otero's interception in the Maine end zone with just 2:30 left in regulation and the Black Bears leading by 11.

Derek Robertson ran the consistent, and efficient, offense while posting a career-high 20 completions on a career-high 40 attempts to go along with career bests in passing yards (223) and touchdowns (2). Robertson found Devin Young and Freddie Brock for scorers as Young led the way with a career-high six catches, including the 100th of his career, for 81-yards. Brock posted 86-yards and a rushing score on 15 carries as the Black Bears rushed for a season-high 194 yards. The rush total was Maine's highest since posting 208 rush yards on Oct. 12, 2019.

Kahzir Brown tallied his first career interception and Josh Lezin forced a fumble as the Black Bears' three forced turnovers gives them nine turnovers in their last four games. Xavier Nurse led the way with eight tackles while Otero posted seven stops to go along with the interception.

The Black Hole defense forced its first turnover of the game in the first quarter when Lezin forced the ball loose and Fofie Bazzie fell on it. A 26-yard run from Zavier Scott brought Maine down to the 21-yard line. After the Black Bears had seemed to stall out, Robertson snuck through the line for a two yard gain and a conversion on 4^th and 1 to keep the drive alive. With 5:17 remaining in the quarter, a fake jet-sweep released Robertson to roll out and throw a pass to Freddie Brock on 3^rd and 7 from the 7 for a touchdown.

On Maine's next drive, Robertson methodically pieced together a string of plays but the momentum slowed in the red zone. With 13:26 remaining in the half, Jonny Messina's 21-yard field goal gave Maine a 10-0 edge.

The Black Hole registered another turnover with 12:41 remaining in the half. William and Mary quarterback Darius Wilson fired a pass that went in and out of his receiver's hands and into the arms of Kahzir Brown at the Tribe 36.

Maine would score late, extended its lead on Brock's second touchdown of the half. With 40-seconds remaining in the second quarter, Brock would take the handoff and fly through the teeth of the defense untouched, slashing his way across field and into the end zone. Messina's extra point attempt gave Maine a 17-0 lead at the break.

After Maine's defense forced William & Mary to punt on the Tribe's first drive of the third quarter, the offense would go back to work. Young and Robertson connect on a 3^rd and 8 play for 12 yards to keep the drive alive, then lengthened the stanza with an 18-yard rush from Brock. Robertson connected on a 35-yard pass to Young, who made the bobbling catch with a defender draped all over him in an amazing display of hand-eye coordination for the touchdown. The score extended Maine's lead to 24-0 midway through the third quarter.

William and Mary was able to get on the board on a 1-yard rush from quarterback Darius Wilson with 2:52 on the clock in the third. A successful two-point conversion trimmed the lead to 24-8.

Robertson not only attacked the Tribe through the air but was also efficient with his feet, finishing with 25 yards on three carries. His third carry was a big one, running and diving to earn a fresh set of downs at the 26 yard line early in the fourth. The drive would end on a season-long 42-yard field goal from Messina.

William and Mary would answer with a 76-yard touchdown on a completion from Wilson to Zach Burdick. Another two-point conversion, this time by Wilson, would cut Maine's lead to 27-16.

A Maine punt would allow William and Mary to attempt to chip away at the lead, trailing by two scores. A 32-yard rush from Wilson down the left side set the Tribe up deep in Maine territory. However, Otero would come up with the interception in the end zone, giving Maine the ball back with 2:30 remaining. The Black Bears were able to run the clock out, securing their first CAA win of the year, 27-16.

Maine returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 23 when it hits the road to meet UAlbany at 1 p.m.

-UMaine-